Learn Sitar through the Internet with

Prof. Sanjoy Bandopadhyay

There will be a three-day workshop with Prof. Bandopadhyay near Paris during the last week of June 2003.

Contact  Jean-Paul Ben to register.

It is now possible to learn to play Hindustani music on the sitar through the Internet. Now the teaching is conducted through:

 

·         Posting lessons in text and audio format[1] through the Internet [email/downloading from the supplied URL]

·         Discussion of problems and/or live teaching through Internet audio/Chat/Voice-chat [usually once in every fortnight or/and as per specific requirements of the students.][2]

 

For going through the learning process a student must have:

 

1.     Internet access to his/her computer

2.     The computer must have a soundcard, speakers/headphones and microphone

3.     A web camera connected to the computer will be required for learning through video mode.

4.     ADOBE Acrobat Reader [free software available at www.adobe.com/acrobat]

5.      Any sound editing software [e.g. Cool Edit Pro, Sound Forge, or some similar software]

6.      Any mp3 player software and mp3 converter, e.g. Musicmatch Jukebox [freeware available at www.mp3.com] 

7.      The student’s opting for Live-Teaching must have a web camera and microphone for live discussions.

 

The student has to submit a demo of his/her current performance duly recorded in analog tape or CD. This will be required for designing of appropriate learning program that may suit every student’s individual requirements.

 

 

Learning Chordophones and aero-phones [sitar/sarod/guitar/violin/flute/others] through the Internet

General 5-year program

 

·         This program is designed for the students those have the basic knowledge of handling the instrument.

·         A student will be first assessed through his/her performance CD/Cassette and then s/he may be allowed to start at any higher stage, e.g. 3^rd year of this program or special consultancy program[3].

·         To take lessons through the Internet it is important that the student must have some live training for general handling of the instrument.

·         The students will normally receive one lesson per week. But, the students must submit their work for assessment before obtaining the next lesson.

·         To give considerable boost in progress a student may consider of visiting Kolkata for live lessons for at least 10 days [10-day crash course][4] every year.

·         Required music related instrument/equipment for effective training:

·         The instrument [sitar/sarod/guitar/violin/flute/others]

·         Electronic tabla[5] [e.g. Riyaz Master]

·         Electronic drone machine [e.g. Sur-Master Pro]

 

 

 

GENERAL CURRICULA LAYOUT

 

First year: [4 units of 12 lessons each]

 

Unit 1: One raga[6] with at least two drut compositions in Trital with tana-s and jhala.

 

Additional [as required]

 

1. Practicing tips for developing better handling of the instrument.
2. General laya training.

 

Unit 2: One raga[7] with at least two drut compositions in Trital with tana-s and jhala.

 

Additional [as required]

 

1. Practicing tips for developing better handling of the instrument.

b. General laya training.

 

Unit 3: Same as unit 2 but with advanced tips and on different raga.

 

Unit 4: Same as unit 3 but with advanced tips and on different raga.

 

 

Second year [4 units of 12 lessons each]

 

 

Unit: 5: One raga-s with Maseetkhani gat [with Bant and a few types of tana-s]; and Drut gats with tana-s.

 

Additional guidance on requirement:

 

¨       Introduction to Maseetkhani gat.

¨       Discussion on some types of tana-s.

¨       Discussion on better handling of the instrument [as and when required].

 

Unit 6: One raga-s with Maseetkhani gat [with Bant and a few types of tana-s]; and Drut gats with tana-s.

 

Additional guidance as in Unit: 5

 

Unit 7: Same as Unit: 6 on a based on different raga.

 

Unit 8: Same as Unit: 6 on a based on different raga.

 

 

Third year  [4 units of 12 lessons each]

 

Unit: 9 to 12 will cover the following areas:

 

1. Introduction to improvisations as adapted in Hindustani Music
2. Introduction to Alap, Jor and Jhala [associated with alap-jor].
3. 3 raga-s with alap, jor, Jhala, Maseetkhani gat with its general development, Rezakhani gat with its development.
4. 1 to 2 gats set to tala-s other than Teentala.
5. Discussion on better handling of the instrument [as and when required].

 

Fourth year  [4 units of 12 lessons each]

 

Unit 13 to 16 will cover the following areas.

 

1.      Introduction to layakari.

2.      3 raga-s with alap, jor, Jhala, Maseetkhani/popular style of Vilambit gat with its general development, Rezakhani gat/popular gayaki-ang gat with its development and general application of layakari in the gat part.

 

 

 

Fifth year [4 units of 12 lessons each]

 

The unit 17 to 20 will cover the following areas.

 

1. Actual performance: The discussion on preparations, psychological and musical aspects.
2. Detailed training on 2-ragas.
3. Discussion on better handling of the instrument [as and when required].
4. Any discussion relevant under specific context.
5. Additional counseling on requirement.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE FOR THE STUDENTS THOSE WILL BE USING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OTHER THAN SITAR FOR THEIR MUSIC EXPRESSIONS.

 

The students those will be using musical instruments other than sitar will be provided with suitable music making materials and general guidance on practicing. The technical guidance will be restricted to general advices. For advanced level techniques the students must seek live guidance of the professional touring musicians those might be reachable by the student.

 

The fees and payment mode

 

·          US $ 20 per weekly lesson.

·          To start a student must pay one unit’s fee [12 lessons] in advance, i.e. US $ 240

·          All tuition fees should reach the account before the beginning of a unit.

The fees may be dispatched through Western Union [Money Transfer]

 

For queries send your mails at sitardivine@vsnl.net or alternatively at sitardivine@rediffmail.com

 

Happy Music e-Learning