Education Institute Verified Founded

Tabla Academy of Ajrara Gharana

New Delhi

The Tabla Academy of Ajrara Gharana (TAAG) is a New Delhi–based institution dedicated to preserving and promoting the Ajrara gharana of tabla through traditional training, concerts, and curated classical music festivals.

Upcoming Events

About Tabla Academy of Ajrara Gharana

The Tabla Academy of Ajrara Gharana (TAAG) was established by renowned tabla maestro Ustad Akram Khan along with his father, the late Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan, a respected figure of the Ajrara gharana tradition. The academy was founded with the intention of preserving the rich rhythmic heritage of the Ajrara lineage and transmitting its repertoire to future generations through structured training and performance platforms.

Rooted in the Guru-Shishya Parampara, the academy emphasizes close mentorship between teacher and disciple, focusing on the transmission of traditional compositions, stylistic nuances, and the deeper theoretical understanding of tabla. Over the years, TAAG has developed into a recognized center for students seeking authentic training in the Ajrara gharana, which is one of the six principal schools of tabla in Hindustani classical music.

Under the continued leadership of Ustad Akram Khan, a seventh-generation representative of the Ajrara lineage, the academy has also contributed to nurturing emerging artists, including younger performers such as Zargham Akram Khan.

History

The Tabla Academy of Ajrara Gharana (TAAG) is an Indian classical music institution dedicated to the preservation, teaching, and promotion of the Ajrara gharana of tabla. Based in New Delhi, the academy functions both as a training center for percussion students and as an organizing body for classical music concerts and cultural events.

The academy’s educational activities focus primarily on tabla as both a solo and accompanying instrument, with emphasis on the traditional repertoire of the Ajrara gharana. Training at the institution includes instruction in classical compositions, rhythmic improvisation, accompaniment techniques, and the practice of padhant, the vocal recitation of rhythmic patterns that form a key aspect of tabla pedagogy.

In addition to its teaching programs, TAAG is actively involved in curating and organizing classical music festivals and thematic concerts that bring together leading artists as well as emerging performers. Among its notable initiatives are

Malhar Utsav is an annual festival dedicated to monsoon-themed ragas featuring prominent vocalists and instrumentalists.
Tihayi is a recurring event celebrating Indian classical music and dance traditions.
Music for Peace, a concert series designed to promote cultural harmony, including a special edition organized in 2026 marking 150 years of the song Vande Mataram.

Through these educational initiatives and performance platforms, the Tabla Academy of Ajrara Gharana continues to contribute to the transmission of traditional tabla knowledge while supporting young musicians and strengthening the broader ecosystem of Hindustani classical music.