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Add 2024 MtS concert material to ./percussio.md.
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njsch committed Nov 22, 2024
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Expand Up @@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ You can watch one of my family's earlier laid-back parody musical endeavours bel

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BuhnGdk6DcE" title="'Ben' 03-12-10 - Youtube" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

My first unofficial drum lesson was from one of my Dad's first cousins, shortly after I got my first kit in 2006. I recall him saying it only took me about 45 seconds or so to pick up a basic rock beat but don't ask me how I did that. When I went to high school the following year, I got lessons from one drum teacher in basic rudiments, then moved onto another music teacher who trained me in how to collaborate in a band context. Then I got most of my block of private drum kit lessons from Clint Leys and for a short time, one other drum teacher before I finished my schooling altogether.

In high school, I played in a school band called Soul Faction which played mostly, broadly in the funk genre. Between roughly 2009&ndash;2014, I played the drums for the music team at a Baptist church I used to attend. And from 2017 or maybe 2018&ndash;2020, bfore COVID-19 hit the world scene, I played at the [Albury Presbyterian Churches](http://alburychurch.org.au/)' [Morning Church](http://alburychurch.org.au/locations/church_morningchurch/) service.

Expand All @@ -31,6 +30,7 @@ In around 2012 or so, I purchased a [Pearl](https://pearldrum.com/) drum kit to
[Tabla](https://www.melbournetablaschool.com/tabla.html) is the name usually given to a set of two percussive musical instruments originating from the [Indian subcontinent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent). It can also be given to the daya (right-hand drum) which is the smaller of the two in the set, the other being the dagga, or baya . They are often played sitting cross-legged with the drums in front of the player and sitting on padded rings, allowing for more flexible movement for greater comfort and usability while playing. You can also swap the drums around if you are left-handed; however, the drums still have the same names with their different positions. The treble drum is usually tuned to the tonic note of the musical piece in question. Tabla can usually be found featuring in north Indian [Hindustani classical music](https://www.mhcms.org/the-music.html) and sometimes (though less so often) in southern [Carnatic classical music](http://ccrtindia.gov.in/carnaticclassicalmusic.php). Tabla has also been increasingly introduced to various modern Western styles/genres of music, The Beatles being a noteworthy example of this.

My keen interest in this instrument was inspired by seeing [Pete Lockett](https://www.petelockett.info/ABOUT) &mdash; now retired &mdash; play at [Frank Corniola](https://www.drumtek.com.au/frank-corniola/) and Drumtek's [Australia's 17th Ultimate Drummers Weekend](https://www.drummerstix.com.au/pdf/drumscene-oct09-audwroundup.pdf) in 2009 when I went with my dad. Pete is a world-renown percussionist who, among [a number of other things](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1677032/), is possibly most well-known for composing and recording the percussion components of the soundtracks for five of the more recent 007 James Bond films (most notably and substantially, [Quantum of Solace](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/)). He is also on the [International Advisory Board for Can-Do Musos](https://candomusos.com/about-us.php), a not-for-profit organisation for supporting musicians with disabilities, of which I am also [a member](https://candomusos.com/profile-nathaniel-schmidt.php). I was quite fascinated by his playing and had always wanted to know more. But for a long time, I suppressed my desire for knowledge and experience.
My first unofficial drum lesson was from one of my Dad's first cousins, shortly after I got my first kit in 2006. I recall him saying it only took me about 45 seconds or so to pick up a basic rock beat but don't ask me how I did that. When I went to high school the following year, I got lessons from one drum teacher in basic rudiments, then moved onto another music teacher who trained me in how to collaborate in a band context. Then I got most of my block of private drum kit lessons from Clint Leys and for a short time, one other drum teacher before I finished my schooling altogether.

![A picture of me doing a lesson in Sam Evans' studio](/assets/images/30-08-2022_Sam_Thornbury.jpeg)

Expand All @@ -41,16 +41,15 @@ Having learned from the traditions of Pt. Chattergee's style, via Dr. Evans, thi
It's going to be a long commitment journey: I'm told about twelve months before I can play in the [MTS anual concert](https://www.melbournetablaschool.com/events.html); and twelve-eighteen months before I am taught how to tune the drums. The technique is very complex and utterly unlike any drums I have played previously (acoustic drum kit and Djembe). It can take up to three-five years of full-time playing for a drum player to become moderately proficient and a further ten years or so to become professionally adept.

