DARBUKA FOR KIDS

Welcome to this special series of classes for children who love drumming and percussion!

Hilde De Clercq has developed this unique series of Oriental percussion lessons for children aged 6 to 12 years old. This year, her daughter Oya Bakiroğlu will temporarily take the lead to give the lessons.

The classes continue to focus on the darbuka, a hand-played goblet drum. Children will learn basic skills and play rhythms by ear. Reading music notes or musical knowledge is not required; it's all about having fun with music!

Oya Bakiroğlu's passion for percussion began as a toddler in the living room. She soon accompanied her mother to darbuka lessons at De Centrale and has been hooked on drumming ever since. At music school, she studied both classical and jazz percussion. As a child, she encountered the Turkish grandmaster Mısırlı Ahmet, who deepened her love for the doholla and darbuka. In Belgium, she continued her studies under the guidance of Robbe Kieckens and Simon Leleux. Her interest expanded to world percussion, and she learned to play instruments such as the cajon, congas, bendir, and more. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in music therapy at LUCA School of Arts in Leuven and is a regular percussionist with bands like Ikaro, Anemoon, Sanseveria, and Walvis.