The kingdom has always had a strong and creative musical footprint, whether with traditional performances, or more contemporary, present days ones. Saudi musicians have left their mark in the country across different genres, and the talent is clear. In order to nurture this talent and provide a space where artists can flourish in a like-minded community, Makan Music Center was launched in Jeddah two years ago. The center is a small place that hosts events, classes, and provides a stepping stone for ambitious musicians in the kingdom.
The inspiring story behind the center actually comes from very humble beginnings as, Abdulaziz Obaid, part of the team at Makan Music Center, talks to a local news outlet, “In the beginning, we only had one room with all the instruments from DJing to electric guitars and drums. Once we saw that there is an enormous demand for music education in Jeddah, we moved to a bigger place to have separate rooms for each instrument class.”
He also talks about how the music scene has evolved in Saudi Arabia, and how now in our present day you could find different musicians around F&B outlets, shopping malls, and all around.
Jeddah is actually one of the cities well-known for music in the kingdom, as Jeddah locals have always expressed appreciation for different types of music. The team at Makan attests to that, as a drums teacher tells the news outlet about his experience with music while growing up, “Growing up, my father was a musician. He played the piano. Wherever we moved … we had a studio room (in our house).”
Hasnain Sheikh, the instructor, also talked about his approach to teaching music and how crucial it is to make the effort of getting acquainted to the instrument being played and going beyond the surface of just knowing the fundamentals.
With several music and entertainment events happening in the kingdom like MDLBeast, Jeddah Season, and more, centers like Makan will always flourish. More and more musicians find solace in a platform where they can express their art, learn from other creatives, and find the shared passion of music.
