Senior Recital

Acoustic Guitar – A global folk staple derived from European designs, with steel strings for projection. Used for strumming and fingerpicking in American, Celtic, and Latin traditions. It frequently acts as the harmonic backbone of small ensembles.

EUB (Electric Upright Bass) – A modern amplified version of the double bass, used in contemporary folk and fusion. It offers portability while retaining upright playing technique.

Sitar – A North Indian lute with sympathetic strings, producing a resonant drone-rich tone central to Hindustani music. Its long sustain supports improvisation over drones.

Chimes – Tuned metal tubes producing bell-like tones, used in orchestral and ceremonial music. They add a shimmering, atmospheric layer.

Tabla – A pair of tuned drums from North India capable of complex rhythms and pitch articulation, used in classical and folk traditions. Each stroke has a specific syllabic name in teaching systems.

Kanjira – A South Indian frame drum with jingles, played with intricate finger techniques in Carnatic and folk music. It can produce a surprising range of tones for its size.

Khartal – Wooden clappers or cymbals from Rajasthan, used in devotional and folk traditions. They provide fast, driving rhythmic patterns.

Manjira – Small hand cymbals used across India in devotional and folk music. They often keep steady time in group singing.

Ghungroo – Ankle bells worn by dancers, adding rhythmic texture to Indian performance traditions. They integrate movement and rhythm into one expressive form.

Bansuri – A traditional bamboo flute from North India, with ancient roots in Indian folk and classical music. Played transversely, it produces a warm, airy tone and allows for smooth pitch bends and ornamentation characteristic of Hindustani styles. It often carries expressive melodic lines, drawing on raga-based phrasing while maintaining strong ties to regional folk traditions.

Harmonium – A small, hand-pumped reed organ introduced to India in the 19th century from Europe, now deeply embedded in South Asian folk and devotional music. Played with one hand on keys and the other operating bellows, it produces a steady, sustained tone for melody and chords. It commonly accompanies vocals in bhajan, kirtan, and qawwali, providing harmonic support and a stable pitch reference.