Eligiblity
Minimum 8 Years old
Course Duration
1 Year/Grade
Certification
The Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University
Mode
Offline/Online
Kalalaya Foundation is renowned for its dedication to preserving and promoting Indian arts, including Carnatic music. Their grade exams serve as a structured platform to assess and certify students' proficiency in this rich musical tradition. The programme follows a well-defined curriculum that covers a wide range of Carnatic music concepts, including:
Basic Notation: Learning to read and write Carnatic music notation.
Ragas: Understanding the melodic structures and characteristics of various ragas.
Thalas: Mastering different rhythmic cycles and their applications.
Alapana: Developing the ability to improvise melodic lines within a raga.
Kriti: Learning to sing and understand complex compositions.
The exam is conducted in multiple rounds, including a written test, a practical performance, and an interview. Students who successfully pass the exam will receive a certificate of achievement from The Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University.
The Carnatic Music Grade Exam is a valuable opportunity for students to showcase their skills and receive feedback on their progress. It is also a stepping stone for students who aspire to pursue a career in Carnatic Music or continue their Music education at a higher level.
| UNIT 1 | Sarali Varisai | Sarali Varisai-s in Māyāmāḷavagauḷa rāga as plain notes, in Three Speeds, with Sruti |
| UNIT 2 | Plucking Excercise | Awareness of Plucking techniques – using the Tāḷa strings while
playing |
| UNIT 3 | Violin Technique | Reckoning Ādi Tāla and Rūpaka Tāḷa in Catuśra Naḍai, in Three Speeds |
| UNIT 4 | Kalpitam | To play a simple Devotional song or bhajan or Namavali |
| UNIT 5 | Tala Technique | To sing the Above with Tāḷa |
(No Theory Exam for Pre Grade)
| UNIT 1 | Janta Varisai | Jhanta Varisai-s in Māyāmāḷavagauḷa rāga as plain notes, in Three Speeds, with Sruti |
| UNIT 2 | Dhattu Varisa | Dhattu Varisai-s in Māyāmāḷavagauḷa rāga as plain notes, in Three Speeds, with Sruti |
| UNIT 3 | Tāra Stāyi Varisa | Tāra Stāyi Varisai-s in Māyāmāḷavagauḷa rāga as plain notes, in Three Speeds, with Sruti |
| UNIT 4 | Mandara Stāyi Varisai | Mandara Stāyi Varisai-s in Māyāmāḷavagauḷa rāga as plain notes, in Three Speeds, with Sruti |
| UNIT 5 | Alankāram | Following Alankāram-s in Māyāmāḷavagauḷa rāga 1. Chathusrajathi Eka Thalam (3 Speeds) 2. Chathusrajathi Rupaka Thalam (3 Speeds) 3. Tisrajathi Triputa Thalam (3 Speeds) |
| UNIT-6 | Theory | 1. Introduction to the various systems in Indian Music 2. Nāda and Śruti, Pitch and its connotations 3. Saptasvaras, The twelve svarasthāna-s and Sixteen Svara Nomenclature 4. Three Sthāyis, symbols used in basic notations 5. Technical Terms - Tāḷa, Naḍai, Aṅga, Āvartana, ṣadaṅga-s, Uttarāṅga and Pūrvāṅga |
| UNIT 1 | Alankāram | Following Alankāram-s in Māyāmāḷavagauḷa and Śaṅkarābharaṇa rāga 1. Chatusrajathi Matya Thalam (3 Speeds) 2. Chatusrajathi dhruva Thalam (3 Speeds) 3. Misrajathi jampa Thalam (3 Speeds) 4. Kandajathi Ata Thalam(3 speed) |
| UNIT 2 | Gītams | Any Four (2 in Malahari and 2 in any other Rāga) |
| UNIT 3 | Nōṭṭusvara Sāhityas | Nōṭṭusvara Sāhityas – Any 2 |
| UNIT 4 | Tiruppugazh or Devotional Song – 1 | Any 1 |
| UNIT 5 | Kalpitam | To sing the Above with Tāḷa and Sāhitya |
| UNIT-6 | Theory | 1. Musical Forms - Alaṅkāram and Gītam 2.The 3 main aṅga-s; Sapta tāḷa-s; Pañca-Jāti; Jāti-Bhēda; Thirty Five tālas 3. Parts of the Veena – Resonators -Kuḍam and Soraikkāi, Finger board, Frets, Pegs, Bridge(Kuthirai and Meru), Nāgapāśa, Sound Post, Nāda Randhra, Yāḷi. 4.The strings on the Veena – Main and Tāḷa strings, tuning and playing techniques 5. Short life-sketch i. Purandaradāsar ii. Trinity – Śyāma Sāstri, Tyāgarāja and Muttusvāmi Dikṣitar iii. Arunagirinathar |
| UNIT 1 | Lakshana Gitam | Any 1 (in Any Language) |
| UNIT 2 | Jatisvaram and Svarajati | One in Each |
| UNIT 3 | Varnam | Ādi tāḷa varṇam - Any 1, to be rendered as both Svara and Sāhitya |
