Melbourne Tabla School's V.C.E. Tabla Program
Today, it is possible for tabla players to have their playing assessed and graded as part of their final high school exams, with the final grade contributing to their university entrance rank. Currently, the tabla is the only Indian instrument that has been accepted in Australia’s formal education system in this way.
This system was designed and implemented by the Melbourne Tabla School in 2009 and has since then guided many tabla players through VCE music with tabla as their instrument of study. Prior to that time, it was not possible for tabla players to have their skills assessed as part of their final high school exams. Every student that has completed the program on the tabla through the Melbourne Tabla School has graded in the top 5% of the state. Australia’s first VCE tabla student, Vincent Dodd, was placed second in the state of Victoria. Two students have received perfect scores (100%) in 2018 and 2019. The Melbourne Tabla School’s VCE program is an excellent way for tabla students to capitalise on the skills developed as part of playing the tabla, and for those skills to count toward the next phase of their education. VCE tabla students study all the usual subjects for their VCE as well as the subject of music for their tabla exam. |
Within the subject of music, their instrument of study is the tabla. The Melbourne Tabla School provides the regular tabla lessons required for VCE music study as well as guiding students through the technical, musical, theoretical, practical and logistical aspects of studying the tabla within the VCE system. Melbourne Tabla School is always in regular contact with the student’s classroom music teacher in assisting the school and the students to fulfill the VCE requirements.
There are a variety of electives in the VCE music course. In each stream, the final performance component is a 25-minute tabla recital of contrasting works. Normally students play four pieces of their choice in this time. It is possible to complete the music portion of the VCE exams a year earlier, meaning students finish their tabla exams at the end of year 11. Providing students with additional time to complete the remainder of their subjects in year 12. If you are interested in studying tabla for your VCE, or would like any more information, feel free to get in contact with us via the link below. |
Hear About Our Program From Past Students
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VCE Tabla Program High Achievers
Tabla Player Tops State In VCE, Again - Sankeert Kapatkar
Indian Sun Newspaper, Jan 4th, 2020
For the second year in a row, a tabla player playing traditional Indian music has received a perfect score in VCE music. Melbourne Tabla School student Sankeert Kapatkar received the score on Wednesday morning with delight “I just opened the computer and there it was” he said “I woke my parents up to tell them, it was pretty exciting.”
Sankeert began his tabla training with Ajit Nimbkar and came to Melbourne Tabla School to complete the VCE Tabla Program as a year 11 student. He will complete the rest of his VCE subjects in 2021 at Melbourne High School. His tabla performance exam was part of the music investigation stream in VCE music. “I’ve been playing tabla for about 10 years, I heard of other students getting good results in VCE tabla and I thought I would give it a go.” Sankeert’s hard work has obviously paid off for him. He becomes the second person in the VCE history to gain a perfect score on a non-western instrument. “It’s a fantastic validation of Indian music” says Sankeert’s teacher, Melbourne Tabla School director Dr Sam Evans, “It really says Indian music is important and valuable in our society. Beyond statements about Indian culture being part of Australian society, this is placing an actual value on it that changes the student’s higher education opportunities.” Sankeert says the score gives him the head start he was looking for going into the rest of his exams next year. “I will certainly spend the summer with a big smile on my face.” He has been invited to perform at the prestigious Top Acts along with the best performers in the state. |
Perfect Score for VCE Tabla Player - Rithvik Chand
Bharat Times Newspaper, Jan 5th 2019
Rithvik Chand has written his name in history books in Victorian Education. The Melbourne Tabla School student of Lake View Secondary College completed his VCE music examinations on the tabla at the end of 2018 and achieved a perfect score - 50 out of 50. It is the first time anyone has received a perfect score on an Indian instrument in the VCE system. “In fact, as far as I know, it’s the first time anyone has received a perfect score in VCE music on a non-Western instrument. I am really proud of Rithvik, and also that tabla will go down in history in that role.” says his tabla teacher Dr Sam Evans.
Rithvik said the course was demanding and required a lot of practice but it was all worth it. “Of course, I had to work really hard and do a lot of practice, but my skills improved a lot and that feels really great now”. His final performance recital included Indian classical music as well as multicultural world music. “The course was great as I was able to apply all the traditional tabla skills I had developed over the years and also learnt how to play tabla in a variety of other genres such as world music” he said. |
For other students he suggests having very good support systems in place “It was really important that my classroom teacher David Oxley supported what I was doing, as well as my tabla teacher who knows the VCE system and my parents, that really helped get me through.” Dr Evans agrees with Rithvik; “Having the support of music staff from the students’ school is critical to students’ with non-Western instruments achieving well at VCE level. I think another challenge that students face is they need to have more initiative and independence than their peers, as for many school music teachers it will be their first time supporting a student in a non-Western instrument.”
The tabla was introduced to the VCE system in 2011 by the Melbourne Tabla School. “Since then all of the students who have gone through have received very high grades, all in the high 40s, but this is the first perfect score.”said Dr Evans, director of the school. “It’s fantastic for Rithvik and also for other students looking to do non-western instruments in VCE music. We now know that students can not only apply their tabla skills to contribute to their VCE grade, but they can be also very competitive at the highest level against the rest of the state.” Rithvik also performed at the prestigious Top Class program at the Melbourne Recital Centre that presents the best VCE music performers in the state.
The tabla was introduced to the VCE system in 2011 by the Melbourne Tabla School. “Since then all of the students who have gone through have received very high grades, all in the high 40s, but this is the first perfect score.”said Dr Evans, director of the school. “It’s fantastic for Rithvik and also for other students looking to do non-western instruments in VCE music. We now know that students can not only apply their tabla skills to contribute to their VCE grade, but they can be also very competitive at the highest level against the rest of the state.” Rithvik also performed at the prestigious Top Class program at the Melbourne Recital Centre that presents the best VCE music performers in the state.
Australia's First VCE Tabla Player Comes Out Smiling - Vincent Dodd
The Age, National Newspaper, December 2009
Melbourne Tabla School student Vincent Dodd, from St Michaels Grammar, has just become the first student in Australia to sit his VCE music exams as a tabla player. Beyond writing his name in the history books of formal education in Australia, he has also received one of the highest grades in the state for VCE Music. Vincent received 100% for his Music Investigation topic and an A+ for his performance, giving him a study score of 48/50. “It was definitely hard work – tabla is not an easy instrument” says Vincent “But I am very happy with the outcome so I can sit back and relax for a while now.” Vincent performed traditional Indian classical music in his final examination including a solo tabla lehara piece, a raga piece, a world music piece and a jazz piece.
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“It’s important to show the versatility of the instrument and include music that is relevant in an Australian context" says Vincent’s tabla teacher Sam Evans, who set up the program with the VCE board. “We had to work hard with the VCE board to have tabla accepted at this level, but we have done that now and Vincent has set a great standard.” Prior to this year it was not possible for VCE students to perform on the tabla in their VCE exams. “It’s a great step toward having Indian music recognised in formal education in Australia.” says Sam. When we asked Vincent what his future plans were he responded with a broad smile “more tabla.”