The Tabla has been called “the world’s most expressive drum” and, like the Sitar, it has a rich and romantic history. It is the main percussion instrument in the North of India, and initially became most widely noticed in the West thanks to George Harrison, The Beatles, and 60’s flower power music. Bringing things even more up-to-date, Tabla is frequently heard in Bollywood music, commercial pop songs, and Fusion music. You may have heard of the fusion band Shakti, whose members included Tabla player Zakir Hussain, Indian violin player L. Shankar, Ghatam player T.H. “Vikku” Vinayakram, and Guitarist John McLaughlin.

The Tabla is a set of two small drums that are traditionally played to accompany music and dance. According to legend, the instrument was born 500 years ago when the Sufi saint Amir Khusrau Dehlavi reshaped a traditional Indian drum by dropping it and splitting it into two individual pieces.

Drumming is a language, and an expert Tabla player can make their drums speak magic. They use their palms and fingers to generate huge variations in sound, and the effect can be spellbinding for the musician as well as the audience.

I offer private face-to-face or online Tabla lessons for beginners and intermediate students. Each student receives my undivided attention for the entire length of the lesson, and either 30 minute or 1-hour sessions are available. I design the lessons according to the students’ own pace and do everything I can to make the lessons as convenient, enjoyable and satisfying as possible.