Media

Hailing from a distinguished lineage of the Jagtap family, Vijay Jagtap has inherited music as a legacy from his father, Pandit Jagannath Jagtap, a renowned Tabla and Pakhawaj artist, and his grandfather, Shankar Jagtap – a well-known Sarangi player, singer, writer and poet

From the of age of seven, Vijay displayed an exceptional ability to grasp any element of the art and pursued it with dedication. His talent was tuned to perfection by his training and endeavour to develop inner strength and empathy with the classical lineage of Hindustani music.

Vijay completed his Masters Degree 1st Class from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. In 1982 the late renowned sitar maestro Shri Arvind Dighe accepted him as his disciple. This was a turning point in his life. Vijay was educated in the ‘Guru Shishya Parampara’ style, a vision of music with its roots firmly planted in the classical and spiritual aspects of Dhrupad (the traditional style of singing) and whose disciples learn music as a development of the inner self.

In 1982 Vijay had his debut concerts in India. Since then there has been no looking back and he has given numerous concerts in India and abroad, which have been highly acclaimed and noted for their sensitivity, aesthetic appeal and musical insight. He has a fine command of technique, evoking the various textures of the music and its moods. Vijay is known for his innovative blending of Eastern and Western instruments in his creative work. One can feel the deftness of his hands and purity of his spirit by merely listening to his performance, which makes the listener sail through a new sky of reveries.

Between 1989 and 2004, Vijay was a teacher and head of the sitar department at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, London – Europe’s major institution for Indian music and allied performing arts, where he shared his great musical heritage with his students

In 1998 Vijay Jagtap had the privilege to perform at Westminster Abbey in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on the occasion of an Observance for Commonwealth Day. He was the first Indian classical artiste to ever perform at the Abbey

“Music is an important tool for healing and can be used effectively to spread harmony, contentment and peace”. 

Vijay Jagtap

From September 1991 to March 1992, he participated in a documentary made for the Horniman Museum about the Sitar and Indian Classical Music. It explored different aspects of sitar playing techniques, as well as two performances of Raga (traditional classical music).

Vijay has given performances on BBC television and radio. He has tasted success not only as a music performer, but also a composer. His compositions have appeared around the world in the famous BBC series Dangerfield.

Vijay is a dedicated teacher, who loves sharing his musical legacy with his students at the workshops conducted by him.

Vijay’s talent as a musician goes way beyond concert halls, TV and radio performances. He has played in many Ashrams, hospitals and hospices around the world.

 

Say Hello

10 + 13 =

Testimonial

Learning the Sitar with Vijay is always a high point of my week. It is a real privilege to have such a talented and committed musician as a teacher
5
Jimmy Pitt-Watson
London

Ustad Jagtap-ji is an excellent teacher. His passion and love for music is manifested through his teaching.

5
Hamasa/Sienna
Medical Professional, London, England
Your music is Mind and Soul music. Awesome performance, and excellent co-ordination and body language between you and the Tabla player on stage. Astounding!”
5
Sandhya
England

"I am eternally grateful to Guruji for his patience, dedication, and unwavering support in guiding me on my musical journey.”

5
Krish Vasudevan
Software engineer, Bushey, England

“Learning under Guru Shri Vijay Jagtap has been truly rewarding. He is a skilled, patient, and thoughtful teacher—his measured approach and encouragement make all the difference. As a therapist, I find that playing the tabla offers a playful, embodied complement to my work. I feel lucky to have found such a great teacher.”

5
Sandeep, Psychotherapist, London
I am very happy that I found Vijayji. Guruji teaches in a way which is clear and understandable for the student. His lessons are very informative and enjoyable.
5
Dr Ashwin
England

“Learning to play the harmonium has been a childhood dream of mine, and it is finally coming true after joining Jagtap Sir’s classes. His unique teaching style ignites enthusiasm in me, deepening my passion and willingness to learn. Every session feels like a mindfulness practice, helping me unwind despite my demanding work schedule. I feel truly blessed to have him as my guru.”

5
Dr Pandya, Radiologist, England
I regularly attend the weekly online Riyaz group class, and I have seen a huge improvement in my learning and understanding of various techniques
5
Tehreem Atif
Product manager, London
Tonight, I had my first Sitar lesson with Vijay. It was one of the most amazing hours of my life. I wish more teachers out there could be like him
5
Adam
London
Vijay is an excellent teacher and great artist, and I was impressed by his style of teaching
5
Prachi
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
" Why I love having harmonium lessons with Guruji (Vijay) is that he is so calm, patient, soft-spoken, and thorough, and you can feel the immense passion and enthusiasm he has for music. I feel great during and after every lesson and have already learnt so much in just a few lessons"
5
Jatin
Jatin London

Vijay is a truly wonderful sitar player! He creates a very beautiful sound that was perfect for our event. Our guests were all very complimentary of his music and Vijay was professional and organised to work with.

5
Anna Beketov
London
"I highly recommend Guruji to any parent keen on introducing Hindustani music to their child".
5
Krish Vasudevan
Software engineer, Bushey England
My 10-year-old daughter and I have been learning Sitar from Pandit Vijay Jagtap since November last year. From the very first lesson, we both came away feeling very peaceful.  He’s kind, tolerant, patient, cultured, expert in his field and enjoys what he teaches. As for myself, have learnt a lot more in the last few months with Pandit Vijay Jagtap. I would most definitely recommend this teacher. We are both really enjoying our lessons… so much so that I’m waiting for my next child to be old enough to learn from him too!
5
Vrinda Kishori
London
Vijay is a committed artist who infuses sheer magic in his performance and mesmerises listeners with his beautiful compositions
5
Narendra Kumar
England

Thank you very much for the lesson - it was great and I learned loads.

5
Mahrey
UK
There is something very spiritual about Indian classical music and my lessons with Vijay always tap into this spirituality. I finish each lesson feeling calm and revitalized
5
Manish
Lawyer/Writer, London

We thank you for the music you played 'for us'. How truly delightful it was and it was a magical moment for us to hear it.

5
Mike and Lynda
England
As an adult beginner, I was rather apprehensive about learning the Harmonium. However, I have found Vijay’s style of teaching to be most empowering. His instructions are always very clear and easy to understand, making the learning process far less daunting and enjoyable than I had expected. Thanks to Vijay Ji’s expertise.
5
Keith
UK
I have learned a great deal in a short period of time. This has boosted my confidence and I now feel able to develop my skills further with his help.
5
Keith C.
England
Thank you for the invaluable Riyaz session today. I am very happy to have attended as it inspires me to practice and play today. Best wishes.
5
Maya
London
Thank you for all your invaluable lessons. I totally enjoyed learning and performing my Tabla skills in various performances. Thanks for being my favorite music teacher. I will miss you!
5
Laxman
London

Say Hello

 

If there’s anything you’d like to know about my work or the services I offer, please get in touch. I’d love to hear from you, and I’ll do my best to reply to your message as quickly as I can.

 

 

6 + 3 =