Hi all, I’m sure you’re all aware of how important practice (Riaz) is. It doesn’t matter what instrument you play or discipline you follow. Regular and focused practice will make the difference. It doesn’t matter how many beats you know, it’s about how many times you have practiced ‘one beat’. Whether you just practice Tirikit over and over again or any other singular beat the results will be noticeable over a short period of time. Give yourself a set time of playing a repetition of the same beat for around 10 minutes to start off with stretching to 30 minutes as you progress. Initially, you will feel parts of your arm start to burn, that’s fine, you need to carry on and slowly build on your strength so you can play for longer periods of time.
The main basics of tabla are developing inner tendon strength and stamina. That doesn’t mean you need bulging biceps, it’s about how clear the your mind is and how quick you can channel energy through to your fingers at the right time.
In my classes I will be teaching you tendon nourishing exercises which must be performed before practice to ensure your body is fired and ready to play. You will notice a big difference and find that you’ll be able to play for much longer without feeling that ‘burning sensation’ in your arms. I will also be going through techniques of how to focus your mind to make sure it’s in the right state to play tabla and take in information.