Indian Tabla

The repertoire of the Tabla has developed over centuries at the heart of Indian music with the subtleties of the traditional rhythmic Tala, their aavartan cycles, and the vibhaga subdivisions. The Tabla can produce a huge range of tones depending on the hand stroke, palm position and damping; these are explored in the session.

Workshops

Full days of sessions with a tutor only

Students play in ensemble and learn the correct hand and finger strokes and their bol mnemonics, so that rhythms are learned vocally, then applied to the instrument. Most work will be with the tintal 16 beat cycle and its vibhaga rhythmic divisions, and there will be space for improvisation and composition using the materials covered in the workshop.

These workshops, generally for KS2 to GCSE, combine Music National Curriculum requirements in an engaging and stimulating classroom environment, providing an accessible gateway to this important cornerstone of Indian culture.