The following are the lessons learnt from today’s Sitar class :

  • I need to play the main sthai of Malkauns with Meand. The highlight of playing it in Meand is that it is soothing to listen to

  • I have learnt a new strategy to create Taans. Just take some ending piece of sthai and then combine it with a taan. This helps you start the taan at different beats. I have always started taans on 1, 2, 4 etc. Today Sir showed me taans that started on 1.5, 16.5, 16. This leaves me wondering shouldn’t I be starting taans at 32 places, i.e. 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, etc 15.5, 16. It will be awesome if I can churn out 32 taans. May be I will target at 10 for the next week

  • I have learnt to fix the first string by putting wet chalk at the Baaj Taar of Kunti. Till now, I did not know the word, Kunti. Here are the basic parts of the instrument

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  • Most of the taans that sir played were similar to what I play in my usual practice. But the placement of taans was different. Also the way he started the taan was different. I think I should practice more and create more taans before the next class