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On riyaz PERCUSSIVE INSTRUMENTS
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13 posts tukaram2 13 posts
tukaram2
The use of bracelets is a survivance of the first tabla players of the Banaras Gharana. I have been adviced not to use them, in long term, meaning when you'll get old, they can make the wrists painful even if you don't wear them.
Tabla lessons in Geneva, Switzerland: http://www.freazer.com/perso/tabla

Leçons de tabla à Genève:
http://www.freazer.com/perso/tabla
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sim90 150 posts
sim90
SurTaal wrote:
Sim90-,

Some clarification please. I'm not sure how wearing a bangle on the wrist improves tabla playing. How would playing na, tun, tin, ti te, etc be improved by a weight on the wrist? I can imagine how have a weight at the end of my fingers would increase muscle strength and speed.

Also, how and where do you secure the bangle when playing dhere dhere? Thanks.

SurTaal
To be honest I have no idea how it will improve the way you play, but i have noticed a difference since i have got that kara from india. I dont wear it everytime i practice but i have noticed that my arm is less tired after playing but the same may not apply for other tabla players. Its worth a try though.
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rapture 471 posts
rapture
since everyone is commenting on the weighted bracelets, i'll throw in my 2 cents too. i overheard my guruji telling another student not to do this, as it would be make him much more likely to hurt himself. i can see how this would be true, since i have hurt myself without using weights as upendraji has stated that many ustads have used this method, perhaps they only used it AFTER they had mastered their technique? it seems like once you have mastered your technique, then adding weights to the wrist might help increase stamina. i myself would not ever use this method, as i plan to follow what my guruji has taught. another way to strengthen the hands is to get one of those "stress" balls, they're like sponges and you squeeze them in your hand. just carry it around all day and keep squeezing. or i believe some guitar players use something to build strength in their forearms. i don't know what it's called, but it looks like a pair of pliers without the part that grabs things, and there's a spring between the handles................anyone know what i'm talking about?

-r
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sohummusicals 601 posts
sohummusicals
Dear Friends,

Now this thread is getting more interesting with the views of various tabla players. I can suggest you a simple experiment. Hold 2 bag of 5 kg each in your hands and walk for 10 mins. Sure you will get tired and you hands will pain. :lol
After 10 mins put the bags away start walking. You will walk quicker and faster. The same applies to using a Kara(Kada) when you practice using it.

Jarkko spoke in his earlier message that there are sensitive muscles and they might get hurt when one uses a kada. I have a different opinion regarding the same.
1) The Hands start paining(Particularly the Dayan hand) when one plays tabla after a long period. The reason is, the muscles get stiff and weak when they are not stressed for a long time. After the riyaz is continued for few days for say 1 hr, the muscles stop paining. Now if the same person start practicing for 2 hrs suddenly, then again his muscles will start paining because the muscles are not used to so much stress. My point is, its not the Kada which hurts the muscles, its the lack of practice and the amount of stress applied to the muscles which makes your hands pain.
2) If you have ever been to Banaras you might come across many Pakhwaj and Tabla Players who practice Surya Namaskars for an Hr or may be more. The total weight of you body falls on your hands. The Reason why they put their hands to high stress is to increase their stamina and also strengthen their muscles. so my point is that a Kada weighing 200grams to 300 grams can hardly make a difference to your muscles(in a negative way).
If you go to a Gym for first time, use dumbells and workout for an Hour, its pretty obvious that the next morning, your body will pain. So one needs to start the tabla practice(using a Kada/kara) for 10 mins first. Gradually increasing the practice time to 1 hr as the days pass. That will not hurt your muscles and you will observe that you can play the Bols very smoothly and your fingers move freely when not using a kada.

Upendra...
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Jarkko Laiho 32 posts
Jarkko Laiho
Jarkko spoke in his earlier message that there are sensitive muscles and they might get hurt when one uses a kada. I have a different opinion regarding the same.
1) The Hands start paining(Particularly the Dayan hand) when one plays tabla after a long period. The reason is, the muscles get stiff and weak when they are not stressed for a long time.

What I mean is that hands and every small components in them are sensitive including muscles. Muscles get stronger by practicing a lot for sure, but the weight puts unnecessary tension to the hands. As earlier mentioned technique is very important.

The great researcher of tabla James Kippen mentioned in our conversations that after he started studying with Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan he had to change his technique. He stressed that since he learned the technique he played more with technique not so much with physical power. I have found out same things when studying with Ustad Shabbir Nisar. You have to have also strength in your fingers and hands, but correct technique and relaxed manner of playing is the key to good sound and economical playing.
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Chaz 147 posts
Chaz
Since you mentioned james Kippen, if you look in his book you will find that he asked Afaq Hussain about tabla players using wrist weights, to which Afaq Hussain replied, "they will never have beauty in their sound." (Or something to that effect! Anybody have the book handy?)

No offense intended to the people who use this technique; I have not tried it, so I have no opinion myself. That's just what Afaq Hussain said.
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rapture 471 posts
rapture
....so anyway, back to the original post. i got my second wind yesterday. it seems i was in a rut, practicing the same stuff over and over. and although i really like those compositions, i needed something new to practice. yesterday i got some new material from my guru, and since then i've been glued to my tabla set. it's a great motivator.
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