Don't Choke the words of the Tabla!! Let it speak!

As I listen to the classic bhajans in my parents' CD case, I always let my ear work its magic to pick up the sounds of the tabla. Oh what grace, what elegance, and such a rhythm that keeps me tapping my foot and swaying my body, as I sit in a crowded bus, resisting the temptation to dance to the music. I then listened to my parents' collection of solely tabla playing and the only CD that is in our possession is by Zakir Hossain, the Tabla Master. I was just in awe when I heard the speed he was playing his tabla at. I mean he didn't really keep a rhythm, but wow he was playing with such intensity that I couldn't even translate the music to dancing or tapping.

I went to tabla class last weekend and as I was practicing in front of my instructor, where I began to play slightly faster just to imitate Zakir. I stumbled quite a bit, and couldn't really get farther than the second bol. I just said aloud "Man I need to slow down." Almost instantly after I said those words, my instructor said "You know Tejas, you made a good point. You told yourself to slow down. Tabla is not about playing it ridiculously fast. It is like me saying "youareaniceboy." You will not understand it until I slow down and say "you are a nice boy." Similarly, tabla playing is like having a conversation through the sounds of the tabla. Don't choke the words of the tabla by playing faster! Let it speak! Once you start choking it, you will lose the harmony, the rhythm, the elegance!"

Such a brilliant description on the impact of music. Music, like mathematics, is a universal language! I guess that means, it is time for me to learn another language! :-P