I tell my students that the harmonium has lungs, and your left hand is in charge of them. The right hand gets all the attention because it plays the notes. But a beautiful note with shaky air still sounds shaky.
Each hand has one job
On most hand-pumped harmoniums used for kirtan, the left hand works the bellows at the back and the right hand plays the keys. Some left-handed players set it up the other way, and some instruments are built differently, so do what your teacher shows you on your own instrument. The idea is the same either way: one hand breathes, one hand speaks.
Try not to mix the jobs. A very common habit is pumping harder every time the right hand presses a new note. That makes every note jump out like a hiccup. The bellows should move on their own steady rhythm, no matter what the fingers are doing.
Sitting down
Sit cross-legged on a cushion, or on a chair with the harmonium on a table. Either is fine. What matters:
- Your back is tall but not stiff. Imagine a thread pulling the top of your head up gently.
- Your shoulders are down and loose. Lift them up to your ears, then let them drop. That's where they should stay.
- The keyboard is close enough that your right elbow is bent and relaxed, not stretched out.
- The harmonium doesn't slide when you pump. Put it on a rug or a non-slip mat if it moves.
For small children, the harmonium is often too tall. A grown-up should raise the cushion or lower the instrument until the wrist is level with the keys.
The bellows hand
Rest your left thumb on the top-left wooden corner of the harmonium, or hold the bellows latch lightly if your teacher prefers that. Use the index, middle and ring fingers on the bellows flap. Keep your elbow gently bent.
Now pump slowly. Open the bellows over about two counts, close them over about two counts. Long, smooth strokes. Don't open them all the way, and don't slam them shut. Most of the movement should come from the elbow and forearm, not from the shoulder.
Many harmoniums have a reservoir inside that smooths the air out. Once you build some air up, you don't need to pump constantly. Experienced players pump less than you'd think.
The playing hand
Curve your fingers softly, as if you were holding a small orange. Press each key with the soft pad of the finger, not the tip of the nail. You only need a little pressure. Pressing harder doesn't make it louder. Air makes it louder.
Keep the fingers close to the keys. If they fly up between notes, you'll lose time and the sound will be choppy.
When you move from one note to the next, try to press the new key just as you let go of the old one. That gives a smooth, joined sound, which is what most kirtan needs. You can hear what we mean on the On-screen Harmonium, which shows the sargam on every key.
Fingering, at the start
Don't worry too much about "correct" fingering in the first weeks. Use the fingers that feel natural. Later your teacher will show you standard patterns for scales and paltas, and those will make fast passages possible. The Alankar Trainer is good for this stage.
Stops and care
Open one main stop to begin. More stops means more reeds, more air needed and a louder sound, which is harder to control. Ask before you pull stops you don't know, and never force a knob that's stuck.
Close the bellows latch when you finish, keep the harmonium covered, and keep it away from damp walls and direct sun. And please, don't let kids open it up to "see the reeds". They are delicate and very easy to bend.
When something hurts
Stop. Wrist pain usually means the keyboard is too high or too far away. Shoulder pain usually means you're pumping from the shoulder, or lifting it without noticing. Fix the setup first, then play again. Good posture is supposed to feel easy.