The popularity of the tabla is evident in many forms of music today be it Indian or some form of contemporary, jazz, or fusion. This book is designed for the beginner to intermediate student and features an indexed CD that lets you hear the correct sounds of the tabla notes as well as sample exercises. The book is not bloated with excess details but gets right down to the important fundamentals of how the tabla is played, the finger stokes, the word for that stroke and the concept of time as the notes are played together. Not everyone has access to a teacher and this book will do an excellent job of introducing the student to the tabla as well as providing a reference for advancement. Finger positions are illustrated in the book and the 95 sound samples on the CD help to make this book an enjoyable, affordable, and valuable introduction to the tabla.