İbrahim Kocabıyık crafts musical instruments for 31 years

İbrahim Kocabıyık, a 61-year-old retired conservatory musician living in Sinop, has spent the last 31 years crafting musical instruments. His journey into instrument making began after a challenge from colleagues who doubted his ability to produce high-quality instruments.

Kocabıyık, who studied Turkish classical music and ney at the Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Conservatory, noticed quality issues in instruments used by students during his tenure at the Sinop Municipality Conservatory. This prompted his decision to create his own. After his first attempt at making an oud, which took 1.5 months to complete using basic tools, he continued the craft.

Since retiring in 2019, Kocabıyık has opened a music house where he works alongside his musician wife. Together, they provide music education to students and manufacture various instruments, including ouds and bağlamas. He estimates he has produced at least 200 to 300 ouds over the decades.