Tabla with Gopala B.

Gopala is a professional tabla and harmonium teacher with over 7 years of teaching and performing experience. He graduated from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) with a BFA degree in World Music Performance specializing in tabla. He learned tabla professionally from world-renowned tabla master Swapan Chaudhuri, from world-renowned tabla expert Debashish Chaudhuri, and from master percussionist Randy Gloss. Gopala teaches tabla and harmonium students of all different ages and levels and helps them to become versed in the art of playing tabla and harmonium through a simple and effective systematic step-by-step method. Since tabla is a language-based instrument he first teaches students the basics of tabla which requires an understanding of the basic 'bols' (tabla strokes) which are syllables that the student has to first memorize in order to learn how to play them on the tabla with the correct technique. He also encourages students to follow a consistent program of regular devoted practice which he helps to facilitate for them during the lessons so that they can learn fast and advance in their playing. Since tabla and harmonium are not easy instruments to learn he encourages his students to follow the step-by-step method that he teaches which, if followed correctly and with regularity, can guarantee the students' success in mastering the art of playing tabla and harmonium. As the student advances he or she will come to realize that learning these instruments is a great and fun way to improve one's concentration, memorization, and attention!