Tabla/percussion -lessons/ bringing them home/ performances

kristinm · Nov 18th, 2007, 05:52

My son is a drummer and would love to have a couple of tabla or other Indian percussion lessons while we are on our trip. He was also planning to buy some tabla to bring home, but I have been told that they are very difficult to get through Australian customs, and they if they get 'treated' by the radiation they use it will ruin them... so he should buy them here... anyone have any knowledge about this?

He also plays guitar and would love to have a lesson on a sitar - just to experience it really (I'm not bringing one of them home!).

We will be in Delhi/Mumbai and around Rajasthan - so if anyone can recommend someone good for a lesson or two, and also somewhere we can go to see some good live music - go right ahead!

machadinha · Nov 18th, 2007, 05:59

? I don't see why customs would mind you importing a tabla set, nor how X-ray equipment would interfere with the skins.

But maybe I'm missing something.

kristinm · Nov 18th, 2007, 06:06

Australian customs are pretty much the strictest in the world - especially with anything animal or plant related....I think they actually irradiate skins and plant material - as in blast it with radiation, not just x-ray it.

machadinha · Nov 18th, 2007, 06:22

Ah! Yes, sorry, hadn't thought of that. Hmmm...

(Still, though, it's very, very treated and generally dead skin, wouldn't you say? Can't you take a leather jacket in there? I've made drums myself, nothing professional mind. After the whole process it would be very hard for them to transmit anything I think. But, yeh -- tell it to the customs officers, of course. Come to think of it, in a faulty process maggots are not unthinkable, although I think this would happen earlier down the line, before the end product so to speak.

As for what radiation would do to the skins, no idea. Can't really see how it would adversely affect them, but who knows.)

anarkali · Nov 18th, 2007, 07:04

A mate of mine got some lessons in Pushkar, at the Saraswati Music School - it's a family business run by three brothers, Hemant, Birju and (the other one whose name I've forgotten). Music is the hereditary family business...their mum (Kamal) still goes out and plays dhol drums at weddings & other events. They teach tabla, singing, dance (eg kathak) and sitar at least, and possibly other things. They offer accommodation as well in their guest house.

They got a write up in the Lonely Planet. Their place is a little hard to find, but just follow the arrows through the twisty little alleyways. Don't go to the cigarette stand guy, who is 'Saraswati Music Palace'.

I hung out there a bit when I was in India in February. I was put onto them by the same mate, who told me about their sister who is a henna artist, beautician, jewellery artisan and does 'bling' work on saris. By the time all the beauty treatments were done (by gosh they were needed after two weeks in India!) I didn't really have time for dance or music lessons. But after hanging out with them on their rooftop for hours waiting for henna to cure, listening to Hemant teaching filmi music, singing and dance, and talking about music and dance, my husband and I were lucky enough to be invited to have dinner with the family on Shivraatri, a high holy day on the Hindu calendar. It was a really nice experience.

Oh, one thing to take note of, my friend brought a tabla back with her, but they were damaged in transit. Might be best to send them via 'special' luggage? Just a thought.

Just thinking about it all makes me want to go back! Stop it you guys! :]

capt_mahajan · Nov 18th, 2007, 07:07

My son took a set of tablas to the US, it is better to get a fibre glass rigid case made, which costs almost as much as the tablas.

PeakXV · Nov 18th, 2007, 07:14

Find him a bansuri/venu guru when you arrrive .... it will eliminate the freight fright on the return leg.

Nick-H · Nov 18th, 2007, 08:52

It is certainly possible to import bugs with drums! This may be part of the custom's worries. The 'right-hand' drum (sorry, I forget the tabla terminology) is very thick wood with just a small void in the middle; if they are feeling suspicious they may drill it to take a look inside.

The 'left-hand' drum is fairly thin metal: this needs to be protected against dents. The body of the right-hand drum could probably be used to smash a plate-glass window; its tough.

