--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/foundation' title: 'Foundation bansuri course for beginners online | KalaSudha' author: name: rajeevk url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-us/user/4add8741a490747f' date: '2026-11-06T01:52:43+00:00' updated: '2026-11-06T23:04:17+00:00' type: website summary: 'Foundation bansuri, prepared by KalaSudha: hold, breath and a first clear tone, Sa and the swaras, half-holing, alankars, a first raga and a first gat.' tags: - Foundation - '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 2. --- [2Intermediate](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/intermediate) 3. --- [3Advanced](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/advanced) Bansuri (Flute) Prepared by KalaSudha # Foundation Bansuri (Flute) Foundation bansuri, prepared by KalaSudha: hold, breath and a first clear tone, Sa and the swaras, half-holing, alankars, a first raga and a first gat. [Talk to an Advisor](/en-us/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2376) [See the modules ](#curriculum) Modules1A–1C LessonsOne-to-one or in a group Ends inA KalaSudha certificate Overview ## About Foundation **Foundation bansuri** takes you from a first clear tone to a 4-minute prepared set, with no music or flute background needed. It is the first level of the Bansuri (Flute) course prepared by KalaSudha, taught in live online lessons. Your teacher names the key and length of your [flute](/en-us/instrument/flute) before you buy. You hear each phrase and play it back before you read it. Module 1A covers hold, posture and a first sound at the blowing hole. You hold Sa with the top three holes closed, play long notes for breath and learn the middle octave swaras. Module 1B adds alankars, swara patterns played up and down, and half-holing for the komal, or flat, swaras. You learn sargam notation and mark the cycle: sam, the first beat, the clapped tali, the waved khali and the vibhag sections. Then you keep Keherwa and Dadra. Read the full overviewShow less Module 1C brings your first raga, such as the suggested Yaman, through its aroh, avaroh and pakad, the ascent, descent and catch phrase. You move into the upper octave, play a short alap and learn a first **gat**, an instrumental composition, in Teentaal. You also hear the bansuri's three teaching lines through labelled excerpts. Meend across two holes and live tabla come at Intermediate. Each module has 14 topics, eight core and six electives, and your path is 12 of them. As a typical guide, Foundation takes 9–12 months, and you agree the pace with your teacher. In a cohort, you hear other learners play the same phrases, and each guided rehearsal and review becomes a short performance for the group. Foundation leads to a KalaSudha award (see [certificates](/en-us/indian-classical-music-certificates)). [Ask about Foundation in the Academy](/en-us/academy). ### What you will be able to do - Sound a clear tone at the blowing hole on three attempts out of four. - Hold Sa for 6 seconds, three times, in tune and with no hole leaking. - Play each komal swara by half-holing, in tune beside its shuddha form. - Mark four cycles of the suggested Teentaal and name its divisions without losing the pulse. - Play a first gat from memory for four cycles with the mukhda landing on sam. ### Before you start - You need no previous music or flute experience to begin Foundation bansuri. - You need a bansuri your teacher approves, a drone reference, a notebook and a recording device. [Ask about placement ](/en-us/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2376) Modules ## The three Foundation modules Foundation starts with tone and breath, then the swaras and the cycle, then your first raga and gat. Each module ends with a guided rehearsal and a review, and the last one closes with a 4-minute prepared set. 1. 1A ### Module 1A: Flute, breath and first sound 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Hold the flute without strain and keep a practice record. Sound a clear tone at the blowing hole, hold Sa with three holes closed and play long notes for breath. Play the middle octave swaras, hear a phrase and play it back, then present your long notes. 1. 1 Hold, posture and a practice recordCore Hold the flute without strain in the hand position your teacher sets, and start a practice log. 2. 2 First sound at the blowing holeCore Direct a steady air stream across the blowing hole until a clear tone sounds. 3. 3 Sa with three holes closedCore Close the top three holes and hold Sa steady against the drone. 4. 4 Long notes and breathCore Breathe low and spend the breath evenly across long notes on Sa, Re and Ga. 5. 