Is musical progress continuous or discontinuous?
Learning tabla, like learning any musical instrument, is very much a discontinuous process. There are periods where one makes good progress. At other times, it feels that we are not making any progress at all. This alternation continues indefinitely. For one who has never learned a musical instrument, the first obstacle is the most critical. It usually occurs between 1-3 months. It is at this point that the initial enthusiasm has worn off and there is the aching realisation that learning tabla is not going to be quick and easy. This is when a very large number of students drop out. If one realises ahead of time, that it is a long and difficult journey, and that the first block is just one of many, it often reduces the dropout rate. This six week slump is just one of many difficulties in the long road to learning tabla. Many students mistakenly interpret this first obstacle as an indication that they are unfit to learn tabla.
