SYLLABUSES 2014 CONTENTS: Initial Grade Level 1 Grades 1, 2 and 3 Level 2 Grades 4 and 5 Level 3 Grades 6, 7 and 8 Level 4 Grade 9 APPEARING FOR THE EXAMINATIONS Candidates are required to complete all grades. In exceptional circumstances, permission to skip a grade may be granted on receipt of a written request. WEIGHTING OF MARKS Grade Initial, 1 and 2: with Viva 100% Grade 3: 85%, 15% Grades 4, 5, 6, 7: 80%, 20% Grades 8, 9: 75%, 25% The pass mark for practical examination is 50%, and for theory examination is 50%. EXAMINATION TIMINGS Grade Initial - N/A Grade Initial - 8 minutes Grade 1 - N/A Grade 1-9 minutes Grade 2 - N/A Grade 2-10 minutes Grade 3-30 minutes Grade 3-13 minutes Grade 4-60 minutes Grade 4-15 minutes Grade 5-90 minutes Grade 5-18 minutes Grade 6-2 hours Grade 6-20 minutes Grade 7-2 hours Grade 7-25 minutes Grade 8-3 hours Grade 8-30 minutes Grade 9-3 hours Grade 9-40 minutes LAYA (TEMPO MARKS): Vilambit Laya is the matra speed at Metronome mark between 40 to 60 Madhya Laya is the matra speed at Metronome mark between 60 to 90 Drut Laya is the matra speed at Metronome mark above 90 PLEASE NOTE: Rules and Regulations, Complaint Procedures etc. are available on request from the examinations secretary of Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya.
ENTRY LEVEL [Initial Grade] Grade-Initial At the end of this grade the candidate will be able to: 1. Sing two songs e.g. folk song, Bhajan, Ghazal, film song, folk song, Bandish. 2. Sing the Shuddha Swaras from Shadaj to Pancham. 3. Clap a beat to music played or sung. 4. Give the names of the Shuddha Swaras 5. Name the main instruments used to accompany singing i.e. Tanpura, Harmonium, Tabla.
LEVEL 1 [GRADE I, GRADE II and GRADE III] NOTE: Candidates for Level 1 must accompany themselves with Harmonium or Tanpura or use a Tanpura machine. GRADE-I At the end of this grade, which includes Entry Level prescribed syllabus, the candidate will be able to: 1. Sing two Alankars in Sargam. 2. Sing a Bandish in Raag Yaman (Kalyan) or Khamaj or Bhupali. 3. Sing two songs e.g. Sargam Geet, Bhajan, Ghazal, Bandish. 4. Recite the Thekas of Teental and Kaharwa or Dadra with Tali, Khali and finger counts. 5. Give the full names of the Swar Shadaj, Rishab, Gandhar, Madhyam, Pancham, Dhaivat, Nishad. 6. Give an introduction to the songs sung including (where appropriate) name of Raag, performance time, Swara in Aroh and Avaroh, Vadi, Samvadi, Taal with number of Matras, what kind of song, what language it is in, where it is from, at what kind of occasion it is sung. 7. Name the main parts of the Harmonium i.e. cover, keys, bellows, stops, reeds, main and drone stops, coupler, scale changer and explain what they are made of and how to protect the bellows from damage. 8. Give the life sketch of one vocalist from the following list: Ustad Vilayet Hussain Khan & Ustad Sharafat Hussain Khan (Agra gharana), Ustad Iqbal Ahmad Khan & Ustad chand khan (Delhi Gharana), Pandit Bhimsen Joshi & Ustad Amir Khan (Kirana Gharana), Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan & Smt. Parveen Sultana (Patiala Gharana), Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar & Pandit Omkarnath Thakur (Gwalior Gharana), Ustad Alladiya Khan & Kishori Amonkar (Jaipur Atrauli Gharana), Bade Ramdas Mishra & Smt. Girja Devi (Banaras Gharana)
LEVEL 1 cont d GRADE-II At the end of this grade, which includes Entry Level and grade I prescribed syllabuses, the candidate will be able to: 1. Sing four Alankars or Paltas in Sargam, Thah and Dugun (Dun), in Raag Yaman or Khamaj. 2. Name Shuddh notes when sung or played and be able to sing them. 3. Sing a Bandish in Raag Yaman or Khamaj or Bhupali with five Taans. 4. Sing two songs, one each from the different traditions listed:- folk song, semi-classical or light song and Devotional song, 5. Describe the Thekas of Teentaal, Kaharwa and Dadra Taals and recite them with Tali, Khali and finger counts, Thah and Dugun. 6. Give an introduction to the Bandish sung including singing Sthayi, Antara, outline meaning of words, timing of the Raag, and name and length of Tal, and what note Sam falls on and Swaras used. 7. Demonstrate understanding of all the terms in the prescribed syllabuses including Swara, Shuddh, Bandish, Sthayi, Antara, Saptak, Matra, Sam, Vibhag, Avartan, and give an introduction to Raag. 8. Name the main parts of the Tanpura and indicate what they are made of and the notes it is tuned to. 9. Give the life sketches of two vocalists from the list in the prescribed syllabuses and of one string instrumentalist from the following list: Sitarists - Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayet Khan, Nikhil Banerjee & Balaram Pathak; Sarodists - Ustad Ali Akbar Khan & Amjad Ali Khan.