5 Middle octave swarasCore Finger and sound the shuddha swaras of the middle octave in ascent and descent. 6. 6 Hear a phrase and play it backCore Listen to a short sargam phrase once and play it back with the same swaras. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: flute, breath and first soundCore Rehearse your long-note and swara sequence and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: flute, breath and first soundCore Present your long-note and swara sequence and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 Flute careElective Learn the care routine your teacher approves for warming, drying and storing a bamboo flute. 10. 2 Breath away from the fluteElective Practise a slow, counted exhale through the lips away from the instrument. 11. 3 Recording the fluteElective Place a phone or microphone so your teacher can see both hands and hear the tone without wind noise. 12. 4 The lower PaElective Close all six holes and sound the low Pa below Sa without forcing the breath. 13. 5 Match a heard pitchElective Find on the flute single pitches sung or played by your teacher. 14. 6 Single tonguingElective Start notes with a light tongue stroke and compare them with breath-started notes. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. 2. 1B ### Module 1B: Swaras, alankars and the cycle 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Play alankars in the middle octave at a logged tempo. Half-hole for komal Re, Ga, Dha and Ni, and learn your teacher's tivra Ma. Mark sam, tali, khali and vibhag, keep Keherwa and Dadra, and read and write sargam notation. 1. 1 Review tone and set a tempoCore Check long notes in your log and choose a pulse you can hold for alankars. 2. 2 Alankars in the middle octaveCore Play the first teacher-selected alankars, patterned swara exercises, at a steady pulse. 3. 3 Half-holing for komal swarasCore Part-cover holes to play komal Re, Ga, Dha and Ni, and the tivra Ma fingering your teacher shows. 4. 4 Sam, tali, khali and vibhagCore Mark a cycle with hand gestures and explain matra, avartan, sam, tali, khali and vibhag. 5. 5 Keherwa and DadraCore Recite the thekas of the suggested Keherwa and Dadra and play an alankar over each. 6. 6 Read and write sargam notationCore Read swaras in sargam notation with beat numbers and write a short alankar from dictation. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: swaras, alankars and the cycleCore Rehearse your alankar and hand-count set and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: swaras, alankars and the cycleCore Present your alankar and hand-count set and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 Alankars in dugunElective Play one alankar at single and double density while the hand-count stays the same. 10. 2 Finger independence drillElective Practise lifting and closing each finger cleanly in a slow repeated pattern. 11. 3 A sargam geetElective Learn a short teacher-selected composition on swara names in a simple tala. 12. 4 Two notation conventionsElective Compare Bhatkhande and Paluskar signs in a supplied line of sargam. 13. 5 Find the cycle after silenceElective Keep the hand-count through a silent passage and re-enter playing on sam. 14. 6 Play with a theka trackElective Play an alankar against a recorded Teentaal theka and keep your place in the cycle. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. 3. 1C ### Module 1C: First ragas and a first gat 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Learn the aroh, avaroh and pakad of a first raga and move into the upper octave. Play a first gat in Teentaal and a short alap. Hear the bansuri's teaching lines through labelled excerpts, then present a 4-minute set. 1. 1 Review swaras and cyclesCore Use your log to fix one weak alankar or cycle before starting raga work. 2. 2 Aroh, avaroh and pakad of a first ragaCore Learn the ascent, descent and catch phrase of the first raga (suggested: Yaman). 3. 3 Into the upper octaveCore Raise the air speed to carry the raga's phrases into the upper octave. 4. 4 A first gat in TeentaalCore Learn the sthayi and antara of a teacher-selected composition in Teentaal with a theka track. 5. 5 A short alapCore Play a short unmetred alap in the first raga before the composition. 6. 6 Hear the bansuri's teaching linesCore Listen to attributed recordings from the Maihar, Banaras and seven-hole teaching lines and compare two by sound. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: first ragas and a first gatCore Rehearse your four-minute Foundation set and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: first ragas and a first gatCore Present your four-minute Foundation set and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 A second ragaElective Learn the aroh, avaroh and pakad of a second raga (suggested: Bhupali) and its contrast with the first. 