Lessons

Your teacher

Alireza Keshavarz | علیرضا کشاورز

I am a Persian tar and setar instructor, player, and specialist in the repair and restoration of traditional musical instruments. I began studying the tar at an early age and continued my training under several distinguished masters of Persian classical music. After years of study and performance, I established my own tar and setar classes in 1999.

Since moving to the United Kingdom I have continued teaching in London, where I've taught students from many different cultural backgrounds: Persian speakers, as well as learners from the UK, France, Italy, Uzbekistan, Japan, China and elsewhere, ranging in age from young children to adults.

I have also taught at several respected Iranian institutions in London, including MTO, Andisheh and the Hafez Persian School. In 2009 I was part of Orff UK, whose approach to teaching music to children still shapes how I pace lessons for younger students.

The setting

A small space full of instruments and Persian culture

It is a room lined with instruments on stands and frame drums on the walls, with shelves of books and scores behind the chair where we sit. Whatever you need is within arm's reach.

Instruments taught

How lessons work

Fees

These fees are for tar, setar, bağlama and daf. For santur and tonbak, please get in touch and we'll arrange it directly.

A block runs over four consecutive weeks. A missed lesson cannot be rescheduled.

Payment by PayPal, bank transfer or cash on the day. See the contact page to pay online.

What your first months look like

If you've never played before

No previous musical experience is required. Lessons begin with the basics of music theory and instrument technique, presented in a clear, easy-to-understand way. From the very first sessions, students learn familiar melodies and enjoyable Persian songs, so you experience the pleasure of playing right away.

As you progress, we develop proper right-hand and left-hand technique while expanding your repertoire with traditional and contemporary Persian pieces. With regular practice, most beginners can play several Iranian tasnifs and songs within the first three months, building both confidence and a strong foundation for what comes next.

• Lesson 1: the basics of music theory, posture and holding the instrument
• Lesson 2: your first right-hand (mezrab) strokes and first sounds
• Lesson 3: short phrases and a simple, familiar melody
• Lesson 4: building on the mezrab work towards your first complete piece

How I teach

A fuller kind of education

Our classes are not just about learning a few pieces or working through one book after another. We develop several threads of the music alongside one another, which means working from more than one book at once. I do not see this as a lack of focus, but a fuller and more structured education. The threads we work on together include:

• Basic music theory
• Right-hand (plectrum) technique and left-hand usage
• Iranian repertoire, from simple pieces to more advanced ones
• Right-hand techniques: different strokes, tremolo (riz), dorāb and more
• Left-hand techniques: trills, ornaments and articulation
• The important figures of Iranian music, and the history of the radif and the dastgāh (modal system)
• The structure of the instrument and basic maintenance, in the workshop

Try a first lesson

Get in touch and I'll arrange a time. I'm happy to have a chat first if you're unsure which instrument suits you.