Learn sitar online in the Jafferkhani Baaj of the Indore gharana — live weekly taalim with a Surmani and President’s Award-winning sitarist, with EU-daytime and global batches.
Meet your guru
Rohan Dasgupta — Surmani, President’s Award, Pandit Vishnu Digambar Award; carries the lineage of Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan. Based in Europe (Slovenia), teaching worldwide. Meet your guru →
The Jafferkhani Baaj of the Indore gharana comes to Rohan through the lineage of Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan. Read the full guru tree on his personal site.
The 6-level ladder (mapped to the Pracheen Kala Kendra syllabus)
- Level 1 — sitting posture, mizrab strokes, tuning, Alankars and Raga Yaman gat.
- Level 2 — meend and krintan basics, 3–4 ragas, simple jhala.
- Level 3 — Masitkhani and Razakhani gats, taal-keherwa/teental fluency, raga theory for PKK papers.
- Level 4 — Jafferkhani Baaj phrasing, gayaki-ang meend work, 8+ ragas.
- Level 5 — full raga presentation: alap, jor, gat, jhala; mock board exams.
- Level 6 — Visharad-track repertoire, viva preparation and a public baithak recital.
Batch times in your timezone
| Region | Group batches | 1:1 slots |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey & New York (ET) | Sat & Sun 9:00–11:00 am | Tue/Thu 8:00–10:00 pm |
| Toronto & the GTA (ET) | Sat & Sun 9:00–11:00 am | Weekdays 8:00–10:00 pm |
| Bay Area (PT) | Sat & Sun 8:00–10:00 am | Weekdays 7:00–9:00 am |
| Texas (CT) | Sat & Sun 9:00–11:00 am | Tue/Thu 8:00–9:30 pm |
| London & the UK | Sat 3:00–5:00 pm | Tue & Thu 6:00–7:30 pm; EU-daytime slots |
| UAE & the Gulf (GST) | Fri & Sat afternoons | Tue/Wed/Thu 7:00–9:00 pm |
| Singapore (SGT) | Mon–Fri 7:00–9:00 pm | Weekend mornings on request |
| Australia (AEST) | Sat 10:00 am–12:00 pm | Mon–Fri 6:00–8:00 pm |
All classes are 60 minutes, weekly, on Zoom with original-sound audio. Group batches max 4 students.
Fees
Group classes from $60/month (max 4 students); one-to-one taalim from $100/month — fees payable directly to your teacher. See full pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What time are classes for students in the US?
US batches run Saturday and Sunday mornings: 9:00-11:00 am Eastern / 8:00-10:00 am Pacific, matching evening teaching hours in India.
How do I pay for classes?
Fees are payable directly to your teacher via PayPal or Wise (international) or UPI (India). Aarohi Arts Association does not collect tuition.
Can my child take official music exams from abroad?
Yes. Aarohi is a Pracheen Kala Kendra affiliated centre; PKK has overseas exam centres in 10 countries, and the ABGMV Mandal offers fully online exams (IOEC) from home. Visharad is recognised as graduate-equivalent.
Is there a trial class?
Yes – a 40-minute live trial class with your chosen guru for $9, bookable online. No subscription required.
Do I need my own sitar?
Yes, for practice between classes. If you don’t have one, Rohan can connect you with trusted craftsmen in India who ship abroad and advise on sizing and budget.