Welcome

My passion for Indian classical music and its instruments has been a wonderful journey spanning the past 50 years. Through this website, I aim to share some of the most fascinating lessons and experiences with you.

Here, you will find insights into the meaning and profound importance of sound quality, as well as the process of jawari (the filing of the bridge, from which the main sound and overtones are produced). Additionally, I explore the history, origins, and development of the flat bridge and jawari.

I have studied the tanpura, the drone instrument that forms the backbone of Indian music. You will find information on its history, construction, and basic maintenance, along with details on playing positions and techniques.

While studying tabla and sitar at Rotterdam Conservatory—now known as Codarts—in the early 1990s, I wrote my thesis on tabla. I will be sharing some interesting excerpts from this research here.

As a service, I also provide guidance on basic instrument maintenance videos. This is particularly helpful for those new to these instruments, enabling you to better understand how to care for them.

If you are looking to buy or sell an instrument, I can list your request on my “Selling and Buying an Instrument” page. Simply send me details of your instrument along with high-quality photos, and I will add it to the page. If you sell your instrument through my website, I kindly ask for a small commission.

This website contains almost 150 pages, so if anything is unclear, please feel free to contact me, and I will do my best to improve it. If you come across any information that you believe is incorrect or could be presented differently, do let me know. I welcome ideas and constructive feedback that can enhance both the site and the information it provides. Some articles may be slightly outdated, so if you have any up-to-date insights, I would be happy to hear from you.

I am not a scholar—just someone who wishes to share his ideas and knowledge.

If you wish to use any part of this website for publishing, teaching, etc, you must refer to my name and website. For more detailed information on this subject, click this link Copyright

Copyright by Toss Levy 2017-2025. All Rights Reserved.