Basics of Playing Sitar for Both Indian and Western Music
Beginner
by Smarajit Sen
23 Years Experience
Smarajit has over 23 years of experience and numerous accolades, including the National Award "Akhil Bharatiya Sangeet Pratibha Puraskar." He is an "A-GRADE" artist with All India Radio and Prasar Bharati, recognized for his contributions to Indian classical music and education.
US $18 per class |
for 1-on-1, 60 mins class
Recommended: 1 class per week | 12-16 weeks to level up
Pay as you go, 2 classes at a time
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Instruction Language
: English, Bengali, Hindi
Course Summary
Do you want to play a Raga from Hindustani Classical Music and Waltez on sitar with equal aplomb? Sitar is an Indian classical music that has made its mark in world music, with great contributions from revered artists such as Pt. Ravi Shankar. Practitioners of Western music have also embraced sitar. Hence, apart from the ‘gamak’, ‘murki’, and other ‘alankars of Hindustani classical music, several melodies of Western music find expression on sitar.
If you aspire to play both Indian and Western music on sitar, this is a good place to start. Mentor, Smarajit Sen has designed this course for new learners and also for students who have learned before and want to restart their practice after a gap.
Find a broad breakdown of the course curriculum in the ‘About the course’ section. However, the lesson plan will be customized as per the learning abilities and aspirations of the student.
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Teacher's Profile
Teacher Skill Keywords
Indian Classical Music, Classical sitar, Sitar, Ragas on Sitar
Education
Masters in Music from Rabindra Bharati University
BA HONS in MUSIC from Rabindra Bharati University
Scholarship from ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata
Work Details
Assistant Professor, Music - Rabindra Bharati University
Assistant Professor, Music - Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar
About the Course
As it is said - ‘the morning shows the day.’ - the beginning phase of learning sitar is crucial. Here is a broad structure of the lesson plan. The curriculum will be customized after assessing the student’s skill level and learning abilities.
- Know your instrument - The musical instrument you play, becomes an extension of your body. Hence, it is essential to know it inside out. Keeping this in mind, the very first lesson of this course focuses on introducing the sitar. You will learn about its various parts, their name, and their role in producing the sound of the sitar.
- Know the Notes - The foundation of good music rests on 7 shuddha swaras (notes) and 5 vakra swaras. You will learn to identify the right frequency of each note and play it on the instrument. You will learn about the different scales/ Thhaat.
- Tune Your Sitar - An instrumentalist must learn how to tune the instrument. In this part of the lesson, you will know how to tune the sitar.
- Sitting and Holding Positions - Owing to its size, the sitar is heavy to hold for a long time. Hence, learning to sit in the right position and balancing the sitar with your two hands and one foot is important.
- Basic Skill Practices - Right-hand practice, stroke practices, sapat, and sargams, etc.
- Aroha and Avroha - Playing the notes in ascending and descending order using different combinations of notes.
- Basic idea of Alankars - Meend, Gamak, Krintan, Zamzama, Sparsh, Murki, Ghasit.
- Introducing the Taal, Matra, Chhand, Counting, and Gaps.
- Murchhana Practices - Learning to shift the base note to different notes.
- Ragas that will be taught in this course include - Bilawal and Yaman. You will learn the Sargam, Aroha Avroha, Phrases and Movements, Alap, Jod, Vilambit, Madhyalaya, and Drut Teental Gats.
- Sequences of Riyaz - You will learn to create your own Taans, Paltas, and Sargams.
About the Teacher
Smarajit Sen has been an acclaimed sitarist, music composer, and teacher for the last 23 years. His teaching experience extends to 14 years. A traditional artiste and torchbearer of "Senia - Shahjahanpur" Gharana, Smarajit is a disciple of Padma Bhushan Pt.Buddhadev Dasgupta Ji.
Smarajit holds the prestigious "A-GRADE" status from All India Radio and TV, and Prasar Bharati. He received the National Award "Akhil Bharatiya Sangeet Pratibha Puraskar" in December 2017. He is an empaneled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and SPICMACAY.
His commitment to music education was recognized with the "Best Educator Award" by Scl Academy, Mumbai, in November 2020. Academically, he has been awarded a National Scholarship from the Government of India and served as a scholar at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata.
His contributions to Indian classical music are further highlighted by awards such as the Pt. Gyan Prakash Ghosh Memorial Award and the West Bengal State Govt Music Academy Champion Award in 2007.
Smarajit collaborated with revered figures like Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta, Haimanti Shukla, Ustad Rashid Khan, and Pt. Subhankar Banerjee in albums like "Transformations" and "Ensemble". He has also performed with legendary artists such as Smt. Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Ghulam Ali, Pandit Birju Maharaj, and Kaushiki Chakraborty.
Currently, Smarajit is teaching as a Guest Faculty in Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.
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- Learning the sitar helps you become more intelligent and a better person.
- Playing music regularly releases happy hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, making you feel positive, healthy, and wise.
- You will be able to play the sitar easily and effectively.
- You may have the opportunity to teach others.
- You could take part in recording sessions and live performances.
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- For a child, he/ she should be old enough to handle the sitar physically. Hence, ideally, the starting age should be above 8 years.
- You should own a sitar.
- A stable internet connection.
- Access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone with a functioning camera and microphone
- A quiet and private space for music practice without disturbances.
... Read More
Available For All Age-Groups
Online live sessions completed
Our teachers recommend customized classes for an effective learning experience. Here's why!
Every individual
Has a unique learning style
Is at a different learning stage
Has different posture and instrument holding style
Has different mind-hand coordination
Has a different understanding of rhythm and melody
And a different GOAL!
Available For All Age-Groups
Online live sessions completed
Our teachers recommend customized classes for an effective learning experience. Here's why!
Every individual
Has a unique learning style
Is at a different learning stage
Has different posture and instrument holding style
Has different mind-hand coordination
Has a different understanding of rhythm and melody
And a different GOAL!
What you get?
World-class masters as teachers
Personalized & Interactive 1-on-1 classes
Course studio that amplifies passion learning
Access to global creative community
Pay as you go - 2 classes at a time
Milestone-based learning for best results
Statement of Accomplishment
Teacher's performance bits for reference
World-class masters as teachers
Personalized & Interactive 1-on-1 classes
Course studio that amplifies passion learning
Access to global creative community
Pay as you go - 2 classes at a time
Milestone-based learning for best results
Statement of Accomplishment
Teacher's performance bits for reference
FAQs
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What Makes ipassio Your Best Fit?
Online, real-time classes
From the comfort of your home, 1 on 1 online interactive classes are scheduled at your convenient time.
World class performers as educators
Award-winning teachers customize the course just for you. Their structured learning methodology lets you always track your progress.
Pay as you go
No long-term commitment. Pay for as few as 2 classes at a time. When you can't make it for the class, you can mutually reschedule with ease.