The Music’s Role in Socialization of the Romani in Turkey: “Musician School” Project

The Romani, who are the people always looked from a distance throughout the history, scared and feared, have always been so close and so far away at the same time. It is hard for every society to accept what is not the same with it, the “other”. However, a Project was planned, with the idea of from local to universal, so that The Romani, who can perform the intercultural carrier, transfer their life-style in a fun way through their language with the music they create, could socialize, instead of being seen as the “other”. Within this Project, it is planned that various groups with a certain musical talent, consisting of The Romani, will have a four-year education in different areas of music and will be helped to share their talent with the society. With this Project, The Romani will tell their dreams, sadness, fights, and their nonchalance of life and their forgotten lives that no one doesn’t want to see or could not see through their songs and dances, which comes from the assumption that it will contribute their unity with society. The artistic activities of the Romani, who are different color in our country, having a rich cultural variety, should be supported. That the natural ability to music and dance in the Gypsies are not limited within them, and that these talents are turned into productivity in different areas of music will both support their development and increase their social value. In this study, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Conservatory “Musician School” (Çalgıcı Mektebi) Project, designed in 2011 within the scope of music’s role in socialization of the Romani, is examined and it is aimed to present this Project.


Introduction
The socialization of human who is a social being is seen as an important procces for all communities.The socialization which is the process of preparatipon of an individual by having his own character, and the integration into society (http://www.tdk.gov.tr/) is described "being aware of an individual regarding to the norms about the expected role for him while participating in any group activity" according to Erkal (1997:87).Socialization in a healthy way has many positive effects on people.Self-confidence and also rules and values systems of the individual develop.Socialization also allows the development of understanding and tolerance towards other people.Doğan (2002,64) describes the socialization as being together with others, and points out people who fail to do are kept under social pressure.Social relations in cultural conditions affect the structure of society, culture and individual as well.(Koştaş, http://dergiler.ankara.edu.tr/dergiler/37/770/9798. pdf ).In this context, the socialization of individuals who locate in the same country and reflect different cultures have a great importance.Gypsies can be an example for this, who spread all over the world.In fact, gypsy community who has always been humiliated throughout history have been beside us but insomuch as that away from us.This situation is not different in Turkey the country we live in.
The studies on Romani people and their population is quite low compared to other social researches.In contrast, their spreading of every part of Turkey, spending nomadic life of large of them, grouping of some them on the existence of cities; prejudice against the Romani people in society, socio-economic status and living conditions are seen as a major subject for research and analysis.In this study, briefly the social status of Romani people in Turkey is examined, and it is aimed to introduce Musician School (Çalgıcı Mektebi) Project which is applied in Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Conservatory in the context of the role of music through their socializing process.In this study the expression "Romani" was preferred to define them because Romanies themselves prefer the expression of "Romani" for themselves instead of "Gypsy",although Romanies are generally expressed as "Gypsy" in Turkey.
There are many similarities between the way of life and field of occupation of Romanies who have spread to various parts of the world, In this regard, the situation in Turkey is not much different.It seems that there will not be a simply change in social status of Romanies as long as we host prejudice in our collective memory as a society, and the government takes no serious step which may affect their living conditions in a positive way.Especially for those who live in big cities, correspondingly the challenges of metropolitan living conditions; problems such as poverty, lack of education and social security are some of the most important problems of Romanies.Although it is difficult to reach a definitive statistical information related to the number of Romanies in Turkey, according to the official figures it is 500 thousand while according to Romanies this figure is around 2. 5 million.It is possible to find Romanies almost everywhere in Turkey.A large part of them are in the region of Thrace (Rom groups) and Anatolian (Dom groups).They are particularly scattered in Maraş, Antep and Adana, and in all districts in the cosmopolitan nature of İstanbul.Romanies who emigrated from Bulgaria particularly live in Kayseri, Adana, Osmaniye, Sakarya and Çorum.(In Çorum, resident Romanies sometimes called as "Haymantos") Those located in Erzurum, Artvin, Bayburt, Erzincan, Sivas called them with the name of "poşa" or "boşa".They are known as "Qereçi, Mutrib" in Van, Hakkari, Mardin and Siirt.("Mutrib" or "mırtıp" means "musician" in Arabic.) Their nomadic life since ancient times, and their professions to live on such as musician and craft are their common features often known by everyone.Yet today, in modern and post-modern eras, although most of them live settled life, they are alienated in almost all the countries where they live.(http://www.mazlumder.org/tr).Therefore the socialization of Romanies is quite important and doing it with music field which they know best could make it easier.The project of Musician School (Çalgıcı Mektebi) which was designed by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Conservatory in the from local to global conceptipon in 2011 and which began accepting students in 2013 is seen as an important demonstration project in order to socialize Romanies, who can make intercultural transportation by the musics they made in this context, and tell us their life in a fun way in their own language, by destroying the idea of seeing them as "others".In the project, it is aimed that various groups formed by Romanies which have a certain music talents will receive music education in different branches of music for four years, and it is planned to assist them to show their talents to the society.With this project, it is seen that telling their dreams, sorrows, fightings, circumstances of forbearing, and their lives in odd corners which no body want to see or can see by their song and dances, and the assumption that it contribute to social reintegration is seen as a starting point.
One of the main purposes of the project is not to forget and make not to forget the effects of the "Gypsy Music" whose main feature is beginning in a sad and pessimistic way, then frantically reaching a rhytm and clicking people or getting the shivers of them, and the cultural reflection of it in our country, whose effects extends from India to Anatolia, from Anatolia to Balkans, from Balkans to North Africa, from North Africa to Europe, from Europe to America.It supports Gypsy's development and increase the value they have in society to show their natural predisposition for music and dance, and converted these capabilties to efficiency in different branches of music.Below the project which was designed and started to be applied for socialization of Romanies is introduced with content and titles.

