Today we’d like to introduce you to Harshad Kanetkar.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a Tabla player in Indian Classical Music field. I am in the music field for last 27 years as a full-time professional Tabla player. I initially started learning vocal from my mother and grandfather, who were the classical vocalists. Later at the age of five, I began learning Tabla from Mr. Mukhade and learned for almost eight years. Later, I started learning from a well-known Tabla player Pandit Ramdas Palsule and then from Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. In 1995, After receiving necessary knowledge and training in techniques for the performance, I decided to opt Music as my full-time profession. In 1998, I received the “Award of National Scholarship” by Government of India.
Since 1995 I started performing with top renowned vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers in major music festivals and platforms. I have performed in 17 countries like US, Canada, Europe, South-East Asia, India, Sri Lanka, etc. I have toured and performed Tabla solos at prestigious music festivals in India and abroad; I have been coming to USA since 1999 for performing concert tours. Since 2016 I am residing in DFW metroplex and have established a Tabla school. Currently 90 plus students are taking the training under my guidance. Along with my concert performances, my recent released music albums “Trinity,” which is a world music album, “Resonance,” and “Divinity” are available on 150 music platforms all over the world. Very recently, I have got selected and invited as a voting member by Recording Academy which is famous for “Grammy Awards.”
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Performing art has always been hard to pursue as a full-time profession no matter which part of the world you stay. It was a tough decision to make this profession as a living. To establish as a Tabla player, I had to accept and perform with all the available invitations in the initial phase of my career. I have done rigorous practice for many years. To reach to the level of performing with so many genres in classical music, I started working with instrumentalist, vocalists, and dancers and established myself amongst very few renowned Tabla players. I came to USA in late 2016, it was challenging at the beginning to work here as a full-time musician. It took me almost 3-4 years to have a decent number of students. Later during Covind-19, restrictions affected the number of concerts.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional Tabla player in Indian classical music field. Along with being a Tabla soloist, I also accompany vocals, instrumental, and dance. I perform with various genres like North Indian, Carnatic (south) Indian and Western music. I have collaborated with many Western musicians. I have conceptualized and performed musical projects such as “Soundscape”, “Strings N Beats”, “Sangam” and “Trinity”. Soundscape is a combination of Tabla, Sitar (a popular Indian strings instrument), classical kathak dance, the blend of western and Spanish drums with vocal percussions. Strings N Beats is a pure classical concept. Tabla, Sitar and Kathak dance are the elements in this project. Sangam is a blend of two classical styles from India. One is Hindustani which is North Indian and second one is Carnatic which is south Indian. Bamboo flute, Tabla in North style and Mandolin and Mridangam in South style instruments are used. Trinity is a collaboration of Indian classical and jazz music. Tabla, Saxophone and Drums are the main instruments used in this project.
What does success mean to you?
There are always obstacles in any field. But consistently working without losing focus will always lead you to the horizon of the success. Success for me is to be known and remembered as a good musician, and my music should reach and connect to every corner of the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.harshadkanetkar.com
- Youtube: Tabla Harshad Kanetkar
