Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn the tabla
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The tabla is a pair of small drums at the heart of Hindustani music of northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, with the right-hand drum usually tuned to the tonic of the raga. Beginners learn the sounds of the fingers and hands and the spoken syllables, called bols, that name each stroke.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
What you learn
The tabla is a pair of drums. The higher-pitched dayan, usually of wood, is played with the right hand and usually tuned to the tonic of the raga. The lower bayan, played with the left, is a deep kettledrum, usually of copper but sometimes of clay or wood. Each has a disk of black tuning paste that affects the pitch and adds overtones.
Every stroke has a spoken syllable, or bol, used both in teaching and in performance, and players use a variety of finger and hand strokes. South Asian Arts describes the tabla as an accompanying instrument for vocal and instrumental music and as a solo instrument.
At South Asian Arts in Leeds, beginners start with making the sounds with the fingers and hands, basic bols, coordination and simple rhythmic patterns. Later come a wider range of taals (rhythmic cycles), compositions and improvisation.
Tuning is part of the craft. The skin tension is adjusted with the lacings and with wooden dowels that are tapped with a hammer.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| South Asian Arts (SAA-UK), Leeds | Weekly classes by level, including an adult class on Tuesday evenings; taster sessions through the year | £120 a term (10 weeks) or £360 a year (30 weeks); bursaries available |
| PRSSV Sangeet College, West London | Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes on Wednesdays and Fridays; one-to-one and online classes; classes prepare students for OCN accredited qualifications | Not listed; contact the college |
| Chhandayan Center for Indian Music, New York | Group classes of 10 or fewer, including a Thursday beginners' group; booked by the month; private lessons by arrangement | Tuition not listed; tabla reservation $5 an hour |
| Alif Institute, Atlanta, Georgia | Beginner I and Beginner II classes on Tuesday evenings, 16 sessions from January to April | $415 a term; drop-in $35 (Sanad Team members) or $40 if space allows |
Alif Institute rents a limited number of tablas at $65 for up to five months, plus a $150 refundable deposit. PRSSV says no prior knowledge of Indian music is needed.
How to start
- Look for a weekly beginners' or adult class at an Indian music school or academy; some offer taster sessions.
- Ask whether you can borrow or rent a tabla before you buy one.
- Check what the beginners' class covers and whether exams are offered, if you want them.
Where to go
- South Asian Arts (SAA-UK): tabla classes, including an adult class (Leeds) UK
- PRSSV Sangeet College: tabla classes (West London) UK
- Chhandayan Center for Indian Music: tabla classes (New York) US
- Alif Institute: beginner tabla classes (Atlanta) 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 tabla from scratch?
Yes. South Asian Arts in Leeds runs an adult class, Chhandayan in New York says its group classes are open to all ages and levels, and PRSSV Sangeet College says no prior knowledge of Indian music is needed.
What are tabla bols?
Bols are spoken syllables that match each tabla stroke. They are used both for teaching and in performance.
Do I need to buy a tabla to start lessons?
Not always. Chhandayan lets students reserve a tabla for $5 an hour, and Alif Institute rents a limited number at $65 for up to five months, plus a deposit.
How much do tabla lessons cost?
As last listed, £120 for a 10-week term at South Asian Arts in Leeds, and $415 for a 16-session term at Alif Institute in Atlanta.
Where this comes from: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Tabla; South Asian Arts (SAA-UK), Tabla classes; Harrow Arts, Tabla classes (PRSSV Sangeet College); Chhandayan Center for Indian Music, New York classes; Alif Institute, Tabla classes. Opened 13 November 2026.
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