can i download music from my laptop to ipad air without using icloud

You can use it on XP, as long as you have service pack 3+ on it - from http://www.apple.com/ipad-air/specs/ :

PC: Windows 8; Windows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later

You also need iTunes 11.1+ installed on your computer.

To sync music, connect the iPad and select it on the left-hand sidebar of your computer's iTunes (on iTunes 11 you can enable the sidebar via control-S on a PC), and then use the Music tab on the right-hand side of the iTunes screen to select which of your iTunes music library to sync to it.

Syncing media : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1351

Yes, download iTunes from http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ to your computer and sync your music over.

iTunes is compatible with Windows XP just fine.

iOS: Syncing your data with iTunes

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1386

you can transfer music from laptop to iPad:

1. Open iTunes in your computer.

2. Plug in your iPad

3. Go to View and select Show Sidebar

4. Go to Files and select Import Files/Folder into Library. Select the music you want to transfer and add them to Library

5. Notice that the Sidebar showsyour library and your iPAD below it. Drag the music from your Library into your iPad and the transfer is done