LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky woman has turned her hobby of playing the sitar into teaching the instrument in her community.

"I find this a very magical sound," Meena Asif said of the sitar. "It enamored me for some reason."

But for the longest time, Asif only consumed the melodies. It wasn't until three years ago she started learning the instrument. 

Asif, who works in the dental industry, is originally from Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. She now dedicates her off time to teaching. 

"I teach some of my family members online, and recently, I've started teaching some students in Louisville who are interested in learning it," Asif said.

She said the music, along with her concerts, inspires people. 

"I think (the) sitar has this iconic sound of the East that the West needs to hear," Asif said.

Kentucky is home of many string instruments, from the dulcimer to guitars. But for Asif, the sitar is something else.

"I think Kentucky has so much music, but it could really benefit from an eastern instrument, like the sitar," Asif said.

She's teaching 15 students ranging in various ages, all learning the peaceful string instrument.

"I never started sitar with the goal of teaching," she said. "But then there are these people who want to learn it, and that made me really happy ... it is a very good instrument, and people want to enjoy it and learn it in their homes."

"There's something very joyful and peaceful about it, and I have never been able to understand it or really find out why. But when I play music, I am in a different world."

The musician said she learned the notes and the anatomy of the instrument through her father. She advanced further by learning through other teachers online.