learn tabla

Anita leads group classes out of Inner Space Studio located at 54A Cawthra Ave in Toronto. Intermediate classes include live sitar accompaniment by Shawn Barry.

Anita began her teaching career at the Toronto Tabla Ensemble studios over a decade ago in downtown Toronto and has continued to teach out of community centres in Markham and Scarborough as well as in her downtown Toronto studio. She has presented Introduction to Tabla workshops at Long and McQuade, Girls Rock Camp Toronto and Small World Music. In Sept 2017 – Dec 2017, Anita conducted weekly workshops for children at Malvern Library in Scarborough through Girls Rock Camp Toronto.

For details on tabla workshops, classes and advanced classes please check the FAQ section and read below. Email anita@rakkatak.com or call 416 827 7181 to register.

Register

Class	Session	Registration
Beginner Tabla	Winter 2025

Class Session Session Dates

Session	Dates	Holidays/Days off
Winter 2025	Jan 19 – March 9, 2025	n/a
Spring 2025	April 6 – June 22	June 1, April 20 (Easter long weekend), May 11 (Mother’s day), June 15 (Father’s day)

Introduction To Tabla

Some of the strokes students will learn include: “na, te te, ghe, ke, dha, thun, dhin, dhenegene”. Each participant will receive specialized attention to correctly position their hands as they learn tabla strokes. Students will be introduced to the tabla compositions: kayda, rela, tukra and chakradaar. Moreover, they will become familiar with the North Indian tala system through knowledge of its history, language, keeping theka (clapping patterns) and playing taal.

Note: Though tabla may be provided for class time, students must have their own drums. Anita can make suggestions on where to rent or buy tabla.

Intermediate Tabla

Prerequisite: Introduction to Tabla

Each student will build on their existing knowledge of tabla and be introduced to new tabla strokes and compositions such as: gaat, paran and chalan. Students will be introduced to new time cycles including ek taal, keherwa and jhap taal. A study of jhap taal (the time cycle of 10 beats) will begin with learning kayda, tukra and chakradaar compositions in this time cycle. Students will become comfortable playing with lehera, a cyclical melody representing the time cycle.

Introduction To Tabla – Workshop

Did you know that everything we play on tabla, we say? Within an introductory workshop, Anita covers concepts such as: tabla ‘bols’ or the language of the tabla, the construction of a set of tabla, and important tabla terminology and concepts. Each participant will get hands on experience playing tabla with the drums provided in the workshop.