--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/intermediate' title: 'Intermediate bansuri course: meend, gats and taans | KalaSudha' author: name: rajeevk url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-ca/user/4add8741a490747f' date: '2026-11-06T01:52:43+00:00' updated: '2026-11-06T23:04:17+00:00' type: website summary: 'Intermediate bansuri, prepared by KalaSudha: meend and ornament, the register break, slow and fast gats, tongued taans, alap and jod, and playing with tabla.' tags: - Intermediate - 'Bansuri (Flute)' image: 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/mcp-imported/flute-41.jpg?VersionId=4_zf58621fa0f456059ae110919_f10194bdaf20a8147_d20261105_m212059_c003_v0312047_t0033_u01793913659021&h=00546c34&itok=k_DLOLdp' published: true og: site_name: KalaSudha 'image:url': 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/mcp-imported/flute-41.jpg?VersionId=4_zf58621fa0f456059ae110919_f10194bdaf20a8147_d20261105_m212059_c003_v0312047_t0033_u01793913659021&h=00546c34&itok=k_DLOLdp' 'image:secure_url': 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/mcp-imported/flute-41.jpg?VersionId=4_zf58621fa0f456059ae110919_f10194bdaf20a8147_d20261105_m212059_c003_v0312047_t0033_u01793913659021&h=00546c34&itok=k_DLOLdp' 'image:type': image/jpeg 'image:width': '1200' 'image:height': '675' 'image:alt': 'Bamboo bansuri flutes on an embroidered cloth' --- 1. [1Foundation](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/foundation) 2. --- 2Intermediate 3. --- [3Advanced](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/advanced) Bansuri (Flute) Prepared by KalaSudha # Intermediate Bansuri (Flute) Intermediate bansuri, prepared by KalaSudha: meend and ornament, the register break, slow and fast gats, tongued taans, alap and jod, and playing with tabla. [Talk to an Advisor](/en-ca/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2377) [See the modules ](#curriculum) Modules2A–2C LessonsOne-to-one or in a group Ends inA KalaSudha certificate Overview ## About Intermediate **Intermediate bansuri** adds meend, ornament and playing with tabla, once you can hold a clear tone and play a first gat. You enter after Foundation or a placement session that shows the same skills. It is the second level of the Bansuri (Flute) course prepared by KalaSudha. Module 2A brings **meend**, the glide between swaras, across two holes, then kan, murki and andolan and the chalan of a third raga. You phrase an alap by the breath and cross from the middle to the upper octave without a bump in the tone. Module 2B adds the suggested Rupak and Jhaptal, a slow gat, taans with tonguing and a tihai to sam. Read the full overviewShow less Module 2C puts you with a tabla player for a slow and a fast gat, keeping tempo, cues and balance. You join alap and jod, build breath stamina for a 12-minute set and compare the [bansuri](/en-ca/instrumental/hindustani-classical/bansuri-flute)'s teaching lines through examples. Electives add a thumri or dhun, folk melody, jhala and duet playing. Each module has 14 topics, eight core and six electives, and your path is 12 topics per module. As a typical guide, Intermediate takes 9–15 months, and you agree the pace with your teacher. In a cohort, learners hear how each one plays the same gat with the tabla player. The level ends with a 12-minute set with tabla and leads to a KalaSudha award (see [certificates](/en-ca/indian-classical-music-certificates)). [Ask about Intermediate in the Academy](/en-ca/academy). ### What you will be able to do - Play four meends between swaras two steps apart, each arriving in tune. - Cross from the middle to the upper octave three times with an even tone. - Play a 3-minute alap in the raga with every phrase ending cleanly. - Play a gat's sthayi and antara from memory for four cycles with the mukhda on sam. - Play slow and fast gats with a tabla player and finish together on sam. ### Before you start - Complete Foundation bansuri or show the same skills in a placement session with your teacher. - Be able to hold Sa in tune, half-hole the komal swaras and play a first gat with a short alap. [Ask about placement ](/en-ca/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2377) Modules ## The three Intermediate modules Intermediate widens your phrasing, your compositions and your partners. The first two modules develop ornament and gats, and the third applies them with a tabla player and the 12-minute review. 1. 2A ### Module 2A: Meend, ornament and the singing line 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Agree a practice plan and review your tone. Play meend across two holes, then kan, murki and andolan. Learn the chalan of a third raga, phrase an alap by the breath and cross the register break without a bump in the tone. 1. 1 Review tone and agree a practice planCore Review your Foundation recordings with your teacher and agree a practice plan for the module. 2. 2 Meend across two holesCore Glide across two holes in a raga phrase without breaking the tone. 3. 