10. 2 First taansElective Play short taans built from the raga's ascent and descent, returning to the mukhda. 11. 3 A dhun or folk melodyElective Learn a short teacher-selected dhun or folk melody with a theka track. 12. 4 Meend between neighbouring swarasElective Slide a finger slowly off a hole to glide between two neighbouring swaras. 13. 5 Recover a missed samElective Practise recovery after a deliberate missed entry in the gat. 14. 6 A bansuri listening logElective Keep a dated log of four attributed bansuri recordings and note what you hear in each. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. Why Foundation ## What Foundation builds - ### Listen, then play Hear each phrase and play it back before you read it. Your teacher hears whether your pitch is secure before working on the fingers. - ### A clear tone first Breath and a steady first tone come before speed. The checks listen for Sa held in tune, with no hole leaking and no breath noise covering the tone. - ### Half-holing for komal swaras Part-cover the holes to play komal Re, Ga, Dha and Ni, and learn the tivra Ma fingering your teacher shows you. 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-us/course/bansuri-flute/foundation/show-interest) ### In a group Learn in a group on a timetable. [Ask about group lessons ](/en-us/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2376) Teachers ## Teachers for Foundation - Flute ### [Pandit Ajay Prasanna](/en-us/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-us/course/bansuri-flute) - [Bansuri (Flute): Foundation](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/foundation) - [Bansuri (Flute): Intermediate](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/intermediate) - [Bansuri (Flute): Advanced](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/advanced) [View profile ](/en-us/artist/ajay-prasanna) - ### [Dr Shanish Kumar](/en-us/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-us/course/bansuri-flute) - [Bansuri (Flute): Foundation](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/foundation) - [Bansuri (Flute): Intermediate](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/intermediate) - [Bansuri (Flute): Advanced](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/advanced) [View profile ](/en-us/artist/shanish-kumar) Questions ## Questions about Foundation Entry, pace, assessment and what you show to finish the level. ### How do I get a first sound on the bansuri? On Foundation bansuri you get a first sound by directing a steady air stream across the blowing hole until a clear tone sounds. Your teacher shows you the hold first. The topic closes when you sound a clear tone on three attempts out of four, each lasting 4 seconds without breath noise covering it. You then hold Sa with the top three holes closed. ### Which bansuri should a beginner buy? On the KalaSudha Bansuri (Flute) course your teacher names the flute key and length before you buy a bansuri. A second flute comes in only as an elective or at Advanced. Your teacher shows you the care routine before you practise on your own. To buy a bansuri from KalaSudha, see the [flute](/en-us/instrument/flute) page. ### How do I play komal swaras on the bansuri? Komal swaras on the bansuri are played by half-holing, part-covering a hole, and Foundation bansuri teaches it in module 1B for komal Re, Ga, Dha and Ni. Your teacher shows you the tivra Ma fingering for your flute. The topic closes when you play each altered swara in tune beside its shuddha form and identify four of five played by your teacher. ### How is the Foundation level of the Bansuri (Flute) course assessed? The Foundation level of the Bansuri (Flute) course is assessed through playing, listening and oral questions. Your teacher closes each topic when its completion check is met, and the level ends with a 4-minute prepared set. In the set you play without losing the cycle, explain one choice and recover from any slip. A listening check asks you to match excerpts of the three teaching lines to supplied labels. ### Still have questions? Our support team can help you find the right answer. [Contact support](/en-us/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2376) Next steps ## Ready to begin Foundation? 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-us/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2376) [ Back to Bansuri (Flute)](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute) Next level ### Intermediate [Explore Intermediate ](/en-us/course/bansuri-flute/intermediate)