With a background as concert soloist and recording artist for TV and radio, Ihsan Kartal is originally from Istanbul, Turkey. He has an impressive history which includes having two Master’s degrees: one from Istanbul and one from Louisiana State University, where he moved in 1991.

He has been teaching professionally since 1982 when he won a cello competition in Istanbul and was asked to join the University there as an instructor. He also studied at the Paris Conservatory from 1980 through 1982. He is a member of the Knoxville Symphony and the Oak Ridge Symphony.

A genial addition to the Music Arts faculty, Kartal’s approach to teaching cello is unusual in that he prefers to start beginning students with fourth position for the left hand, which he feels is more natural and fool-proof than the usual first position. Using pizzicato, or plucking the strings with the right hand, he concentrates on left hand position, introducing bowing technique after the student has had a chance to become comfortable finding the notes.

As Kartal expresses it, "I like to start a beginning student with the ‘feel’ of the left hand in finding notes and pitches, using pizzicato. Once there is some confidence with the left hand, I then introduce the right hand bowing on just open strings. A good bow grip is very important, and it’s best to take the time to concentrate on learning it right in the first place. Then we put the pieces together, making use of some of the music we’ve been working on with pizzicato."

And if the student is already playing in a school orchestra? "Of course a lot depends on the students’ playing level. But working with orchestra music is no problem," says Kartal. "We’ll spend half the lesson working on the school orchestra music, and the other half on ‘my stuff.’"

Kartal likes to devote a beginners’ first lesson to talking about the cello. He explains how the cello works and identifies the various parts, using drawings of the insides as needed. He says that learning to read music is important, and it’s helpful but not necessary if the student is already familiar with written music, from piano lessons, for example.

"Sightreading is important," Kartal explains. "I want to help them develop their effectiveness in playing with ensembles. To do this, I play duets with them. This helps them learn to listen for the other cello and is good ear training. I wouldn’t yell at a student "you’re out of tune!" I want them to listen, to hear the music so they can fix their intonation by themselves."

How does he feel about the music students’ nemesis, Scales? "Scales come later," Kartal asserts. "It’s much more important to concentrate on good hand position and intonation at the beginning."

His approach, combined with his amiable and good-humored personality seems to have helped him establish solid relationships with his students. He relates that a number of his former students keep in touch with him, although it’s been several years since he moved to Knoxville from Louisiana.