ONE TO ONE TEACHING
For the past 15 years, Gurdain has been teaching tabla on a one to one basis privately to students who wish to gain the maximum development in their playing and understanding. He conducts these sessions in 30 minute or 60 minute intervals depending on the student’s level and also their ability to handle a longer session of learning. In most cases he recommends a 30 minute lesson for beginner or intermediate students or children. These sessions usually take place weekly in order for the student to form a good momentum for their practice and progression.
GROUP WORKSHOPS
For students who have been learning for a short while at least, Gurdain conducts group workshops on a monthly or 2 monthly basis at his residence. Students of similar ability are welcome to attend and benefit from group practice sessions helping to warm the hand up and different riyaaz phrases to improve the execution of the various language groups of tabla playing. He also works with rhythm exercises including hand-clapping, taali/khali awareness and recitation (paranth) in order to improve clarity of rhythm and execution of compositions within the timecycle. Within every group session, Gurdain does his best to cater to the individual developmental needs of each student also.
ONLINE TABLA LESSONS
Gurdain has been teaching online for over 10 years now and has developed a particular skill for enhancing students’ ability to play and progress, despite the distance-learning involved with this method. His methodical approach and patience has helped countless students who have never had the chance to meet Gurdain and also those who have started their entire musical tabla journey from the very beginning, in an online setting! Gurdain conducts mainly one-to-one sessions online in 30 minute or 60 minute sessions depending on the students’ preference and availability as well as Gurdain’s recommendation based upon their age or level of playing. He also conducts online workshops in group settings, although these are less frequent and on a demand basis.
TABLA RETREATS AND LECTURE DEMONSTRATIONS
For the past 10 years he has been a regular teacher at the Chakardar Tabla Retreat which began in 2003. This annual tabla retreat supports students of all ages and abilities in group classes. Beginner, intermediate and advanced groups enjoy three sessions per day with different teachers, as well as a tala and rhythm practice session involving all groups simultaneously. In the evenings, we have interviews/speeches or demonstrations by senior teachers in attendance. Gurdain is readily available to all students with support for their practice, tips to improve their playing as well as compositional material to further their quality. For more information and to book for the next annual tabla retreat, please visit chakardar.com
Gurdain also conducts lecture demonstrations to audiences both familiar and unfamiliar with the tabla or Indian Classical Music. Examples include demonstrations at festivals in Essex, Hounslow (Night of Festivals) as well as food fairs and open-air cultural events. He loves to share and provide tasters of what the tabla and indian classical music is to uninitiated audiences and further the knowledge of this instrument!