In reading the post on the Door�s possible use of the sitar I am very curious as to how many of the forum members here play 'Western Music' on their sitars.
Soon after beginning to learn a little on the sitar I realized the following:
I don't have a Sitar teacher / Guru
I don't have 8 to 12 hours a day for practicing.
I've spent 40 years being steeped in Western music.
The musical inspirations that well spring from my soul are predominately within
a Western melodic structure.
My decision was and is to simply do my best to express my musical heart and amateur playing ability on the sitar.
I'm curious to learn how others here approach this challenging arena of Eastern music.
I've been playing somewhat a mixture of west & Indian, but in no way consider myself great, but at the coffee shop gigs I've played, the crowd likes it. I play a few Beatle songs on it, and a few of my own.I think you should do what feels true to you. If you feel that you have the money and the time to find a guru, you really should if you want to be taken seriously by most Indians. . . . . . . . . . . . .Peace