The Name of the Project
"Çalgıcı Mektebi" project oriented for socialization and education of Romanies of Bursa

The Subject of The Project
It is designed as a social responsibility project created within the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Conservatory to heed Romanies' "we want to socialize" call.To make Romanies gain social status,who suffering from aphaty and change the point of view of society draws the attention as one of the most important goals of the project.
The project is specifically designed for Romanies of Bursa.The success of the project will be able to set an example to other municipalities and music institutions.The first step towards the socialization of Roma citizens have been taken in the field of music."Music Education Project" was intended to be implemented for the areas such as; Turkish Folk Music, Turkish art music, Romani music, Classical Music, Romani Chorus, Instrument making and repair.4 years is determined for training process.Joining is provided to all Romani citizens who are interested the field by determining the lower age limit for candidates as 12. Ability exam is tested for each year in august.Candidates who studies or works are able to continue to part-time schools.The test is applied to measure musical hearing ability to candidates who are proper in terms of health, and winner candidates are directed to the field of music education above-mentioned.The diploma will be given to candidates who have completed the educational process successfully, they will be able to take part in various orchestras, and they will be able to be contractual music teachers in private institutions.If the project reached success, public concerts will be held across the province, and Romani music group will play an important and active role in answering the purpose for socialization of Romanies.It will contribute to the integration of Romanies with public.The group who has the support of the municipality to participate in activities all over the world will contribute to the promotion of Bursa.
By discovering the potential of Romani musicians, it can be increasingly configured in commercial sense.The presentations in the field of music of cute marginals can creat a touristic opportunity.Romanies due to their receptive structure to other traditions, their conglutinating some elements belonging to different traditions in their music, and their providing a certain transitivity among different cultures will be able to convert some of the global trends, cultural and musical relationship to opportunities in our favor.

The Aim and Objectives of the Project
It supports Gypsy's development and increase the value they have in society to show their natural predisposition for music and dance, and converted these capabilties to efficiency in different branches of music.
The Benefits Of This Educational Process Will Provide in Social Perspective: To contribute the social integration by providing training to those not educated, Not only the persons who get the high school diploma by finishing the program promote in their current professions in social life, but also new graduates will find the opportunity to work in public and private institutions They will gain rational thinking features which provide to develop relationships between environment and people.

The Contribution of the Project to the Development of Town -City
The project will enable Romani citizens to present their individualism and capabilities in society in a self-confidential way with the education and activities they will take, and so educated Romani citizens will not be alienated in society.They will experience the happiness and inner peace of being part of the society without losing their own culture.In Bursa, Romani and not Romani people will take part as a unit in art and culture facilities, and these facilities will promote to introduce all the elements of social-cultural and to be applied these kind of facilities to our other cities and the world.

The Contribution of the Project to the Social, Economical and Cultural Development of Society
The project will firstly provide a social-security enviroment to Romani citizens with these facilities.Their presentation for their capabilties by combining them with education will bring about benefit of profit for them.In this way, happiness and peace will take part in their family life.In terms of culture, they will protect and transmit it to the next generations.They will keep the instruments alive which inherited from their ancestors and announce it the whole world.They will improve their musical abilities, and get the opportunity to compose proper music in harmony and maqam subjects.Turkish folk music, Turkish art music, Western music and Romani music will announce this various beauty under Turkish Culture by working together.

The Contribution of Town -City to the Nationally and Internationally Introducement
Bringing the lost cultural values of Romanies by the help of educational activities, and present it in national and international levels through concerts and broadcast.It is bringing Turkish and Romani music types together, to fit within a universal music, and extent tastes and interests nationally and internationally to the highest level.Most importantly it will support Romani children through the process of being included training, prevent them to chase of the bad habits, and provide them to take part in the summit of success.

Result
For centuries, Roma musicians who are important part of the entertainment industry in Turkey will increase their prestige in society and develop their interior genetic music skills by increasing the projects as in the conservatory which belong to Bursa Metropolitan Municipilaty.Thus, musicians who can influence our country and the world will appear among Romanies who are paved the way for, are got prestige in society, and became social.Deserved reputation for Romani identity which is named in a humliaiting tone in general can be gained with music which is one of the most effective communication tools.In terms of the conversion of the Romani sense, the new Romani figures can be established.Aesthetic and artistic representation can provide the basis for the formation of identity.With update-oriented effort, the complex process of preparing the present situation can be converted to contribution in integration.The process may be embodied with an increasing number of examples of projects.Creating projects to develop Romanies' artistic skills and socialize them with society of local governments as in the example of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality will increase their prestige, and the perspective in society will reverse.
Provide For Public: To make individual reach to a certain level, To help individuals adapt to new conditions engendered by social change, To provide to clutch its way and method by creating volition to change the enviroment and to help for organizing by taking the action with this purpose, To provide equal opportunities in education, To create changes in the form of production, in relationships and and behaviours of individual, To play a role to ensure social integration,