LEVEL 1 cont d GRADE-III At the end of this grade, which includes Entry Level, grades I and II prescribed syllabuses, the candidate will be able to: 1. Perform for 5 minutes in Teentaal in a Raag from the prescribed syllabuses including Aroh, Avaroha and Taans. 2. From a given Shadaj (SA) and name the seven Shuddh Swaras (notes) when sung or played in different Saptak 3. Sing three Alankars or Paltas in Yaman in Sargam and Akar in Thah and Dugun while showing the beat i.e. Matra. 4. Demonstrate through performance knowledge and understanding of Aroha, Avroha, brief Chalan (Pakad), Vadi, Samvadi and Nyas Swar of Raags Yaman, Khamaj and Bhupali. 5. Perform one Chota Khyal in Raags Yaman and Bhupali or khamaj in Teentaal with at least five Taans. 6. Recite Teental with Tali, Khali and finger counts from any Matra and clap the Taal to your Chota Khyal when it is played or sung. A written test e.g. multiple choice, true or false, diagram, notation etc., on all topics covered in the prescribed syllabuses and including the following: 1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all terms in the prescribed syllabuses including Tivra, Komal, Thah and Dugun (Dun), and, Vilambit, Madhya and Drut Laya. 2. Give introductions to Raags Yaman, Bhupali and Khamaj and explain the main characteristics of these raags i.e. Aroha, Avaroha, Vadi, Samvadi, Pakad and time of day. 3. Give introductions to Teentaal, Kaherwa and Dadra and explain their use and main characteristics i.e. Matra, Vibhag, Avartan, Tali, Khali, etc. 4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Bhatkhande symbols for Tivra, Komal, Matra, Sam, Tali, Khali, Vibhag, Avartan, Ardh Viram, Avagrah and Saptak (Mandra, Madhya, Tar), and be able to read Swaras (notes) and phrases in this Paddhati. 5. Describe the different types of machines that provide drones for singers including electronic Tanpura and Surpeti, and the notes they are tuned to. 6. Give the life sketches of Tansen and Amir Khusroo.
LEVEL 2 [GRADE IV and GRADE V] NOTE: Candidates for Level 2 must accompany themselves with Harmonium (standing notes) or Tanpura or use a Tanpura machine and perform with Tabla machine or live accompaniment. GRADE-IV At the end of this grade, which includes Entry Level and Level 1 prescribed syllabuses, the candidate will be able to: 1. Perform for 5 minutes in Teentaal a Raag from the prescribed syllabuses with a brief Alaap introduction to the Raag and include Taans and Tihais. 2. Sing one Chota Khyal in Yaman and Khamaj or Bhupali with introductory Alaap to the Raags, five Taans and one Taan with Tihai. And be able to sing a Bandish in Raag Bhairav. 3. From a given Shadaj (SA) and name the seven Shudh Swar, Komal Gandhar, Tivra Madyam and Komal Nishad, when sung or played by the examiner and be able to sing them. 4. Sing three Alankars in all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses in Akar and Sargam in Thah and Dugun. 5. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Aroha, Avroha, brief Chalan (Pakads), Vadi, Samvadi, Nyas Swar, of all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses and be able to recognise these Raags from characteristic phrases. 6. Sing one song in the light music tradition e.g. folk song, semi-classical or light song, Devotional song. 7. Recite the Thekas of Ektaal, Rupak and Jhaptal with the appropriate Taali, Khali and counts on the fingers Thah and Dugun. 8. Sight read phrases or notes in different Saptak in all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses. A written test e.g. multiple choice, true or false, diagram, notation etc., on all topics covered in the prescribed syllabuses and including the following: 1. Notate musical phrases in Bhatkhande Paddhati. 2. Give full introductions to all Raags and Taals, and demonstrate understanding of all the terms including Chal-Achal Swar, Chalan (Pakad), Tihai (Bedam and Damdar). 3. Describe the structure of the Harmonium and Tanpura, and their roles in vocal music. 4. Describe the performing styles of musicians in the prescribed syllabuses. 5. Give the life sketches and descriptions of the performing styles from the following lists of one Tabla player: Ust. Inam Ali & Ust. Lateef Ahmed Khan (Delhi Gharana); Ust. Afaq Hussain, (Lucknow); Pt. Sharda Sahai, Pt. Kishan Maharaj & Pt. Gudai Maharaj (aka Shamta Prasad) (Banaras Gharana); Zakir, Utd. Alla Rakha & Ust. Shaukat Hussain, (Punjab Gharana); Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Pt. Shankar Ghosh & Ust. Ahmedjan Thirakwa (Farukhabad Gharana); Ust. Habibudin Khan (Ajrara), and one Kathak dancer: Birju Maharaj, Shambhu Maharaj, Maya Rao, Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak (Lucknow Gharana); Rohini Bhate, Kumudini Lakhia, Dr. Puru Dhadheech (Jaipur & Lucknow Gharanas); Gopi Krishna, Sitara Devi, Natraj Mohan Krishna (Banaras Gharana); Pandit Sunder Lal, Durga Lal, Urmila Nagar, Roshan Kumari (Jaipur Gharana).