The heads (their structure is a bit too complex just to say 'skins') are, of course, much more delicate, and I'd advise a soft layer, with something harder on top and then padding all around. The black circle, which is vital to the sound of the instrument, is of a brittle material.

I wouldn't have much hopes, though, for what could be achieved in a 'couple of lessons'. The technique is so different, and so precise, that it would take more just to begin getting the right sound.

But somewhere like the place that anarkali mentions, where they are used to tourists passing through, and know how to impart a little information to people who have not come to embark upon a life-time's study sounds great.

By the way...

Take a look at David Courtney's excellent Tabla Site for more information on the instrument

kristinm · Nov 18th, 2007, 12:43

Nick-H - He realises that, its more just to get a feel for it - and what a great way to do that if he can have a lesson or 2 in India itself...(I am also trying to find some things just for him to do by himself.) he's been learning bongos and African drumming recently as well as his drum it, and plays Tympani in the school orchestra. If he wants to go on with tabla he can always get lessons here... he just loves percussion of all kinds - he's actually pretty good too! It would be great to see some classical music played live somewhere while we're there.

Nick-H · Nov 18th, 2007, 12:57

Then he probably just loves percussion instruments of all kinds too. I have a collection of things I can't play

!

kristinm · Nov 18th, 2007, 13:01

He would if he had the money - he bangs on everything - drives his teachers and us mad, plays the car dashboard, plays the sofa cushions....

AvidTrekker · Nov 18th, 2007, 23:16

There are many tabla teachers in Mumbai and tabla shops.

How many days do you intend staying in Mumbai?
.
.

kristinm · Nov 19th, 2007, 03:40

We are in Mumbai for 6 days...

AvidTrekker · Nov 19th, 2007, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristinm

We are in Mumbai for 6 days...

From .... to??

I will ask some people I know for tabla lessons.
.
.
.

kristinm · Nov 20th, 2007, 02:12

1st to 6th Feb - that would be amazing...

Nov 18th, 2007, 05:52	#1
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,261	Tabla/percussion -lessons/ bringing them home/ performances My son is a drummer and would love to have a couple of tabla or other Indian percussion lessons while we are on our trip. He was also planning to buy some tabla to bring home, but I have been told that they are very difficult to get through Australian customs, and they if they get 'treated' by the radiation they use it will ruin them... so he should buy them here... anyone have any knowledge about this? He also plays guitar and would love to have a lesson on a sitar - just to experience it really (I'm not bringing one of them home!). We will be in Delhi/Mumbai and around Rajasthan - so if anyone can recommend someone good for a lesson or two, and also somewhere we can go to see some good live music - go right ahead!

Nov 18th, 2007, 05:59	#2
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,137	? I don't see why customs would mind you importing a tabla set, nor how X-ray equipment would interfere with the skins. But maybe I'm missing something. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Nov 18th, 2007, 07:04	#5
anarkali Log mujhko space cowboy kehte hain Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 67	Tabla drums n the whole darn thing A mate of mine got some lessons in Pushkar, at the Saraswati Music School - it's a family business run by three brothers, Hemant, Birju and (the other one whose name I've forgotten). Music is the hereditary family business...their mum (Kamal) still goes out and plays dhol drums at weddings & other events. They teach tabla, singing, dance (eg kathak) and sitar at least, and possibly other things. They offer accommodation as well in their guest house. They got a write up in the Lonely Planet. Their place is a little hard to find, but just follow the arrows through the twisty little alleyways. Don't go to the cigarette stand guy, who is 'Saraswati Music Palace'. I hung out there a bit when I was in India in February. I was put onto them by the same mate, who told me about their sister who is a henna artist, beautician, jewellery artisan and does 'bling' work on saris. By the time all the beauty treatments were done (by gosh they were needed after two weeks in India!) I didn't really have time for dance or music lessons. But after hanging out with them on their rooftop for hours waiting for henna to cure, listening to Hemant teaching filmi music, singing and dance, and talking about music and dance, my husband and I were lucky enough to be invited to have dinner with the family on Shivraatri, a high holy day on the Hindu calendar. It was a really nice experience. Oh, one thing to take note of, my friend brought a tabla back with her, but they were damaged in transit. Might be best to send them via 'special' luggage? Just a thought. Just thinking about it all makes me want to go back! Stop it you guys! :]

