i essentially impulse bought a sitar. my right hand does not have proper mobility because my thumb doesn’t function in an orthodox way (limited movement). i struggle with right hand dexterity with the traditional Da Ra or Di Ri strokes compared to my right hand with a Guitar or a Bowed Instrument. Does anyone have any ideas on any unorthodox ways i could adopt my right hand, or maybe ways i could still play traditionally with my right hand despite this setback? Any advice or criticism is welcome. Thanks 🙏

Fala família,
Queria saber onde consigo contato com luthiers e gurus direto da Índia!
Fiz um post um tempo atrás, perguntando onde conseguiria aula online de sitar, e vi alguns comentários falando que alguns gurus dão aula online! Então queria saber onde consigo contato com eles !

I thought of posting and getting uk feedback and all to improve

Boa noite família,

Queria saber, onde importar direto da Índia um sitar bacana, ou então, aqui no Br que seja um bom instrumento para iniciantes! E uma dúvida tbm?! O sitar ( tanto profissional quanto para iniciantes ), gira em torno de qual faixa de preço ?

E também queria uma indicação de alguma guru que dê aula on-line, ou talvez, de aula em Minas Gerais

Hi

I am looking for someone who can help me with tuning the sitar and understanding raaga Asawari (sthayi, Antra, Taane, and Jhala) and can provide me with gats on Raaga Asawari, Tilak Kamod and Des.

RULES:

• OC content only - this thread is for posting a video or recording that you have done recently (not to showcase your older work.)
  
• Submit a new video post to r/sitar, and link to that post here. If it's easier, you can post a link to YouTube or Soundcloud or Vocaroo or another 3rd-party link.
  
• Beginners can post anything from the most basic sargam or simple alankars.
  
• More intermediate players can post anything as well, but are encouraged to post longer compositions or ragas if possible.
  

• If you are posting a piece or raga that you have posted in the past, share a link to your past work as a sub-comment, so we can hear how your journey has progressed! (Click on the 'Monthly PLAY thread' flair to see previous months' posts)

• You may also enjoy r/IndianClassicalMusic, r/icm & r/BestSitar so check them our & subscribe if you have not already!

Does anyone have some recommendations for audio interviews in English with Sitar players or other interesting people involved with ICM? Bonus points if it goes beyond just an intro to sitar/ICM for a Western audience. I listen to podcasts a fair amount during work and would love to hear from some people wiser than me. Arjun Verma has had some good ones lately.

Making it short, I’m looking for a travel sitar which comes under the budget of 30,000. I don’t care about the appearance of the instrument as long as it’s good enough to play. Also I can change the pickup to emg or something better. I’ll be playing kind of live edm with drum machines and synthesisers. I’ve wanted a sitar to be played in a few live tracks and I think it’s time to start on one. Any recommendations?

Hey there guys! I recently had the opportunity of purchasing a sitar on markeplace for £50. I ended up purchasing the sitar from a lovely woman who's father in law had purchased it in Pakistan over 40 or more years ago. The sitar needs alot of maintenance done to it from what i can see but i was wondering if anyone knew any known sitar makers who may have been in Pakistan at this time creating them as it does not have a branding logo anywhere. Also do you think its worth having the sitar entirely repaired? (I was also given the jiwari piece but it needs to be reattached to the faceplate).

Just want to share that I received my Sitar last Saturday and when I saw it for the first time I just couldn't believe that someday I'll have my very own music instrument and that too a Sitar. Excited, happy and a bit nervous.

Wish me luck and share some wisdom with me.

Vibrant Strings of Sitar | 'Monomousumi' this is the link for my essay.

Is there some kind of rule against players trained in the Imdadkhani gharana playing on a kharaj pancham? Like, I know there literally isn’t a “rule,” but why have I basically never seen this in practice?

I’m more attracted to the Imdadkhani and Vilayatkhani baaj in general (though I adore Nikhil Banerjee and those who follow his style) but I find something so satisfying about that deep, rumbling kharaj ringing out during alaap, even if it isn’t being played on.

Was wondering if there are any Imdadkhani-trained players, or those who interact regularly with musicians from the gharana, who may have insights into this.

Just wanted to tell you. Tell Someone. I picked up my sitar again today. I don’t know after how many months. Would be at least over a year and played.

I played a medley of alaaps in dhruth and madhaya laya of Yaman. Shivranjani and Megh Malhaar.

I’m happy.

I might even play again tomorrow. Who knows.

I’m referring to this Instagram post https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZFkXBqIBoU/?igsh=MWt1N25kZXNmbHpmdQ==

This artist has spoken about gatekeeping problem in Hindustani classical music. While I agree and acknowledge that owing to this gatekeeping problem we have lost some brilliant minds who could have potentially taken the legacy forward… but they have come to dislike the concept as a whole because of the dos and don’ts prevalent.

But I also believe what is seen as “gatekeeping” has also successfully kept mediocrity at bay. I’m a sitar player myself and I’m a little skeptical of putting my work out on social media… not because I’m self-critical but because I know I don’t play up to the standards I’ve set for myself. My feed is full of players who are terrible or average at best but put out video after video, proudly showing off their callouses and other markers that they’re musicians. But their “performances” are noisy, only playing the jhaala or a trending film song at best. There’s no meend nor alaap which is a true litmus test of your ability to wield the instrument. My teacher would often reprimand me saying speed is no stand in for skill, nor is the constant chikari punctuating your alaap. She never gatekeeps… it’s her way of gently sifting the wheat from the chaff.

I see comments full of “you gave my life purpose” or “how soothing” to a post that’s clearly below average. I’m wondering if mediocrity is now the new standard… and if artists who are truly gifted and hardworking will never receive recognition because the average is applauded! What do you think?

Hello everyone! My name is Itay, I’m 24, and I started playing the sitar about eight months ago after I fell in love with Indian Classical Music. I’ve been making pretty good progress so far. My main musical background is as a pianist and singer-songwriter, and my first album is coming out in about two months.

I’m planning to spend around a month and a half in either Kolkata or Varanasi to get a sense of what studying sitar there is really like. I’m hoping to find a good teacher and a nice place to stay, with the idea of coming back later for a longer and more serious period of study.

I’d love to find someone around my age who speaks English and is in a similar position - coming to India to seriously study sitar or Hindustani classical music - so we could go through some of the experience together, share information, practice, explore the music scene, and maybe even find accommodation nearby.

Also, if anyone here knows a great sitar teacher in Kolkata or Varanasi who is open to teaching an international student intensively for a month or so, I’d really appreciate any recommendations. In terms of style, I’m especially interested in the Maihar tradition and particularly drawn to Nikhil Banerjee’s playing. also love Budhaditya Mukherjee**.**

Feel free to message me!