An Indian classical musician, working in the Hindustani classical music tradition. He is the acknowledged master of the santoor, a folk instrument from the valley of Kashmir.
After some years as a student of the tabla and as a vocalist, Sharma took over from his father the latter's extensive research of the santoor and the responsibility of establishing it on the concert platform. Sharma modified the Kashmiri folk instrument to make it more suitable for his classical technique, increasing the range of the instrument to 3 full octaves and making it capable of a smoother meend (the glissando or gliding between notes required in Hindustani classical music to emulate the human voice). He also created a new technique of playing with which he could sustain notes and maintain sound continuity.
Sharma has performed many concerts with renowned musicians such as the tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. He has also partnered with well-known flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia to form a group called Shiv-Hari for composing Hindi film music.