Bhoomija: Harmonium in Raag Sangeet - Sudhir Nayak

The Harmonium in Raag Sangeet - A Workshop with Sudhir Nayak

Dates: 19, 20 September 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Venue: Indian Music Experience, Bengaluru

Introduced to India during the mid-19th century by missionaries and traders, the foot-pedalled Harmonium, also known as baaja or peti, was adopted and modified by Indian craftsmen to suit the traditional Indian posture of sitting on the floor.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the compact and portable form of the Indian harmonium became integral to diverse genres of Indian music; from classical, semi-classical to popular, stage, and devotional music. Notwithstanding the ban imposed by All India Radio for about 30 years during the 20th century, due to its technical limitations to produce microtones (shruti) and embellishments such as meend, ghaseet, and gamak, today, it is perhaps the most favoured instrument used for accompanying vocal music, especially in North India, while also getting popular as a solo instrument.

Join renowned harmonium maestro Sudhir Nayak as he deep-dives into the technique and aesthetics of the instrument in a two-day interactive workshop. The sessions will explore the evolving role of the harmonium in Indian classical music and delve into the nuances of playing the instrument, helping students fine-tune and deepen their artistry.

Who Can Apply:

- Anyone over 12 years old

- Participants with basic training in Harmonium for 3 years or more

Workshop Guidelines:

- Bring your own Harmonium

- Harmoniums must be tuned to standard pitch.

About Sudhir Nayak

A disciple of the harmonium maestro Tulsidas Borkar, Sudhir Nayak also received training from the noted vocalist and composer, Jitendra Abhisheki. He is equally at home with harmonium solo renditions as he is with accompaniment, and has performed with many illustrious performers globally. His rich experience in the field and eclectic approach towards music and arts have facilitated his role as a Guru and composer for several projects related to music and the arts.

Supported by Indian Music Experience and Arundathi Moorti Philanthropies