Tag Archives: Sitar

New Tough Sitar Taans

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Hi, I’m Jeff Starr, a sitar student and filmmaker. Last week my sitar teacher revised one of my existing taans to expand it further.

It’s not super complicated, but he wants me to build up my speed so that I can play my sitar taans at 250 beats per minute (bpm). And, this one started getting really hard at at 175 bpm.

I give all my my Taans nicknames and I call this one “3P.”

Let’s see how fast I can get today!

I took my first sitar lesson on January 27th, 2012.

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Debut sitar performance in NYC

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My teacher said that he booked me for a sitar performance in NYC this December!

I am stressing out!  Back in November 2015 I had my first public performance. I was background music for an event at the Pakistan Mission to The United Nations. It was an honor to be invited to play there, but I was REALLY nervous about it.

In tonight’s video I reflect on that performance, where I am now with my training and I show a super old clip from 2012, after I had taken my third sitar lesson.  I’ve come a long way since then!

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Raga Yaman Gat and Taans

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Here is a video of me practicing gat and taans for Raga Yaman.

I am working to build up speed. My teacher wants me to play at 250 beats per minute (BPM). Although I’ve been able to play a handful of taans at 200bpm, tonight I stayed at 170 BPM to try and clean up the technical errors in my playing.

If you like this video, please subscribe to my YouTube channel:
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You can watch more of my sitar videos at this YouTube Playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaTbnoUuEbU3lBS56ci0HIf59ICXdwnhx

How to play Sitar Fast: playing sitar at 200 beats per minute!

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Do you want to learn how to play sitar fast?  So do I!

I am working to build up speed as my teacher wants me to play at 200 beats per minute (BPM). Let’s see how fast I can get today!

Here is a video of me practicing one of my Taans for Raga Yaman. I give all my my Taans nicknames and I call this one “Confused #1.”

I took my first sitar lesson on January 27th, 2012.

The Fastest I Have Ever Played This Sitar Taan!

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People love fast sitar music.  But it’s really hard to do!

Here is a video of me practicing one of my Taans for Raga Yaman. I am working to build up speed as my teacher wants me to play at 200 beats per minute (BPM). Let’s see how fast I can play tonight?

I give all my my Taans nicknames and I call this: “1-2-3-4-5.” Although I may start calling it “Confidence” now.

I took my first sitar lesson on January 27th, 2012.

How To Learn Sitar? Tips from my experience.

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Hi, I’m Jeff Starr, a sitar student and filmmaker.

I often get asked how to learn sitar.

So, I made a short video to share my experience as a student and give you my tips and suggestions.  In the end, it’s pretty easy if you do one really important thing.  But, you gotta watch the video to find out what that is.

Should you learn the sitar?  If this is something you have been thinking about then I really think you should do it.  It’s definitely difficult but there are strange moments that can be easy. And once you practice, everything gets easier.  Don’t be afraid to try it out.and if you are wondering if you are too old you are not.

Sitar Practice: Gat and Taans 09.23.16 – Practice makes perfect

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Here is a video of me practicing one of my Taans for Raga Yaman.

I give all my my Taans nicknames and I call this one “Triplet with Stairs.”

I am working to build up speed as my teacher wants me to play at 200 beats per minute (BPM). Let’s see how fast I can get today!

I took my first sitar lesson on January 27th, 2012.

Most Difficult Sitar Exercise Ever? Part 1

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My sitar teacher gave me a very difficult exercise to practice. He told me it would take a year before I would be able to play it correctly. I’m going to document my progress. This is video #1.

Please leave comments.

I took my first sitar lesson on January 27th, 2012.