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Dougie
Tabla Lessons May 21, 2002 09:46 a.m.

Hi,

I am from Toronto and have been playing Tabla for just over a year, the first nine months with a teacher. I have started rather late in life (at 52) - but no regrets as I find the experience exhilirating ! (my family doesn't ).

In the next little while I shall be completing "David Courtney-Learning The Tabla" which I found to be an excellent beginner's book. Especially that it had a CD as a guide.

What would you recommend as a succession to this ? Would "David Courtney-Advanced Theory of Tabla" be a natural choice ?

What looks interesting is "Jeffrey M. Feldman-The Tabla Legacy of Taranath Rao" or "Aloke Dutta-Tabla: Poetic Drumming" - the reviews of which I read at "percussionmusic.com"

Tks in advance for your suggestions.
rod
Re:Tabla Lessons May 21, 2002 11:52 a.m.

Hi there,

I find that it is never too late to start doing something u love! I am thirty one and have been playing for three years.
"David Courtney-Advanced Theory of Tabla" is a
natural choice . I don't know much about other books but Pt Sharda Sahai's book and video are very good choice. Also Ala Rakha's book and video and "Jeffrey M. Feldman-The Tabla Legacy of Taranath Rao are very good. But the best advice I can give u is: (and I would get Pt Sharda Sahai's book and video if I was u) Stick to one thing at a time i.e. a single book or video and go over it again and again (even for years if needed). The other thing is, listen to lots of good different tabla players styles. Listen and listen lots of tabla music!! Practise every day for at least one hour and if u can go to India and spend at least one month every year there learning tabla for 8 to 12 hours a day(but if u can take a year off to go to India after u have been playing for some two years). But together with practising everyday the most important thing is: U must believe that U CAN be as good as anyone out there. If u do all that(or at least have the believe that u can do it and do the everyday practise) then u will become a very good player in some five years no doubt!

cheers
Dougie
Re:Tabla Lessons May 21, 2002 03:19 p.m.

Thanks, Rod,

For that piece of advice and inspiration.

Talking about listening to good tabla music, I am still too 'young' to comment on good tabla playing, but I had occasion to be listening to Catherine Potter's CD "Bansuri" and the accompanying tabla was absolutely mesmerising.

tks again for the info.

dougie
Jake
Re:Tabla Lessons May 22, 2002 04:13 a.m.

Aloke Dutta's Poetic drumming is good! There are variations to kaidas, peshkar, rela and there are also fixed compositions (tukra, gat, chakradar). You can see how the variations progress (kaida, rela, peshkar) and the different ideas. It has the themes, but also a lot of variations and a tihai to end the composition. Alla Rakha's booklet explains the mathematical side of kaida variations. After playing a while you can start finding your own style(rhythmic perspective and ideas) and own variations.

GOOD tabla recordings Kishen Maharaj: CD Brilliancy and the oldest tradition (anything from Kishen Maharaj is high quality playing. If you're able to find old recordings from the seventies as in Gottlieb's book he is technically even better, but the ideas and everything are always JUST GREAT!!

Swapan Chaudhuri is also reliable artist. Every recording that I've heard is high quality. The CD majestic tabla of Swapan Chaudhuri for example is very good.

Thirakwa's Live in Bombay 1964 is great. Pandit Sarda Sahai is also good very good (CD The art of Benares baj).
www.khazana.com has indian music (the best place). I hope this helps. Good luck!
Jake

? ? ?
What is the the Sarda Sahai's books name? Where can I order it and what it contains?
rod
Re:Tabla Lessons May 22, 2002 05:50 a.m.

Hi,
Sharda sahai's book is called: Play Tabla and it contains apart from very clear pictures of the hand positions, a set of compositions-kaidas, rela and fixed compositions which will set you on the way for a nice solo. They look very simple at first glance(and they are mostly in barabar with some in ari) but believe me, they will take you some time to master(just like most of tabla repertoire). There is a very famous Punjabi Gat. A nice, simple, dugun kayda yet quite difficult to master. The book itself(i.e. the compositions) is not difficult to understand yet it goes to show how difficult is to master tabla.
You can find it at www.amzon.co.uk or at Jas Music shop at Southhall, London.

