The grading system in Carnatic music typically follows a syllabus that includes both practical and theoretical components. The practical component involves the demonstration of vocal or instrumental skills, including the ability to sing or play ragas and compositions with correct pitch, rhythm, and expression.
Vocal
Pre Grade
PRACTICAL
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Sarali Varisai - 14 (3 Speeds) with Sruthi
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Any Slogam or Bhajan or Devotional Song with Sruthi
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Aadhi Thalam & Rupaka Thalam Counting
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( Note : No Theory Exam for Pre Grade
Grade - 2
PRACTICAL
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Alankaram -4
Chatusrajathi Matya Thalam (3 Speeds)
Chatusrajathi dhruva Thalam (3 Speeds)
Misrajathi jampa Thalam (3 Speeds)
Kandajathi Ata Thalam(3 speed)
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Gitam - 4 (Tamil Gitam - 1 & Other Language Gitam - 3)
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Nottusvara sahitya-s - 2
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Tevaram - 1 or Slogam with Sruthi and Thalam
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Tiruppugazh - 1 or Devotional Song
THEORY
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Music Forms: Alankaram, Gitam
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Sapta tala-s, 5 Jatis, 3 main Anga-s of Sapta Taläa and their symbols
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The Nomenclature of 16 svaras
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Short life-sketch
Tirugnana Sambandar
Tirunavukarasar
Arunagirinathar
Grade - 1
PRACTICAL
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Sarali Varisai - 14 (3 Speeds)
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Janta Varisai - 9 (3 speeds)
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Melsthayi Varisai - 5 (3 speeds)
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Dattu Varisa - 2 (3 speeds)
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Alankaram -3
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Chathusrajathi Eka Thalam (3 Speeds)
Chathusrajathi Rupaka Thalam (3 Speeds)
Tisrajathi Triputa Thalam (3 Speeds)
THEORY
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Introduction to Music
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About Nadam & Sruthi
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Sapta svara-s and their nomenclature & the origin of their sound
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Tristhayi
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Notes on Purvanga, Uttharanga, Dhathu, Mathu, Akshara Kala
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About Tala Avartha Angas, Shadangas
Grade - 3
PRACTICAL
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Lakshana Gitam - 1 (Any Language)
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Jatisvaram - 1 (Chakravagam or Kalyani by Thanjai Nalvar)
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Swarajati-s (Sambasivayanave - Kamas - Adhi [or] Any Other)
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Any one Adhi Thala Varnam
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Divyanama kirtanam - 2
THEORY
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Musical Forms: Jatisvaram, Svarajati, Varnam-s
(tana, pada, chauka, daru, ragamalika) -
Life history of Thyagaraja
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Short life-sketch
Sundarar
Manickavasagar
Grade - 4
PRACTICAL
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Any 2 Adi Tala Varnam from the prescribed ragas
(Sankarabaranam, Hamsadhwani, Mohanam) -
Kirtanam - Any 3 from Prescribed Ragas and Composers
Ragas : Mayamalava gowla, Mohanam, Sankarabharanam, Aarabhi Composers : Thyagarajar, Swathi Tirunal, Muthu Thandavar, Arunachala, Kavirayar, Papanasam sivan -
Alankaram -7
( In Sankarabharanam & Mohanam Ragas in 3 speeds) -
Divya Prabhandam - 1
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Thiruvasakam - 1 or Ramadasar Kriti
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Thiru Arutpa - 1 or Annamacharya Kriti
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Patriotic Song -1
THEORY
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Classification of Musical Instruments
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Life Sketch of Muthuswamy Dikshidar, Syamasastry & Ramalinga Adigalar
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Name the 12 alwars and Short life-sketch of Andal
Grade - 5
PRACTICAL
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Alankaram - 7 (Kalyani & Hamsadhvani)
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Jatisvaram - Vasantha
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Adi Talä Varnam - Any 2 from given
Ragas: Saveri, Kambhodhi, kalyani, Abhogi -
Kirtanam - Any 4 from Prescribed Ragas and Composers
Ragas : Hamsadhwani, Madhyamavathi, Kalyani, Bilahari, Harikambhodhi, Karahara priya
Composers : Thyagarajar, Swathi Tirunal, Muthu Thandavar, Arunachala Kavirayar, Papanasam sivan, Dikshidar, Syamasastry, Gopala Krishna Bharathi, Neelakanta Sivan, Ramaswamy Sivan -
Bharathidasan songs - 1 (or) Annamacharya Kriti - 1
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Tiruppavai - 1 (or) Purandharasar Kriti - 1
THEORY
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72 Melakarta
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Raga Classification Scheme - Janaka, Janya, Upanga, Bhashanga, Varja, Vakra.