Nov 18th, 2007, 07:07	#6
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 8,708	My son took a set of tablas to the US, it is better to get a fibre glass rigid case made, which costs almost as much as the tablas. __________________ . The cynic must remember that he is a spy (Epitectus) Indiamike moderating team ..ich bin ein oneliner

Nov 18th, 2007, 07:14	#7
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 3,719	Find him a bansuri/venu guru when you arrrive .... it will eliminate the freight fright on the return leg. __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Nov 18th, 2007, 06:06	#3
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,261	Australian customs are pretty much the strictest in the world - especially with anything animal or plant related....I think they actually irradiate skins and plant material - as in blast it with radiation, not just x-ray it.

Nov 18th, 2007, 06:22	#4
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 9,137	Ah! Yes, sorry, hadn't thought of that. Hmmm... (Still, though, it's very, very treated and generally dead skin, wouldn't you say? Can't you take a leather jacket in there? I've made drums myself, nothing professional mind. After the whole process it would be very hard for them to transmit anything I think. But, yeh -- tell it to the customs officers, of course. Come to think of it, in a faulty process maggots are not unthinkable, although I think this would happen earlier down the line, before the end product so to speak. As for what radiation would do to the skins, no idea. Can't really see how it would adversely affect them, but who knows.)

Nov 18th, 2007, 08:52	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,219	It is certainly possible to import bugs with drums! This may be part of the custom's worries. The 'right-hand' drum (sorry, I forget the tabla terminology) is very thick wood with just a small void in the middle; if they are feeling suspicious they may drill it to take a look inside. The 'left-hand' drum is fairly thin metal: this needs to be protected against dents. The body of the right-hand drum could probably be used to smash a plate-glass window; its tough. The heads (their structure is a bit too complex just to say 'skins') are, of course, much more delicate, and I'd advise a soft layer, with something harder on top and then padding all around. The black circle, which is vital to the sound of the instrument, is of a brittle material. I wouldn't have much hopes, though, for what could be achieved in a 'couple of lessons'. The technique is so different, and so precise, that it would take more just to begin getting the right sound. But somewhere like the place that anarkali mentions, where they are used to tourists passing through, and know how to impart a little information to people who have not come to embark upon a life-time's study sounds great. By the way... Take a look at David Courtney's excellent Tabla Site for more information on the instrument __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

Nov 18th, 2007, 12:43	#9
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,261	Nick-H - He realises that, its more just to get a feel for it - and what a great way to do that if he can have a lesson or 2 in India itself...(I am also trying to find some things just for him to do by himself.) he's been learning bongos and African drumming recently as well as his drum it, and plays Tympani in the school orchestra. If he wants to go on with tabla he can always get lessons here... he just loves percussion of all kinds - he's actually pretty good too! It would be great to see some classical music played live somewhere while we're there.

Nov 18th, 2007, 12:57	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,219	Then he probably just loves percussion instruments of all kinds too. I have a collection of things I can't play !

Nov 18th, 2007, 13:01	#11
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,261	He would if he had the money - he bangs on everything - drives his teachers and us mad, plays the car dashboard, plays the sofa cushions....

Nov 18th, 2007, 23:16	#12
AvidTrekker mantra yoga teacher Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: body in Mumbai, head in Himalaya Posts: 2,585	Tabla in Mumbai There are many tabla teachers in Mumbai and tabla shops. How many days do you intend staying in Mumbai? . . __________________ The Universe is an ellipsoid?... or a Spheroid?? If the sphere smiles... it becomes an ellipse. This IS Creation.

Nov 19th, 2007, 03:40	#13
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,261	We are in Mumbai for 6 days...

Nov 20th, 2007, 02:12	#15
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,261	1st to 6th Feb - that would be amazing...

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