The Music Department was established in 2008 by Prof. Nazan Erkmen. Initially 10 students were accepted and classes were taught at Marmara University Acıbadem campus. The following year the department moved to Şişli and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ece Karşal was appointed Head of the Department. Today, all music classes are taught at Şişli. The music programme offers the following branches of study: cello, piano, violin, flute, composition and viola. Each year 10 students are accepted to the department. A key aim of the department is to educate students according to international standards to enable them to pursue careers in music-related fields throughout the world. As well as studying traditional areas of music, students are encouraged to use new technologies and to be able to work within interdisciplinary contexts. Each student receives one-to-one instruction in his/her principal study area (performance or composition) with a teacher who is a professional in his/her field. All students have the opportunity to choose elective lessons which broaden their knowledge and understanding of different musics. Examples of electives include Jazz Theory and History, Film Music, Conducting, various musical workshops as well the option of studying a second instrument.

An important element of the department’s mission is to foster a culture of social responsibility and to widen access to music education in the community. As part of this mission, all students take part in community projects, in particular working with disadvantaged children