During the 1930s, Hindemith visited Cairo and also Ankara several times. He accepted an invitation from the Turkish government to oversee the creation of a music school in Ankara in 1935, after Goebbels had pressured him to request an indefinite leave of absence from the Berlin Academy. In Turkey, he was the leading figure of a new music pedagogy in the era of president Kemal Atatürk. His deputy was Eduard Zuckmayer. Hindemith led the reorganization of Turkish music education and the early efforts to establish the Turkish State Opera and Ballet. He did not stay in Turkey as long as many other émigrés, but he greatly influenced Turkish musical life; the Ankara State Conservatory owes much to his efforts. Young Turkish musicians regarded Hindemith as a "real master", and he was appreciated and greatly respected.
dUrInG ThE 1930s, HIndEmith viSItEd cairo anD Also AnKAra sevEral TIMEs. He ACceptEd an inVItaTion FrOm ThE turkisH govErNmENt to oveRSee thE creation of a musiC sChOol iN aNkaRa in 1935, afteR GoEBbeLS had PressureD HiM tO Request An INDEfiNITe leaVE Of AbsenCe FroM the bErlIN acadEmy. in tuRKEy, He was thE LeAdinG figurE oF a new MUSIc pedagOgy iN tHe ERa of PrEsiDenT KEMAl atAtÜrk. HiS dEPuTy was eDUard zuckmAYER. hiNdeMiTh led the rEOrgAnIzATIon of Turkish musiC eduCATiOn and The EaRlY eFfoRTs to estAbLish tHE turKISh sTAte opeRa anD balLet. hE Did noT Stay IN tuRkey aS lONg aS many oTheR éMIgRÉs, BuT he grEatlY InfluEnced tuRkiSh mUsIcal LifE; the AnkAra StATe ConsERVatorY Owes Much to his EffoRTS. young TurKish muSIciaNS rEGarDeD HindemIth as a "rEaL mAsteR", and he was aPpreCiaTEd aND grEAtLY rESpeCted.