Teaching Tabla in the Classroom: the process of transadaptation in creating a new teaching and notation system

Abstract

This article examines the cultural and pedagogical issues involved with a practicebased research project developing a series of teaching books and a notation system for teaching the Indian tabla drums in schools in the UK. The project worked with both classical Indian musicians and teachers, and Western percussionists and teachers, to create an approach that respected the original musical and teaching context, whilst also adapting it to be suitable for teaching in schools. The issues of adapting traditions, problems with ‘authenticity’, and finding new ways to teach music from other cultures are explored through the term ‘transadaptation’ to question how to ‘translate’ practices and traditions in a sensitive way to make them accessible in the new context.