3 Kan, murki and andolanCore Play kan, murki and a finger-rocked andolan in raga phrases. 4. 4 Chalan of a third ragaCore Learn the chalan, the characteristic movement, of a third raga (suggested: Bhimpalasi). 5. 5 Alap phrased by the breathCore Shape a slow alap in phrases that end before the breath does. 6. 6 Across the register breakCore Practise phrases that cross from the middle to the upper octave without a bump in the tone. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: meend, ornament and the singing lineCore Rehearse your meend and alap set and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: meend, ornament and the singing lineCore Present your meend and alap set and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 Gamak on the fluteElective Play a gamak, a strong oscillation, with breath or finger movement on two swaras. 10. 2 A fourth ragaElective Learn the chalan and a composition in a fourth raga (suggested: Bihag). 11. 3 Sight-read a sargam lineElective Play an unfamiliar line of sargam notation after a short preparation. 12. 4 Breath vibratoElective Add a slow breath vibrato to a long note and remove it on cue. 13. 5 A second fluteElective Play known phrases on a second, teacher-approved flute of a different length and Sa. 14. 6 Ornament listening studyElective Compare how two attributed recordings use meend and murki in the same raga. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. 2. 2B ### Module 2B: Gats, taans and laya 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Learn the suggested Rupak and Jhaptal and a slow gat with its mukhda on sam. Play taans with tonguing and a tihai to sam, and notate a full composition. Electives add Ektal, double tonguing and a fast gat. 1. 1 Review the gat and the cycleCore Play your Foundation gat with hand-count and correct one rhythmic fault from a recording. 2. 2 Rupak and JhaptalCore Recite and keep the suggested Rupak and Jhaptal, then play a sargam passage in each. 3. 3 A slow gatCore Learn a teacher-selected slow composition in the suggested Rupak or Teentaal. 4. 4 Taans with tonguingCore Play taans in the raga, using tonguing where your teacher's line uses it to separate notes. 5. 5 A tihai to samCore Play a three-part tihai from a phrase of the composition that lands on sam. 6. 6 Notate a full compositionCore Write the composition in sargam notation with beats and divisions. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: gats, taans and layaCore Rehearse your gat and taan set and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: gats, taans and layaCore Present your gat and taan set and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 EktalElective Keep the suggested Ektal and play a composition phrase in it. 10. 2 Dugun and chaugunElective Play a phrase at single, double and four-fold density over a steady hand-count. 11. 3 Double tonguingElective Practise double tonguing on a repeated swara, then in a short taan. 12. 4 A fast gatElective Learn a fast composition in Teentaal in the same raga as the slow gat. 13. 5 A jhala-style passageElective Play a fast passage that alternates a melody swara with a returning note. 14. 6 Play with a tabla playerElective Play your gat with a live or online tabla player and agree tempo and ending. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. 3. 2C ### Module 2C: Raga development and the teaching lines 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Play a slow and a fast gat with tabla and join alap and jod. Recognise the taught ragas, compare the teaching lines through examples and build breath stamina for the 12-minute set. 1. 1 Plan practice for accompanied playingCore Plan a week of practice that includes tempo, ending and cue rehearsal with a tabla player. 2. 2 Play with tablaCore Play a slow and a fast gat with a tabla player, keeping tempo, cues and balance. 3. 3 Alap and jorCore Develop the raga in an unmetred alap, then in jor with a steady pulse and no drum. 4. 4 Recognise the taught ragasCore Identify each taught raga from short phrases sung or played by your teacher. 5. 5 Compare the teaching lines through examplesCore Compare attributed excerpts from the three teaching lines in hold, ornament and form. 6. 6 Breath stamina for a twelve-minute setCore Plan warm-up and breathing so the tone holds through a twelve-minute set. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: raga development and the teaching linesCore Rehearse your twelve-minute Intermediate set and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: raga development and the teaching linesCore Present your twelve-minute Intermediate set and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 A thumri or dhunElective Learn a light classical thumri or dhun in a raga such as Pilu or Khamaj (suggested) with tabla. 10. 2 Folk melody and the folk fluteElective Learn a teacher-selected folk melody and place it beside the concert bansuri in listening. 11. 