<center><b> Foreword </b></center><p>
This book called Tabla Shiksha: Rudimentary Learning for Light-Music Tabla Playing is an excellent Learner's Guide to the basics of Tabla. The components pertaining to the foundational learning are well integrated. Here we find the author Sri Prajapati, yet again, exploring, researching and contributing in the arena of Tabla music.<P>
The exercises/lessons offer stepwise progressive learning which seem to have stemmed from his own experience of teaching and learning. The lessons in the form of Taals, syllabic phrases & formative Kaidas are seamlessly connected to each other rendering a firm foundation for comprehensive Tabla playing. Though this book specifically aims at Light music Tabla playing, yet it can also be the first choice of an aspirant who wishes to learn the classical way, the foundational learning being the same for any kind of music.<P>
I am sure that with this approach and diligent practice, the students, with time, would find the echoes of their Tabla sounds immersed in aesthetical rhythm. My heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Sri Prajapati. May the profound knowledge enlighten the seekers of music.<P>
<center><b>Prologue</b></center><p>
Tabla Siksha: Rudimentary Learning for Light Music Tabla Playing is a book that offers a foundational learning of Tabla for beginners that leads them towards playing Tabla for light music. It's a practical tool for Tabla learners as well as practitioners to initiate Tabla by having its fundamental knowledge. This book is also for those Tabla players who wish to improve upon their basic knowledge through progressive learning. It's a guiding tool for the learner in terms of getting clarity in sound execution, achieving speed, expanding Tabla vocabulary, repertoire and to learn various rhythm patterns especially used in light-music. On the other hand, it helps in understanding basic grammar of Tabla and rhythm through notational script, the ability to read and write notation. Above all, the book aims to instill better appreciation for Tabla playing.<P>
Teaching the art of Tabla playing to the students from diverse cultures over the years has given me a great insight to introduce simple rhythm patterns in a comprehensive manner. Teaching inspires me towards improving the sound and rhythm of Tabla. How we play is more important than what we play.<P>
Different Tabla learners have different objectives to learn Tabla. Considering the individual capability and purpose it inspires me to think and work on how rhythm can be simplified and made understandable by breaking it into its smallest units where a learner can understand it with ease, execute it flawlessly and can justify playing Tabla up to the set goal. Learning simple rhythm patterns as per one's own pace builds a strong foundation, resulting in having a sense of achievement and leading towards the goal of playing Tabla efficiently thereby contributing to a progressive journey.
This book enables progressive step wise leaning from basic to advanced lessons. Basically, this book introduces the learner to play basic alphabets of Tabla, practicing small rhythm-exercises, then getting introduced to a few Kaidas and Relas. It offers good repertoire of Tabla-vocabulary, classical orientation and clarity in grammatical base for the learner.<P>
This book provides ample of rhythm-patterns which are used for light-music Tabla playing in various Taals (time-cycles) and in various speeds. This book is a guide to an effective Tabla playing which can be achieved by practicing pre-requisite exercises.<P>
Though Tabla is globally acclaimed as a Solo instrument today, yet the instrument is predominantly used as an accompanying instrument, especially in Light music. However, one can hardly find a book on Light music playing of Tabla. Though the usage of Tabla is more in light music, so far, it has not yet felt or come to that consideration as per the present-day need of Tabla learners to meet that necessity. Also, the light-music Tabla playing is so diverse that, it can't be confined to a single style or approach of playing. Still, it finds a scope to a certain extent where the essential rhythmic patterns and practices of light-music Tabla playing can be put in a cohesive way and practical manner. This book is an effort to address that need.<P>
Here the question may arise, can someone learn to play Tabla from a book? Of course not. A book can't replace a Guru. However, this book aims to support learners by providing a rhythmic understanding and the ability to appreciate Tabla rhythm, particularly in light-music contexts.
Also, this book is not meant for standardizing Tabla playing for light music. Rather, it brings together a collective rhythmic knowledge, commonly used patterns, prerequisite exercises, grammar components like basic Kaidas, Relas, Tihais and so on, which can be helpful also for improving Tabla playing in general. I am hopeful that, this book meets its purpose to guide and inspire the learners towards a thoughtful approach for playing Tabla and for advanced learning.<P>
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