Tabla and Indian Vocal Rhythm Workshop @ The Greenhouse
During the Obon holidays this year, I attended the Hikari Matsuri in Yoshino together with the tabla player Shen Flindell. On the Saturday afternoon, there were many people relaxing in the gymnasium that served as the ambient stage. We found a place to sit, and while waiting for the performances to begin at 5:00, Shen began playing his tablas quietly. Gradually people gathered around, some of them with percussion instruments, and quite a few with didges. It became a very enjoyable jam session, with Shen maintaining a steady but endlessly varied rhythmic current for a surprisingly long time.
After the Hikari Matsuri, various people came to the Greenhouse in Chichibu for a multi- day gathering, during which Shen not only performed many times, solo, with other instrumentalists, and with several DJ sets, but also gave informal lessons to a number of people. I was struck by how quickly he was able to teach a six- year- old boy the complex position of fingers and technique of striking needed to produce a clear and distinct tabla sound.
On the weekend of 1-3 September, Shen will hold a more intensive workshop for people interested in beginning or improving their tabla playing. The Greenhouse is a perfect place for this kind of event. In addition to the main music room, with its high quality sound system and collection of many instruments, there are various other rooms and outdoor locations suitable for private or group lessons. The Greenhouse is high in the cool Chichibu mountains, with many beautiful areas to stroll, and several swimming places and onsens nearby.
In between sessions there will be live and recorded Indian and other ethnic music and videos for your further enjoyment. and delicious meals, snacks, and beverages will be available.