Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn the sitar
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The sitar is a key instrument of North Indian (Hindustani) classical music, and beginners start with how to hold and pluck it and the swaras, the notes of the raga. Specialist schools run adult classes and taster sessions, and some rent out instruments so you can start before buying one.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
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Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| The Bhavan, London | Open beginners' classes with Ustad Mehboob Nadeem, joinable through the year, leading to diploma levels | Fees on the Bhavan's timetable page; its 2025 summer school sitar course was £175 |
| South Asian Arts (SAA-uk), Leeds | Adult classes on Sunday and Tuesday evenings in 10-week terms, with taster sessions each term | £120 a term or £360 a year; bursaries available |
| Saraswati School of Music, Dallas area or Zoom | One-to-one lessons; Level I Sitar Foundations is four classes for people with no sitar experience | $260, plus a $49 initiation fee that includes strings and a book |
| Chhandayan Center for Indian Music, New York | Take-home sitar rental for its beginner students, by the fortnight or month | $600 refundable deposit |
The Ali Akbar College of Music, listed by San Francisco Classical Voice, teaches North Indian classical music to students from beginners to professionals, and Bay Area teacher Will Marsh offers lessons at all levels with a rental sitar available.
Renting, buying and how to sit
Renting first is common. Saraswati School of Music rents a student sitar for $49 a month, tuned and set up, with no long-term commitment, and Chhandayan rents sitars only to its own beginner students. Chhandayan's shop lists a beginner sitar at $773.08, rising to $2,575 for a professional instrument.
Posture is taught from the start. SAA-uk beginners begin by learning to hold and pluck the sitar, Saraswati's first level includes proper hold, posture and instrument care, and Will Marsh's lessons cover sitting and playing comfort as well as tuning.
How to start
- Look for a specialist school of Indian music with adult classes, in person or online, and book a taster session if it offers one.
- Ask whether the school rents sitars to beginners before you think about buying.
- Ask what a first term covers; beginners' classes start with holding and plucking the instrument and the basic notes.
Where to go
- South Asian Arts (SAA-uk): sitar classes (Leeds) UK
- The Bhavan: courses including sitar (London) UK
- Saraswati School of Music: sitar classes (Dallas area and online) US
We opened these links on 13 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can adults learn the sitar?
Yes. SAA-uk in Leeds runs adult classes, and the Bhavan in London says its introductory open classes can be joined throughout the year.
Should I rent or buy a sitar as a beginner?
Some schools rent to beginners. Saraswati School of Music lists rental at $49 a month with no long-term commitment, and Chhandayan rents sitars to its beginner students.
How much does a sitar cost?
Chhandayan Center for Indian Music lists a beginner sitar at $773.08, an intermediate one at $1,287.65 and a professional one at $2,575.
Can I learn the sitar online?
Yes. Saraswati School of Music teaches one-to-one over Zoom, and the Bhavan's 2025 summer school had an online option for its sitar course.
Where this comes from: The Bhavan, full-time courses; The Bhavan, Summer School 2025 - Sitar with Ustad Mehboob Nadeem; South Asian Arts (SAA-uk), Sitar classes; Saraswati School of Music, Classes; Chhandayan Center for Indian Music, Sitar rental; Chhandayan Center for Indian Music, Instruments; San Francisco Classical Voice, Ali Akbar College of Music; Lark in the Morning, Sitar lessons - all levels. Opened 13 November 2026.
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