The Scientifics Behind Tabla | All Levels

For all levels of tabla, students in this course move from practicing spoken or syllabic phrases to practicing compositions and playing. Teachers will begin teaching compositions with the introduction of shurvat or solo tabla playing. Each creation has its own distinctive features. Students are taught to observe and observe these characteristics while playing the instrument. Kaida, which is the next composition after Shuruvat, follows a strict composition structure. Students get to play and learn each speaking and finger technique to render lyrics on the tabla. They learn the application of each bol and its improvement in the Qaida. Moving on, students get to practice relays, here, students learn to play, repeating words at an increased pace. The next composition to be taught to students is the composition tukra, which is mainly played at the culmination of a solo performance. It is also characterized by lyrics being played at a speed similar to that of a relay. Also in the course, students get to practice the chakdar with a distinctive feature that follows the cyclic form of introducing lyrics or syllables on the tabla, which is played or repeated three times or in three cycles. Moving forward, students are introduced to gait constructions; This composition provides ample space to the students for interpretation and correction. The various compositions taught in this course are all played according to the rhythmic cycle of the talas. Students playing different compositions follow a definite pattern of rhythm which is either a 16 beat rhythm as in the case of teen taal, a ten beat rhythm pattern known as jhaptal or a seven beat chakra metaphor. By the end of this course, students are well versed with the basics of tabla playing, introductory compositions, and how to play these compositions according to the tala chakra or tala.

About the Instructor: Dr. Aroop Chatterjee was born on 14 June 1980 in a family of music lovers and teachers of Hindustani classical music. He is a promising and talented Tabla player of his generation. He belongs to the cultural capital of India - Varanasi. He is blessed to learn Tabla from Pandit. Chhotelal Mishra, who was the exponent of the Banaras gharana of Tabla. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy in "Critical Analysis of the Gates in the Gharana of Banaras and Farrukhabad". He is a graded artist of All India Radio with a high grade of B to his name among many accolades. Dr. Arup Chatterjee has performed at many prominent venues and prestigious music festivals in the country. Lucknow Mahotsav (2010), Sangeet Sankalp Allahabad (2005) to name a few are notable. He is Pandit Narendra Dhar, Late Vidushi Purnima Choudhary, Shashank Maktdar, Pt. Ankit Bhatt, Shri Deepak Chatterjee, and Hrishikesh Gangurde to name a few. Aroop Chatterjee also holds the coveted title of Taal Mani Award which is an award given by Sur Singer Sansad Parishad, Mumbai. He also received a State Scholarship by the Cultural Department of the State of Uttar Pradesh for the period 1992- 1994. Presently working as Guest Lecturer in Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya. He has two books named "Tabla Vadan Mein Gat" and "Basic of Tabla" which are very useful both for students and researchers of music, especially Tabla.