I remember searching through old posts and finding a link for a website with some kind of special powder that someone recommended. It was on a weird website, can anyone help?
ram (Jan 06, 2004 09:15 a.m.):
do you mean powder to make the paste for the drum head or powder for the fingers.
If for fingers, I use medical talc for treating atheletes foot to reduce sweating.
Do a thread search here for 'talc'. If your hands sweat constantly as in typing on the keyboard or driving a car or holding a pen then you should see a doctor. If your hands only sweat when you play tabla then you should ask your teacher about learning to relax.
Use unadulterated talc only on your hands, not on the drum. As someone who is familiar with repairing tablas, nothing is more disgusting than trying to removing talcum powder that's been permanently caked on to every grain, and into every seam and pore.
If your hands sweat constantly as in typing on the keyboard or driving a car or holding a pen then you should see a doctor.
Aanaddha
My hands are big and sweat a lot. It usually doesn't take longer than a minute before my fourth finger smudges the syahi. By the end of a session, the syahi is evidentally darker and damper (the sustain and pitch is dramatically affected as a result). Using normal talc just cakes up real quick in the mix, so I use it sparingly.
This seems like a weird problem to have, but it's beginning to take the enjoyment out of playing. What could a doctor do? Anti-sweat tablets would be nice.
Or perhaps spraying anti-perspirent before playing might work :-)
In my experience sweat is usually associated with anxiety, stress or tension, (call it what you will). When i first started playing i would sweat profusely when playing especially when asked to play a piece by my teacher. Over time and perhaps with a little confidence the sweating has stopped and talc or any other moisture absorbtion is not needed. I still use a little talc for other reasons but not because of sweat.
You could consult a doctor about your sweating, there is medication to reduce sweating but i suggest you keep it non medical and practise relaxation prior to playing. Also consider your approach to the instrument, playing tabla is an art, playing itself should relax you, not make you sweat.
The current emphasis on BPM, whirling rela's and speed of playing generally distract us from the beauty of each bol. The tabla is also a melodic instrument and each touch of the skins can produce rich and wonderous sounds.(I vividly remember the first time i heard the bols tu na, 2 notes but such beauty, the layers, the harmonics. .) The production of such sound should not make a player sweat, or at least should not require excessive physical effort.
"As someone who is familiar with repairing tablas, nothing is more disgusting than trying to removing talcum powder that's been permanently caked on to every grain, and into every seam and pore."
Aanaddha
Good old Annaddha, never at a loss for kind and helpful advice.
I also noticed: when you become more advanced, you use more complex bols where your 3rd finger flies and slides more so it gets more air. Then even if you're stressed it becomes easier than with thekas and basic kaidas which make me sweat still. . I guess it remains like that. .
alien (Jan 08, 2004 11:24 a.m.):
I also noticed: when you become more advanced, you use more complex bols where your 3rd finger flies and slides more so it gets more air. Then even if you're stressed it becomes easier than with thekas and basic kaidas which make me sweat still. . I guess it remains like that. .
Be aware of your wrist action ( even to the point of over-exageration.) The more flexability you allow in your wrist the less tension in your fingers and the more air movement between your hands and the puddi. You'll also be surprised not only at the ease and enjoyment, but also the clarity of sound when you allow the wrist (and forearm) to do what it does best.
Think of your arm as a whip - your shoulders are the grip and your fingers are the very small part that actually strikes the object. The rest of your arm moves in an increasing double arc as it descends with momentum and accuracy towards the target.
Hope that helps. Get a hold of the Nizamuddin Video from Digital and watch it in slow motion.
:-)
Aanaddha
You could consult a doctor about your sweating, there is medication to reduce sweating but i suggest you keep it non medical and practise relaxation prior to playing.
To say I have anxiety/stress issues is putting it mildly, but at the same time this is not related to performing or nervousness (I am a novice to the tabla, but not to performing in general). And inline with your words omja, playing the tabla is itself a relaxation technique for me. Anyway, on your advise I made a visit to the doc who prescribed something called Propantheline. Let's see if it helps.
The production of such sound should not make a player sweat, or at least should not require excessive physical effort.
Where this is sustained contact between my skin and the tabla skin, there is sweat. For example, as a beginner this is one of things I am learning:
Ge Ge TiT Ge Ge Na Na
Ta Ta Tit Ge Ge Na Na
My teacher has taught me to start using the middle finger and then the index finger for TiT which means that my fourth finger is always touching the skin (and of course the base of my left hand on the bayan). Within seconds literally, regardless of speed, the contact point on the fourth finger and the base of my right hand will become moist. (The syahi becomes darker and marks my finger tip). I keep rotating the dayan to minimise this.
I don't like the idea of using medication as it's not a long term solution, but at least I see some hope. Anyway, thanks for the pointer. I would never have done anything about it otherwise. .
