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INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Tabla Forum: Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions)

 

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Raymondji
Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Dec 31, 2001 03:10 p.m.

Hello all (or anyone)!

My name is Ray, and I'm new to your forum. Although I've been a percussionist for 15 years, I only just began playing tabla about 2 months ago. I have three problems:

1. I live in Northern Connecticut. I can't track down a teacher anywhere.

2. My bayan head is too tight. I can find loads of information on tightening a bayan head, but nothing on loosening it. I've tried to "break it in" daily, with lots of pressure/playing, etc., as recommended, but it's not helping. Knowing what moisture does to skin heads, I applied water (staying clear of the syahi), which brought it down about a fourth. By the time the head completely dried, it was back up to where I started. I have even let 10 pounds of weight sit on a moist head, which brought it down about a major sixth, but once again, it tightened back up. What gives?

3. I love Chatur Lal's playing more than any other that I have heard yet. He has a very relaxed, yet very assertive groove. (Don't misinterpret! I am not dismissing the other masters! Lal is just my fave.) The only recordings I've been able to find with him are with Raviji - "India's Master Musician" and "The Sounds of India." Does anyone know of any others that are available?

I know this is a lot to swallow at once, but any help would be very greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Ray
HanumanBaba
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 01, 2002 02:14 a.m.

Hi. . Raymondji . . . (1) An experienced percussionist like you should be able to make considerable learning progress by using books, audio-tapes, and c.d.'s . . . email DAVID the host/ co-ordinator at this site for his recommendations . . one good, cheap, starter book that comes to mind is "pantaj - Learn to play on TABLA" . . . (2) It sounds like your BAYAN straps have been set too tight for your regional TEMPERATURE/ HUMUDITY combination . . . I suggest you carefully mark (the TAIL) and ease your strapping (pliers with TAPED jaws) by about 18mm. . . . then make and insert some 9-12mm approx. 60mm. long TUNING pegs . . . and tension back up to your required note . . . straps which are a little too loose are easily corrected with larger TUNING pegs . . . but TOO tight straps are not so quickly corrected . . . I have no comment for your QUERY (3) . . . Best regards
theMonk
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 01, 2002 04:04 p.m.

3. His playing on Ravis India Master musicians Cd is indeed good. I have no other knowledge of Cds that he plays on, he does play on the India Music Festival video I have. I forget who exactly hes playing with, but his style is great.
Raymondji
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 01, 2002 11:04 p.m.

theMonk (Jan 01, 2002 04:04 p.m.):
3. His playing on Ravis India Master musicians Cd is indeed good. I have no other knowledge of Cds that he plays on, he does play on the India Music Festival video I have. I forget who exactly hes playing with, but his style is great.

Hey, Monk! Thanks for the response. Please elaborate on this video (title, publisher, availability, etc.). Much appreciated. .
Raymondji
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 01, 2002 11:10 p.m.

HanumanBaba (Jan 01, 2002 02:14 a.m.):
Hi. . Raymondji . . . (1) An experienced percussionist like you should be able to make considerable learning progress by using books, audio-tapes, and c.d.'s . . . email DAVID the host/ co-ordinator at this site for his recommendations . . one good, cheap, starter book that comes to mind is "pantaj - Learn to play on TABLA" . . . (2) It sounds like your BAYAN straps have been set too tight for your regional TEMPERATURE/ HUMUDITY combination . . . I suggest you carefully mark (the TAIL) and ease your strapping (pliers with TAPED jaws) by about 18mm. . . . then make and insert some 9-12mm approx. 60mm. long TUNING pegs . . . and tension back up to your required note . . . straps which are a little too loose are easily corrected with larger TUNING pegs . . . but TOO tight straps are not so quickly corrected . . . I have no comment for your QUERY (3) . . . Best regards

Hello, HanumanBaba. What a great response! Thanks. I've got David's fundamentals book (which is excellent), but nothing works quite as well as an experienced teacher to point out if your home position is a little off, etc. I'll look into that book (pantaj). I plan on trying your bayan solution very soon. I'll let you know how it works. Thanks again!
Pedro
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 02, 2002 05:46 p.m.

I have an old recording of Chaturlal playing solo tabla in Jhapltal (ca. 20 minutes), Vilambit Tintaal, and Drut Tintaal. It is amazing!!!, I have a recorded cassette, but a friend has the original vinyl. I don't know if it has been remastered on CD.
Jake
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 07, 2002 05:35 a.m.

Hello!
I suggest listening especiually to Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Pandit Kishen Maharaj, Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakwa. Of course there are a loy of players, but those guys are super. Chaudhuri has three cds and I have two of them (VERY GOOD). Thirakwa has at least two and I have both (VERY GOOD) and Maharaj at least three cds plus Gottliebs 2 book and cassette set. On that Gottlieb cassette Maharaj is SUPER!!! I don't have teacher, but I have managed with books and cds very well. It's up to you own will.
Jarkko
Lars
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 09, 2002 09:34 p.m.

Hey Ray, well what do they say?? Seek and you shall find. There's a Chatur Lal album for sale on Ebay. . . .here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1500213319
Not one of the LP's you mentioned, just ran across it in my daily ebaying. . . . .
Pedro
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 10, 2002 07:02 p.m.

Hey Jake, be careful with Thirakhwa, man
, he's the maximum tablaji, my teacher (who was disciple of a disciple of Thirakhwa) says that the Ustad was the first tabla player in mix diferent Gharanas and technics, and today you can see his legacy in wonderful tabla players as Suresh Talwalkar and many others.
Raymondji
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 11, 2002 12:40 p.m.

Lars (Jan 09, 2002 09:34 p.m.):
Hey Ray, well what do they say?? Seek and you shall find. There's a Chatur Lal album for sale on Ebay. . . .here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1500213319
Not one of the LP's you mentioned, just ran across it in my daily ebaying. . . . .

Hey man. Thanks for the link. I'll keep my fingers crossed that I am not outbidded. .
Lars
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 11, 2002 10:57 p.m.

Not a problem Ray, that's what these boards are for. I see you're new to Ebay, to ensure you get it you should enter the maximum amount you're willing to go, OR wait until the last minute and do it. Hope you get it, now back over to the Sitar board for me. . . . . . . .
Jake
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 14, 2002 03:40 a.m.

Hello Pedro!
Thirakwa is of course the ONE AND ONLY MASTER. Without HIM there wouldn't be too many tabla solos around. He has great emotion in his playing. We just have to hope, that feel and interpetation is not going to be forgotten. Interpetation is the main thing, not the display of technic. You must do your own thing. Express yourself totally with rhythm language(you know what I mean). That's the main lesson from Thirakwa in a nutshell, if you ask me. I am from Finland. Where are you from Pedro?
Jake
Pedro
Re:Hopeless in CT, USA (3 questions) Jan 14, 2002 08:39 p.m.

P�iv��, M� tullen Chilesta.
(Aanteksi, minun suomea on huonosti paljon)
Well, I live in Chile, i have studied Tabla since i was 14 (i'm 21 now) my teacher is Sanjay Bhadoriya from Delhi.
Here in Santiago, i use to play with bansuri players and also Tabla Wadan.

Do you know if there are more hindustani musicians in Finland?

N�k�miin.
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