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Study of Talas and few important elements of Tala Dasa Pranä-s.
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Introduction to Pann
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Study of Musical Instruments: Nadasvaram and Tavil
Grade - 6
PRACTICAL
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Adi Tala VarnÄam Any - 2
( Ragas: Todi, Pantuvarali, Sriragam, Begada) -
Kandajathi Ada Tala Varnam - 1 (Bhairavi)
Kirtanam - 2 (Prescribed Ragas and Composers)
Ragas: Bhairavi, Lathangi, Thodi, Darbar, Sahana
Composers: Thyagarajar, Swathi Tirunal, Muthu Thandavar, Arunachala Kavirayar, Papanasam Sivan, Dikshidar, Syamasastry, Gopala Krishna bharathi, N´elakanta Sivan, Ramaswamy sivan, mayuram viswanatha sastry -
Kalpana Swaram for any 5 given Ragas
Ragas: Mohanam, Sankarabharanam, Hamsadhwani, Kalyani, Bhairavi, Arabhi, Pantuvarali, Karaharapriya -
Kritis of Purandaradasa - 1 (or) song in their own regional language
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Ashtapathi - 1 (or) Kuravanji - 1
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Kavadi chindhu - 1 (or) Meera bajan - 1
THEORY
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Raga Lakshana-s
Mohanam
Abhogi
Kalyani -
Short Life History: Jayadevar;Purandaradasar and Annamalai Reddiyar
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Study of Musical Instruments: Tampura, Vina, Violin
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Technical Terms - 10
Grade - 7
PRACTICAL
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Kandajathi Ata Thalam varnam - 1 (Kalyani or Kanada)
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Ragamalika - 1
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Pancharatnam - 2
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Thyagaraja pancharatnam -1
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Gopalakrishna Bharathi Pancharatnam - 1
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Ramadasar Kriti - 1 (or) Meenatchi ammai pillai Tamil -1
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Abhang - 1 (or) Kavimani Desiga Vinayagam Pillai - 1
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Niraval and karpanai swaram for any 4 ragas from given ragas
Ragas: Mohanam, Sankarabharanam, Hamsadhwani, Kalyani, Bhairavi, Arabhi, Pantuvarali, Karaharapriya, Todi
THEORY
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Ragalakshanas of
Kharaharapriya, Bhairavi, Khambhoji, Todi, Pantuvaraläi, Purvikalyanäi -
Study of Musical Instruments: Flute, Mridangam
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Dasa Vida Gamaka-s.
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Musical Forms: Padam, Javaläi, Tillana, Ragamalika.
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Technical Terms - 10
Grade - 8
PRACTICAL
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For items 1-6
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Ragas & composers of your choice
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Padavarnam -1
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Padam -1
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Javali -1
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Thillana - 1
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Bajan - 1 or Paripadal
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Ragam, Thanam, Pallavi -1
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Raga Alapana, Niraval and Karpana Swara for any 3 ragas from already covered ragas
Suddhamadhyama Raga -1
Pratimadhyama Raga - 1
Audava/shadava -1
THEORY
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Introduction to Hindustani Music, Western Music, Folk Music
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Comparative Study of Carnatic and Hindustani Ragas
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Ragalakshanäa of: Harikambhoji, Chakravagam, Sahana, Saveri
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Kutchery Sampradayam
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Technical Terms -10