Please check my social media for updated concert schedules!
I had fun today preparing for a Kathak show with @sufi_raina and @rahulneuman. This is a toda in dhamar (14 beats) set to a nagma using gamelan. 🤔😊🙏🏼
Teaching an interesting tihai in jhaptaal today. Its basically a pattern of 5/Dha- 6/Dha- and 7 x 3 Dha -1-2- x3. DhatiDhaGeNaDha- DhageDhinNaGiNaDha- DhaGeNaTinNaKiNa x 3 Dha -1-2- .
As I have been reevaluating my approach to practice lately I decided to start from the beginning again. Every so often I feel that an artist has to start from their roots once more and look deeply into the fundamentals of their approach and reevaluate. Lately I am searching for tone, clarity and relaxation in everything I do. I will try to post 30 sec clips of my journey from my first lessons 25 years ago till now…. An archive as such while I go back and take a deep dive into my training and repertoire.
Jhaptaal chakradhar. I have been feeling the need to play slower, concentrating primarily on tone and the beauty of the instrument. It sounds basic but in the past I have always looked at tone as part of a trifecta of my musical approach: that is, tone, clarity, speed. Not one being more important than another. But lately this is shifting to the point where tone is actually emerging as the most essential part of my pursuit. And then out of tone comes clarity and then from there, and only from there, speed will come. “Lay Aayega.” Is what I remember hearing from my guruji over and over. “Speed will come.” I wanted so eagerly to play speeds of certain compositions that I heard the tabla masters of past and present that it overtook this simple sentiment. In a way, it is ego that clouded this path. Rather than pursuing the soul and beauty of the instrument and becoming more of a conduit (or prism perhaps?), my approach inadvertently and unconsciously became a process of “me” and not the tabla. This subtle shift is opening up a world of exponential space for me lately. I am so joyful and thankful for this beautiful lifelong pursuit of Hindustani music! Shashtang pranaam to tabla, my Gurujis, the past masters who have forged this path of Hindustani music, and to all who continue to inspire us along this endless path of music. .
I have been off the gram for a while but getting excited to share a few things that have been going on. To start here are a few nice stage pics from late 2022 with @rahulneuman. 😊🙏🏼 #tabla #sitar #hindustaniclassicalmusic #livemusic #concerts
Practicing a chakradhar tihai today composed by my guruji. #tabla #tihai #hindustanimusic #percussion #riyaaz #kathak #drums
The next level…. 🤣 with my partner in crime @rahulneuman. Hats are in FULL send mode. 🤯. #tabla #sitar #funnyhats #hindustaniclassicalmusic
Probably the coolest yet nerdiest hat I have ever owned! #tabla #nerdy #percussion #newhat
A little snippet from Saturday night. More to come…. This was our opener at @grandartique but cut down here to less than 3min. I am learning so much with this project! Thanks to @jp4love on bass and @kurtisray__ on saxophones. #tabla #edm #tablavaaz #sandiegolivemusic #logicprox #groove
Miles Shrewsbery III 