3 JhalaElective Develop the jhala-style passage into a short closing section after jor. 12. 4 A sung bandish on the fluteElective Learn a sung bandish and shape it on the flute with the phrasing of its words. 13. 5 Duet playingElective Play a composition in unison and in alternating phrases with a second flute or melodic player. 14. 6 Transcribe a recorded gatElective Transcribe the sthayi of a gat from an attributed recording. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. Why Intermediate ## What Intermediate builds - ### Meend on a flute with holes Glide across two holes in a raga phrase without breaking the tone. Each meend is checked for arriving in tune on the named swara. - ### Gats in two tempos Learn a slow gat and develop it with tongued taans and a tihai, then play slow and fast gats with a tabla player. - ### Breath for a longer set Phrase the alap by the breath, with no gasped breath, and build the stamina that a 12-minute set with tabla needs. Lessons ## Ways to learn ### One-to-one Learn at your own pace. You book online lessons through KalaSudha in your own time zone. [Register interest in 1:1 lessons ](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/intermediate/show-interest) ### In a group Learn in a group on a timetable. [Ask about group lessons ](/en-ca/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2377) Teachers ## Teachers for Intermediate - Flute ### [Pandit Ajay Prasanna](/en-ca/artist/ajay-prasanna) Pandit Ajay Prasanna is a widely acclaimed international flautist from a distinguished musical family. He carries the legacy of his father, Pandit Bholanath Prasanna, who was one of the best flautists India has ever produced. His disciples include Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia. Teaches [Bansuri (Flute) ](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute) - [Bansuri (Flute): Foundation](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/foundation) - [Bansuri (Flute): Intermediate](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/intermediate) - [Bansuri (Flute): Advanced](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/advanced) [View profile ](/en-ca/artist/ajay-prasanna) - ### [Dr Shanish Kumar](/en-ca/artist/shanish-kumar) Dr Shanish Kumar Gyawali plays bansuri in the Banaras tradition, trained by Vinod Prasanna and Dr Prahalad Nath, PhD from BHU, AIR ‘B High’ grade, Young Artist Scholarship. Teaches [Bansuri (Flute) ](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute) - [Bansuri (Flute): Foundation](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/foundation) - [Bansuri (Flute): Intermediate](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/intermediate) - [Bansuri (Flute): Advanced](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/advanced) [View profile ](/en-ca/artist/shanish-kumar) Questions ## Questions about Intermediate Entry, pace, assessment and what you show to finish the level. ### How do I move from beginner to intermediate bansuri? You move to Intermediate bansuri when you have closed the Foundation topics or shown the same skills in a placement session. Your teacher checks that you hold Sa in tune, half-hole the komal swaras and play a first gat with a short alap. Intermediate then adds meend, slow gats, tongued taans and playing with tabla. ### How do I play meend on the bansuri? Meend on the bansuri, a glide between swaras, comes in module 2A of Intermediate bansuri. You glide across two holes in a raga phrase without breaking the tone. The topic closes when you play four meends between named swaras two steps apart, each arriving in tune. Meend between neighbouring swaras is a Foundation elective. ### How do I learn to play the bansuri with a tabla player? Playing the bansuri with tabla comes in module 2C of Intermediate bansuri. You play a slow and a fast gat with a tabla player, keep tempo, cues and balance, then give the ending cue and finish together on sam. Before 2C a theka track keeps the cycle, and a 2B elective lets you play with a tabla player earlier. ### How is the Intermediate level of the Bansuri (Flute) course assessed? The Intermediate level of the Bansuri (Flute) course ends with a 12-minute set with tabla. You play without losing the cycle, explain one choice and recover from any slip, and you submit a written notation and theory portfolio. Completion needs all 16 Intermediate skills, not only the presentation. ### Still have questions? Our support team can help you find the right answer. [Contact support](/en-ca/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2377) Next steps ## Ready to begin Intermediate? Tell us what you want to learn and where you are today. An academy advisor will help you find a good next step. [Talk to an Advisor](/en-ca/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2377) [ Back to Bansuri (Flute)](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute) Next level ### Advanced [Explore Advanced ](/en-ca/course/bansuri-flute/advanced)