Bansuri (flute) classes in Kathmandu
Learn the bamboo flute of Nepali folk and Hindustani classical music with Guru Nagendra Bikram Rai, one of Nepal's best-known bansuri players, from your first clear note to raga.
- Morning, evening & online
- Raga-based
- Kids & adults
- 20+ flute orchestra
Your guruNagendra Bikram Rai20+ years on bansuriBreath, bamboo and raga
The bansuri is the ancient side-blown bamboo flute of the subcontinent, heard in countless Nepali folk songs and in Hindustani classical music. Six holes give the seven basic swaras; half-covering a hole gives the flat notes, and your breath changes the octave.
At ECA, Guru Nagendra Bikram Rai teaches raga-based bansuri in morning, evening and online batches. He has more than 20 years on the flute, albums such as Sadhana and Libulung, and about 95,000 subscribers on his own YouTube channel. At our 3rd anniversary show he led a flute orchestra of more than 20 of his students, children included.
Group flute classTone, sargam & raga
Bansuri builds breath control and calm, and it is the easiest instrument to own.
Tone & breath
Holding the flute, embouchure for a clear tone, covering the holes fully and long steady notes on Sa.
Sargam & alankar
The middle-octave sargam, then lower and upper octaves by breath control, and alankars at rising speed.
Ragas
First ragas such as Yaman and Bhoopali, then meend, gamak and gat compositions with tabla.
Folk, film & stage
Nepali folk and film melodies, ensemble playing in our flute orchestra, and the studio.
From first lesson to the stage
Four stages most students move through. Your teacher sets the pace for your age, level and goals.
A clear note
- Choosing the right size of flute
- Posture and holding
- Embouchure for a clear tone
- Covering the holes fully
- Long steady notes on Sa
- Middle-octave sargam and simple alankars
Octaves & first ragas
- Lower and upper octaves by breath control
- Komal and tivra notes by half-holing
- Alankars at increasing speeds
- First ragas: Yaman, Bhoopali
- Tonguing and articulation
- Breathing for longer phrases
Raga in depth
- Meend (glides)
- Gamak and murki
- Alap and jod
- Gat compositions in Teentaal with tabla
- Fast taans
- A wider range of ragas
Stage & studio
- Film and folk interludes and solos
- Playing in our flute orchestra or a band
- Microphone placement for flute
- Studio recording
A typical path based on standard teaching practice for this instrument, not a fixed ECA syllabus. Your teacher adapts it to you.
Learn from a bansuri maestro
Nagendra Bikram Rai trains with Pandit Rupak Kulkarni and has played on thousands of recordings. Flute maestro Umesh Pandit has also visited our studio.
Guest session: Umesh Pandit
Flute maestro Umesh Pandit recorded at Daju Bhai Studio in July 2026.
Inside our flute classes
Real clips from our classes, rehearsals and stage, posted on ECA's TikTok and YouTube.
Flute clips
Classes, ragas, workshops and the flute orchestra.
Which flute to buy?
Your first bansuri
Teachers usually start beginners on a medium-length flute, which is easier on the fingers; ask Guru Nagendra which scale to buy. A 13-inch G-scale bamboo bansuri costs about Rs 1,500 in Kathmandu (prices vary). ECA Music Store can advise.
A little practice
At least 15 minutes a day, six days a week. Long tones every day build a beautiful tone fastest.
Try 2–3 classes before you pay
Book your demo class
Take 2–3 demo classes with our teachers before you pay the monthly fee. Call or email us to choose your class and batch. Open Sunday to Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM.
Flute class questions
What age can my child start bansuri?
Usually from about 7 or 8 years, when fingers can cover the holes and breath control is developing. Smaller flutes are available for children.
I can't get a sound at first. Is that normal?
Yes. Finding the embouchure takes days to weeks. If you feel light-headed, stop and breathe normally for a moment.
Which batch times are there?
We run morning and evening flute batches, and online flute classes. Call us for the current times.
Can I learn flute online?
Yes, but early corrections to your embouchure and fingers are much easier in person, so we recommend starting in class if you can.
Will I get to perform?
Yes. Flute students play at our Monthly Programme at the end of every Nepali month, and more than 20 of Guru Nagendra's students performed as a flute orchestra at our 3rd anniversary show.
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Take 2–3 demo classes, then decide.
Meet your teacher, try the class and see our studio and stage. Open Sunday to Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM, opposite Chabahil Stupa.