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Sitar, Vocal, & Tabla
Sitar
The sitar is one of the most popular and charming musical instruments
of Northern India. It originated from another instrument called Veena,
which is mostly used in South Indian classical music. The Indian musical
tradition has two branches, Hindustani from North India and Karanatak
from the South. The Sitar falls into the Northern Indian category. The
Sitar is generally a 6 or 7 string instrument with 11 to 13
sympathetic strings for extra resonance. It is a long, lute like
instrument which has enough scope to pull bends up to 5 notes from a
single fret. This is what makes the sound of the Sitar very mystical
and unique. There are two popular styles of Sitar playing: Pandit Ravi
Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan. Raga Music School follows the family
tradition of Ustad Vilayat Khan and his style (famous for its vocal
intricacies).

Tabla
The name Tabla, is probably derived from the Arabic word for a drum.
Another popular notion that Amir Khursuro invented the Tabla by
splitting the Pakhawaj into two drums. Over the last two centuries, the
Tabla began to take the forefront of percussion instruments in traditional Indian music. We can trace the family lineage of the
Gharanaas from the 18th century onward. During this time, the instrument
became the primary drum for both classical and mainstream Indian music.
Tabla is an accompanying instrument, but now it has become very popular
for solo recitals.
Vocal
The subject of classical Indian music is rich, with its historical,
cultural, aesthetic, theoretical and performing facets. The primary
genres of musical composition in North Indian or Hindustani music are
Dhrupad and Khayal. Dhrupad, the older of the two genres, is the
ancestor to the more popular Khayal which eclipses it today. The
concept of the melody and rhythm, however, serves as the foundation for
both Khayal and Dhrupad. Melody is captured in the concept of the Raga
and rhythmical foundation in the Taal or beat. Also, the very important
part of Indian music is the folk, thumri, dadra, bhajans, etc.

Flute (Bansuri)
Bansuri is among the most
ancient musical instruments of India. The Bansuri (Bans for Bamboo + Sur for musical note)
is a North Indian side flute made of a single length of bamboo and has
six open finger holes. There are no keys to produce sharps and flats, therefore
all accidentals and microtones, as well as meend and other ornaments, so
important to Indian classical music, are produced by a unique technique using
the fingers. The chosen instrument of Lord Krishna, Bansuri is one of the oldest musical
instruments of India. It is mentioned in the Vedas and is
depicted in ancient Buddhist art.
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