Cheers
Rod
Jake
Re:Tabla Lessons May 22, 2002 07:16 a.m.

Are there a lot of kaidas, gats etc. ? How many pages of material? Are there any variations to kaidas? Do you have the video? Is it clear and useful? Thank you! It sounds great!
rod
Re:Tabla Lessons May 22, 2002 09:13 a.m.

The book is very simple yet very useful. It is very clear, it shows the hands positions very well and whenever there is a stroke that might confuse you it has a number attached to it so that u can refer back to (page and) the actually hand position(or finger). There are five Kaydas with 5 to 9/10 paltas + tihai. There is a section on tihais and a section on kis me (theka/prakar). There is one rela(no paltas) which is a very good(choice of rela) because it has- dhere dhere(good for getting into the habit of dhere dhere). The Parans(paran and chakradar paran) are simple yet(the TeTeTeTe in it will show u how important this simple phrase is) when u are able to play fast it sound simply amazing. The tukra(and the Chakradar based on the same tukra) are also easy to understand and play(slowly) but when starting to play fast it shows just how important and difficult is to have a complete control of Dhere Dhere Kitataka.
There is a Mohara and a Mukra.
The Kayda(Bant) - Dhige dhina tirikita Dhina. . . .
can be a great challenge.
The Punjabi Gat has to be the best! . .remember the
nara nara nara( played with both index fingers on the dahina) you hear great masters playing so well? well, it is all there.

It has more than enough for someone just starting and even for me who has been playing for some time it still is a big challenge! If u are just starting(tabla) then u may want to get the Video which is also great. Get it if u can but. . .whatever u do find a good teacher. Believe me, nothing beats a good Master!
Jake
Re:Tabla Lessons May 23, 2002 01:26 a.m.

WOW! I have to order it. Is Pandit Sarda Sahai demonstrating compositions also in performance tempo?
rod
Re:Tabla Lessons May 24, 2002 11:49 a.m.

I haven't watched the video for a while but I think he plays one (ari) kaida in performance time. The book also has a Bumika and a Uthan. The idea of the book is to work towards a simple tintal solo so u won't find lots of other composition in it apart from the ones needed. Overall, 10/10.

cheers
themonk
Re:Tabla Lessons May 24, 2002 06:47 p.m.

Dougie, I dont have much to say, other than the fact that you began tabla at age 52 is a pretty happy thought. It sounds weird, but I respect you highly for trying something like tabla at that age, I know no one like that. My dad is 52, and he not only wouldnt begin anything like that(especially tabla), but Im afraid he couldnt. Just like to say thats a great thing your doing. I started almost a year ago at the age of 16, so I have a long tabla journey ahead of me.
Dougie
Re:Tabla Lessons May 25, 2002 06:05 p.m.

themonk (May 24, 2002 06:47 p.m.):
Dougie, I dont have much to say, other than the fact that you began tabla at age 52 is a pretty happy thought. It sounds weird, but I respect you highly for trying something like tabla at that age, I know no one like that. My dad is 52, and he not only wouldnt begin anything like that(especially tabla), but Im afraid he couldnt. Just like to say thats a great thing your doing. I started almost a year ago at the age of 16, so I have a long tabla journey ahead of me.

"And I'm sure you are enjoying every moment of it.

On one occasion with my teacher, a prospective student walked in enquiring details to start lessons. Seeing he looked around my generation I leaned over and quietly asked his age. He was 60 !!

The venerable drums are attracting venerable fans.

Cheers - Dougie"
Philippe Nasse
Re:Tabla Lessons Jun 14, 2002 06:40 a.m.

Tabla with Pandit Shankar Ghosh
Video method with book.

Collection � Le Salon de Musique �
From the ear to movement. . from movement to the ear. .


Who is Pandit Shankar Ghosh ?

Born in 1935, Pandit Shankar Ghosh is ackowleged as one of the great contemporary masters of Indian percussion.
Pandit Shankar Ghosh is not only a musical educator, but is also a concert artist whose international notoriety asserted itself as early as 1962, during concerts in the company of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Bade Ali Khan. .