LEVEL 2 cont d GRADE-V At the end of this grade, which includes Entry Level, Level 1 and grade IV prescribed syllabuses, the candidate will be able to: 1. Perform for 6 minutes in Teentaal a Raag from the prescribed syllabuses with simple Alaap and include Taans and Tihais. 2. Sing five Alankars in all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses, plus Raag Bilaval, in Akar Thah, Dugun and Chaugun. 3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Aroha, Avroha, brief Chalan (Pakads), Vadi, Samvadi, Nyas Swar, of Raag Bhairavi. 4. Sing one Chota Khyal in Teentaal with simple Alaap, three Taans in Sargam and Akar, two Bol Taans and two Taans with Tihai, in all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses. The Bandish of one Raag must be in Ektal, Rupak or Jhaptal. 5. Speak the Thekas of all Taals in the prescribed syllabuses with the appropriate Tali, Khali and finger counts in Thah, Dugun. and Chaugun, and recognise them when played. 6. Sight read pieces notated in Bhatkhande Paddhathi. 7. Identify if a note is sharp, flat or in tune when it is played or sung against a drone. A written test e.g. multiple choice, true or false, diagram, notation, definitions, comparison etc. on all topics covered in the prescribed syllabuses and including the following: 1. Notate pieces in Bhatkhande Paddhathi. 2. Give full introductions to Raags Bilaval and Bhairavi and demonstrate understanding of all the terms in the prescribed syllabuses including Shruti, Naad, Jati of Raag, Thaat, Vivadi, Vikrit and Chaugun. 3. Explain the structure and tuning of the Tabla and its role in vocal music. 4. From the following list choose three Gharanas of singing, describe the main features of their styles of singing and name and give an introduction to one living artist from each Gharana:- Agra, Delhi, Kirana, Patiala, Gwalior, Jaipur Atrauli, Banaras 5. Give the life sketch and describe the performing style of one wind instrumentalist from the following list: Panalal Ghosh, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ronu Mazumdar, Rakesh Chaurasia, Rupak Kulkarni.
LEVEL 3 [GRADE VI, GRADE VII and GRADE VIII] NOTE: Candidates for Level 3 must perform with Tabla machine or live accompaniment. GRADE-VI At the end of this grade, which includes Entry Level, Levels 1 and 2 prescribed syllabuses, the candidate will be able to: 1. Perform for 8 minutes in Teentaal a Raag from the syllabus with Chota Khyal and including Alaap, Sapat Taan, Choot ki Taan, Bol Taan and Tihais. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of Aroha, Avroha, brief Chalan (Pakads), Vadi, Samvadi, Nyas Swar of Raags Bageshwari and Des. 3. Sing one Chota Khyal in Bageshwari or Des with introductory Alaap to the Raag, five Taans and one taan with Tihai, and be able to sing a Bandish in the other Raag. 4. Sing a variety of Alankars or Paltas in all the Raags in the prescribed syllabuses in Thah, Dugun, Tigun and Chaugun. 5. Sight read notated musical passages in all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses. A written test on all topics covered in the prescribed syllabuses including the following: 1. Knowledge of Aroha, Avroha, brief Chalan (Pakads), Vadi, Samvadi, Nyas Swara, and performance time of all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses. 2. Knowledge of Dhamar and Arachartal, give definitions for all technical terms, and compare and contrast Laya and Layakari, Raag and That, Shruti and Swara. 3. Introductions to different styles of singing Dhrupad, Khyal, Tarana, Tappa, Thumri, Ghazal, Bhajan, Hori, Kajari, Sufi music. 4. Notate all Thekas, Taans, Alaaps etc. in the prescribed syllabuses in Bhatkande Paddhati. 5. Explain in detail about Bhatkande Paddhati including its history, symbols and how it is used to accurately notate music.
