After finally getting to see Zakir Hussain play live a few weeks ago, I decided to start learning the tabla.  I just stubled upon this (www.petelockett.com/lessons/detailedtablatutorials.html) tutorial site by Pete Lockett and thought someone out there might also be interested in it.  I don't know anything about him, but I think I've heard the name before.  I haven't gotten a chance to check it out to see how good it is yet, but I figured I'd post it anyway.

If anyone knows of any other tutorial sites, please share.

-Deepak

when you say "stay away from that stuff", do you mean the tablas in general or just that tutorial site?

Perhaps this person you are talking about doesn't have the ability it takes to teach himself. Or perhaps he didn't follow instructions properly. I think it's a broad statement to assume that everything online is going to mess you up ... or as you said "screw up your hands".

The way you first worded your post, it sounded as though you were directing your comments to the tutorial in question. What you are really saying is that your friend tried to learn online, then when he went to a teacher, the instructor told him he did it all wrong.

There are many techniques and schools for tabla. Many tabla gurus are set in their ways and believe their way is the only way. Without further evidence of what you are stating, it's hard for anyone to really know what went wrong. It could have been the online material, it could have been the student, it could be the teacher. It could be a combination of all three.

So ranjit, while your opinion may be correct, I think it's best to be a little more specific, giving details and factual evidence, when you are stating a negative like this. You used a wide, broad brush when you painted this picture ... and I don't think it serves you or anyone else very well.

The library has some excellent tabla resources if you are looking for info outside of a student/teacher relationship. James Kippen, David Courtney and Robert Gottlieb are three authors that come to mind.