This video method included :

A documentary : � Calcutta, capital of tabla � 47 �
This film presents the artistic and educational environement of the tabla, as well as its manufacturing.
Many musical sequences ( with sarode, sitar, vocals,tabla solo, tabla duo) help to appreciate the

Tabla lessons 75 �
Pandit Shankar Ghosh presents the differents strokes (boles) that will allow you to play tabla. You will have the opportunity to study� themes and variations� compositions ( Kaida; Rela; Laggi,. .) and �fixed compositions� ( Tukra, Gat, Chakradar�
Tabla tunnig is also esplained.


A book. 84 p
It contains all the scores of the themes proposed in the video together with many additional variations, a history of tabla and a glossary of the main technical terms.

Distribution and order :

Improductions - Le Salon de Musique.
Bp 10156 - Bornel - 60541 Meru cedex - France
tel / fax : 33 03 44 08 88 14
improductions@wanadoo.fr

Price :
45 euros + 10 euros for shiping in US . 6 euros for CEE.
by check or international postal paiement to improductions
Larry
Re:Tabla Lessons Jul 20, 2002 01:28 p.m.

How do yu tune the Dayan up to C or C# with out thinking you will break the hide straps. Right now I have threee straps behind all 8 dowells? Help Larry
themonk (May 24, 2002 06:47 p.m.):
Dougie, I dont have much to say, other than the fact that you began tabla at age 52 is a pretty happy thought. It sounds weird, but I respect you highly for trying something like tabla at that age, I know no one like that. My dad is 52, and he not only wouldnt begin anything like that(especially tabla), but Im afraid he couldnt. Just like to say thats a great thing your doing. I started almost a year ago at the age of 16, so I have a long tabla journey ahead of me.
Larry
Re:Tabla Lessons Jul 20, 2002 01:28 p.m.

Dougie (May 21, 2002 09:46 a.m.):
Hi,

I am from Toronto and have been playing Tabla for just over a year, the first nine months with a teacher. I have started rather late in life (at 52) - but no regrets as I find the experience exhilirating ! (my family doesn't ).

In the next little while I shall be completing "David Courtney-Learning The Tabla" which I found to be an excellent beginner's book. Especially that it had a CD as a guide.

What would you recommend as a succession to this ? Would "David Courtney-Advanced Theory of Tabla" be a natural choice ?

What looks interesting is "Jeffrey M. Feldman-The Tabla Legacy of Taranath Rao" or "Aloke Dutta-Tabla: Poetic Drumming" - the reviews of which I read at "percussionmusic.com"

Tks in advance for your suggestions.
Jake
Re:Tabla Lessons Jul 23, 2002 07:33 a.m.

Poetic Drumming is a really good book. It has Peshkar, Kaida, Rela, Tukra, Gat and Chakradar sections in variety of tals. There are a lot of variations to different Kaidas, Relas and Peshkars. There are compositions from Masir Khan, Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Aloke Dutta, Shankar Ghosh and even one from one player above all others, Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakwa. I really recommend this book!
Tabla legacy of Taranath Rao is also a nice one. A lot of themes, but not so many variations, thekas for various tals, gats, chakrakradars, but also two different Ajrara peshkars for slow tempo!
Alla Rakha's book and video set is also nice, when thoroughly studied.
Varuna
Re:Tabla Lessons Aug 07, 2002 02:10 p.m.

You need to pull the strap tight all the way around starting at the short knot , take out the blocks as you go along untie the long end knot ,pay close attention to the way it was tied so that you can tie it after you have pulled the strap tight all the way around. then put your blocks (gattas) back in one strap each first then add a second strap if possible.

An electronic tuner with a built in mic works great for beginners learning to tune . You can pick one up for under 75$

Peace
Varuna
http://www.angelfire.com/music3/tabla

[quote]Larry (Jul 20, 2002 01:28 p.m.):
How do yu tune the Dayan up to C or C# with out thinking you will break the hide straps. Right now I have threee straps behind all 8 dowells? Help Larry[quote]themonk (May 24, 2002 06:47 p.m.):
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