learn tabla

Anita began her teaching career at the Toronto Tabla Ensemble studio from 2005-2009 and has continued to teach out of her downtown Toronto studio. She has presented Introduction to Tabla workshops at Long and McQuade, Girls Rock Camp Toronto and Small World Music. Anita currently leads group classes out of downtown Toronto and plans to launch Monday evening classes at Small World Music from Sept – Dec 2026.

For details on tabla workshops, classes and advanced classes please check the FAQ section and read below. Email anita@rakkatak.com to register.

2026 Class Session Session Dates

Session	Dates	Holidays
Winter II – 8 days	January 4, 2026 – February 22
Spring – 8 days	March 15, 22, 29, April 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10 (Mother’s day)	April 5 (Easter long weekend)
Summer – 8 days	Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45, 7-8:15 June 3, 10, 17, 24, July 8, 15, 22, 29 Thursdays, 5:30 – 6:45pm June 4, 11, 18, 25/th>	No class Wed. July 1, Thursday July 2
Fall – 8 days	Wednesday Sept 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct 7, 14, 21, 28
Winter I – 5 days	Wednesday Nov 18, 25, Dec 2, 9, 16. Note: Student Recital Dec 20

Introduction To Tabla

Some of the strokes students will learn include: “na, te te, ghe, ke, dha, thun, dhin, dhenegene”. Each participant will receive specialized attention to correctly position their hands as they learn tabla strokes. Students will be introduced to the tabla compositions: kayda, rela, tukra and chakradaar. Moreover, they will become familiar with the North Indian taal system through knowledge of its history, language, keeping theka (clapping patterns) and playing taal.

Note: Though tabla may be provided for class time, students must have their own drums. Anita can make suggestions on where to rent or buy tabla.

Intermediate Tabla

Prerequisite: Introduction to Tabla

Each student will build on their existing knowledge of tabla and be introduced to new tabla strokes and compositions such as: gaat, paran and chalan. Students will be introduced to new time cycles (i.e. taals) including ek taal, keherwa and jhap taal. A study of jhap taal (the time cycle of 10 beats) will begin with learning kayda, tukra and chakradaar compositions in this time cycle. Students will become comfortable playing with lehera, a cyclical melody representing the time cycle.

Introduction To Tabla – Workshop

Did you know that everything we play on tabla, we say? Within an introductory workshop, Anita will present concepts including: the construction of a set of tabla, tabla bols (i.e. the language of the tabla), taal (i.e. North Indian rhythmic system), kayda (i.e. a tabla composition) and tihai (i.e. a rhythmic pattern). Each participant will get hands on experience playing tabla with the drums provided in the workshop.