LEVEL 3 GRADE-VII At the end of this grade, which includes Entry Level, Levels 1 and 2 and grade VI prescribed syllabuses, the candidate will be able to: 1. Perform for 8 minutes in Teentaal a Raag from the prescribed syllabuses with Chota Khyal and including Alaap, Sapat Taan, Choot ki Taan, Bol Taan and Tihais. 2. Demonstrate knowledge through performance of Aroha, Avroha, Chalan (Pakads), Vadi, Samvadi, Nyas Swar of Raags Bhupali and Behag. 3. Sing one Chotta Khyal in Bhupali or Behag with introductory Alaap to the Raag, five Taans and one Taan with Tihai. And be able to sing a Bandish in the other Raag. 4. Sing a Chota Khyal in any of the Raags in the prescribed syllabuses in two of the following Taals: Ektal, Rupak, Jhaptal. 5. Sing a Tarana in Malkauns. 6. Sing a variety of Alankars or Paltas in all the Raags in the prescribed syllabuses in Ari (Tigun). 7. Tune a Tanpura 8. Sing Tihais 4 matras, 6 matras, 8 matras and 12 matras long in Teental. A written test on all topics covered in the prescribed syllabuses including the following: 1. Knowledge and understanding of the term Sangeet and its forms of music an dance, of the Hindustani and Carnatic systems of music and dance, and of all technical terms in the prescribed syllabuses. 2. Name and describe the Tanupra (manual and electronic), Sarangi, Harmonium and Tabla including the Swaras (notes). they are tuned to. 3. Discuss the characteristics of Khyal, Tarana, Thumri, Ghazal and Bhajan. 4. Knowledge of Aroha, Avroha, brief Chalan (Pakads), Vadi, Samvadi, Nyas Swara, and performance time of all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses. 5. Knowledge of Jhumra and Sootal in Thah, Dugun and Chaugun. 6. Notate all Thekas, Alaaps, Taans, Gats, Taans, Tihais, Alaaps etc in your syllabus in Bhatkande Paddhati.
LEVEL 3 GRADE-VIII At the end of this grade, which includes Entry Level, Levels 1 and 2 and grades VI and VII prescribed syllabuses, the candidate will be able to: 1. Perform for 10 minutes in Teentaal a Raag from the prescribed syllabuses with Chota Khyal and including Alaap a variety of Taans in both Sthayi and Antara, and Tihais. 2. Sing Gamak and Amad Taans. 3. Demonstrate knowledge through performance of Aroha, Avroha, Chalan (Pakads), Vadi, Samvadi, Nyas Swar of Raags Jaunpuri and Jog or Puriya Kalyan. 4. Sing one Chota Khyal in Jaunpuri and Jog or Puriya Kalyan with introductory Alaap to the Raag, at least eight Taans and three Taans with Tihai. And be able to sing a Bandish in the other Raag. 5. Sing a Chota Khyal in any of the Raags in the prescribed syllabuses in Ektal, Rupak and Jhaptal. 6. Sing a Bada Khyal in Yaman. 7. Sing a variety of Alankars or Paltas in all the Raags in the prescribed syllabus in Ari (Tigun). 8. Sight read notated Alaap, Taans, Tihai in all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses. A written test on all topics covered in the syllabus including the following: 1. Knowledge and understanding of all the terms in the prescribed syllabuses. 2. Knowledge of Aroha, Avroha, Chalan (Pakads), Vadi, Samvadi, Nyas Swara and performance time of all Raags in the prescribed syllabuses. 3. Knowledge of Deepchandi and Sulphakta, compare and contrast Raags, Khyal and Dhrupad, and discus the attributes of good and bad singing. 4. Discus Sangat and describe how the Tabla, Harmonium, Sarangi and Tanpura are used in vocal performance. 5. Describe the structure and playing systems of the Tabla, Harmonium, Sarangi and Tanpura.