Study Guides

Unit Summary

This unit explores the three main components of Hindustani classical music. Pupils hear rhythmic patterns played on the tabla drums and learn how to recite a taal using the spoken mnemonic syllables (bols). They create texture by adding an improvised raag using five notes, and finally add a drone.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to speak and clap a rhythm cycle (taal) in time.

Key Notes

• The three key components of Hindustani classical music are taal, raag, and drone.
• The main instruments used are the tabla, the sitar, and the tanpura.
• We can speak the rhythm cycles of the taals by using the bols, which sound like the drum sounds.
• We can clap and wave the rhythm cycles which can help keep us in time.

Vocabulary To Learn

• taal: a rhythm cycle that measures musical time in Indian music
• bol: a spoken syllable used to recite the rhythm (from 'bolna', the Hindi word for 'speak')
• tabla: a set of two drums on which the taal is played with the hands

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Music has four beats in a bar and we always finish at the last beat in the bar.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Bringing together taal, raag, and drone Study Guide
• Combining taals and raags Study Guide
• Improvising using a five note raag Study Guide
• Singing and playing a melody in a five note raag Study Guide
• Singing and playing raags Study Guide