### Performances
#### MTS Concert 2022
In hindsight, it ended up being about eight months before I ended up playing in the MTS concert. Not having a concert in-person for two or three years, owing to COVID-19 lockdowns, caused the performance-ready state of some students to be pushed forward a little. Consequently, there were a couple of noteable mistakes. You can watch the Youtube video of the performance here below:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sqxUzHuWHW0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
#### MTS Concert 2024
Overview:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mMHM7w9j_IM?si=bxKpFUpWYo8LLAHz" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Obviously, this was an ultra-beginner piece containing a [theka](https://digitabla.com/reference/compositional-forms/theka/) (accompaniment piece), and three solo pieces (either a [kaida](https://digitabla.com/reference/compositional-forms/kayda/#:~:text=Kāyadā%20–%20कायदा,rule%3B%20system%20of%20rules%3B%20method) and two [tukra](https://digitabla.com/reference/compositional-forms/tukra/#:~:text=Quick%20Definition%3A%20A%20cadential%20composition,Meaning%3A%20piece%3B%20fragment%3B%20bit)s, or a kaida, a tukra and a [paran](https://www.tablalegacy.com/paran#:~:text=Connecting%20to%20the%20Sanskrit%20word,into%20veins%20on%20both%20sides.) &mdash; I can't remember which of the ultimately excluded pieces was a tukra or paran). You can view a much more involved piece, performed in [Jhaptal](https://www.taalgyan.com/taals/jhaptaal/) (an eastern equivalent of a tenth-note time-signature in western notation), here to see what tabla is really capable of:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DhkWOaCK7XQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Group 5 performance (taal &ndash; deepchandi/rupak; tempo &ndash; 65-75bpm; piece contains &mdash; four tukras (unless one might be a mukra), deepchandi theka, rupak theka, one kaida with six palta and tihai (first two were taken out), as well as a rela (lead into via chand from rupak theka):
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dgwMbiVI2Qw?si=Ag6UaKl93FArn_OK" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#### Hindustani Riyaz (Practice) Session &mdash; August 2023
NOTE: I neglected to tune the tabla beforehand: I should have gotten someone else to do it for me, as I can't fully do it myself yet.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u5y8aIoillg?si=-AlE-KOO2gvYgWyG" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Sam Evans and Rithvik Chands' performance:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/savZnwYnENA?si=5_xBTnei4o6emfNA" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#### MTS Concert 2023
Overview:
Expand All @@ -62,6 +61,17 @@ Group 3 performance (taal &ndash; jhaptal; tempo &ndash; 60bpm; piece contains &
Sam Evans and Rithvik Chands' performance: because, as always, it was so good!
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tec56g2tD4g?si=AgiGT2bjDgriExek" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#### Hindustani Riyaz (Practice) Session &mdash; August 2023
NOTE: I neglected to tune the tabla beforehand: I should have gotten someone else to do it for me, as I can't fully do it myself yet.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u5y8aIoillg?si=-AlE-KOO2gvYgWyG" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#### MTS Concert 2022
In hindsight, it ended up being about eight months before I ended up playing in the MTS concert. Not having a concert in-person for two or three years, owing to COVID-19 lockdowns, caused the performance-ready state of some students to be pushed forward a little. Consequently, there were a couple of noteable mistakes. You can watch the Youtube video of the performance here below:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sqxUzHuWHW0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Obviously, this was an ultra-beginner piece containing a [theka](https://digitabla.com/reference/compositional-forms/theka/) (accompaniment piece), and three solo pieces (either a [kaida](https://digitabla.com/reference/compositional-forms/kayda/#:~:text=Kāyadā%20–%20कायदा,rule%3B%20system%20of%20rules%3B%20method) and two [tukra](https://digitabla.com/reference/compositional-forms/tukra/#:~:text=Quick%20Definition%3A%20A%20cadential%20composition,Meaning%3A%20piece%3B%20fragment%3B%20bit)s, or a kaida, a tukra and a [paran](https://www.tablalegacy.com/paran#:~:text=Connecting%20to%20the%20Sanskrit%20word,into%20veins%20on%20both%20sides.) &mdash; I can't remember which of the ultimately excluded pieces was a tukra or paran). You can view a much more involved piece, performed in [Jhaptal](https://www.taalgyan.com/taals/jhaptaal/) (an eastern equivalent of a tenth-note time-signature in western notation), here to see what tabla is really capable of:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DhkWOaCK7XQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### Tabla Resources
Contained below are some resources I have compiled or provided for playing and composition from an accessibility standpoint.

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