| UNIT 4 | Divyanāma Kīrtanam & Tēvāram | One in Each |
| UNIT 5 | Exercise | Reckoning the Ādi tāḷa in Catuśra naḍai, with shifting of the Eduppu |
| UNIT-6 | Theory | 1. Musical Forms: Jatisvaram, Svarajati, 2. Types of Varṇam-s - Tāna, pada, cauka, daru and Rāgamālika 3. Short Life sketch of Tēvāra Mūvar – Tiruñāna Sambandar, Tirunāvukkarasar, Sundaramūrti Nāyanār 4. Tyāgarāja and his disciples 5. Classification of Musical Instruments – String (Tata vādya), Wind (Suśīra vādya), Metallic (Ghana vādya) and Percussion (Avanaddha Vādya) |
| UNIT 1 | Alankaram | All 7 In Kalyāṇi & Karaharapriya Ragas in 3 speeds |
| UNIT 2 | Varnam | Any 2 Ādi Tāḷa Varṇam from the prescribed ragas rendered in 2 speeds 1. Śaṅkarābharaṇam, 2. Hamsadvani 3. Mōhanam 4. Kalyāṇi |
| UNIT 3 | Tamil Composition | Divya Prabhandam - 1 Thiruvasakam or Ramadasar Kriti – 1 |
| UNIT 4 | Simple Composition | Thiru Arutpa - 1 or Annamacharya Kriti Patriotic Song -1 |
| UNIT 5 | Kirtanam | Any 3 from Prescribed Ragas and Composers Ragas : Māyāmāḷava gauḷa, Mōhanam, Śaṅkarābharaṇam, Ārabhi, Hamsadvani, Kalyāṇi, Composers : Tyāgarāja, Swathi Tirunal, Muthu Thandavar, Arunachala Kavirayar, Papanasam sivan |
| UNIT-6 | Theory | 1. The 12 alwars and a Short life-sketch of Andal 2. Muttusvāmi Dikṣita and his disciples 3. Study of Musical Instruments: Nadasvaram and Tavil 4. Rāga Classification scheme - Janaka, Janya, Vakra, Varjya, Upāṅga and Bhāṣāṅga 5. The 72 Mēḷa Scheme of Veṅkaṭamakhin |
| UNIT 1 | Varnam | Ādi Tāḷa Varṇam - Any 2 from rāga-s given 1.Sāvēri 2.Kāmbhōji 3.Kalyāṇi 4.Ābhōgi |
| UNIT 2 | Jatisvaram | Vasanta |
| UNIT 3 | Kirtanam |
Any 4 from Prescribed Ragas and Composers Ragas : 1. Hamsadhwani 2. Madhyamavathi 3. Kalyan 4. Bilahari 5. Harikambhodhi 6. Karahara priya Composers : Thyagarajar, Swathi Tirunal, Muthu Thandavar, Arunachala Kavirayar, Papanasam sivan, Dikṣitar, Syamasastry, Gopala Krishna Bharathi, Neelakanta Sivan, Ramaswamy Sivan |
| UNIT 4 | Tamil Composition | Tiruppāvai - 1 (or) Tiruvempāvai – 1 |
| UNIT 5 | Tamil Composition | Subramanya Bharati (or) Bhārati Dāsan Song – 1 |
| UNIT-6 | Theory | 1. Musical Forms – Krti, Rāgamālika 2. Study of Tala and important elements of Tala Dasa Pranä-s. 3. Śyāma Śāstri and his lineage 4. Introduction to Paṇn – Tamil Tradition 5. Study of Musical Instruments: Tanpura, Vīṇa, Violin. |
| UNIT 1 | Varnam | Ādi Tala Varṇam Any – 2 Ragas: 1. Todi 2. Pantuvarali 3. Sriragam 4. Begada |
| UNIT 2 | Varnam | Kaṇḍa jati Aṭa Tāḷa Varṇam - 1 (Bhairavi) |
| UNIT 3 | Kritis |
Any 2 (From Prescribed Ragas and Composers) Ragas: 1. Bhairavi 2. Lathangi 3. Thodi 4. Darbar 5. Sahana Composers: Thyagarajar, Swathi Tirunal, Muthu Thandavar, Arunachala Kavirayar, Papanasam Sivan, Dikshidar, Syamasastry, Gopala Krishna bharathi, Nīlakaṇṭa Sivan, Ramaswamy sivan, mayuram viswanatha sastri |
| UNIT 4 | Composition | Aṣṭapadi -1 ; Kāvaḍi Cindu – 1; Mīrā Bhajan – 1 |
| UNIT 5 | Manodharmam | Kalpana Swaram for any 5 from list below : Ragas: 1. Mohanam 2. Sankarabharanam 3. Hamsadhwani 4. Kalyani, Bhairavi 5. Arabhi 6. Pantuvarali 7. Karaharapriya |
| UNIT-6 | Theory | 1. Kalpita and Manodharma Saṅgīta ; Musical Forms – Rāga Ālāpana, Kalpana Svaram, Neraval, Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi 2. Rāga Lakṣaṇa and Sañcara-s for i. Mōhanam ii. Ābhōgi iii.Kalyāni iv.Śaṅkarabharaṇa 3. Short Life History of – Jayadeva; Nārāyaṇa Tīrta, Svāti Tirunāl, ūthukkādu Veṅkaṭa Kavi 4. Study of Musical Instruments: Flute, Mridangam 5. Technical Terms – Eduppu, Decorative Aṅga-s, Ciṭṭa Svaram, Madyamakāla Sāhitya, Samaśṭi Caraṇa, Svarākṣara |
| UNIT 1 | Varnam | Kandajathi Ata Tāḷa varnam - 1 (Kalyani or Kanada) |
| UNIT 2 | Dance Compositions | Ragamalika – 1 ; Pada Varṇam – 1 ; Thillāna – 1 |
| UNIT 3 | Thyagaraja Pancharatna Kiritis |
Thyagaraja pancharatnam – 2 One Ghana Rāga and one Kṣētra |
| UNIT 4 | Tamil Composition | Ramadasar Kriti - 1 (or) Meenatchi ammai pillai Tamil -1 Abhang - 1 (or) Kavimani Desiga Vinayagam Pillai – 1 |
| UNIT 5 | Manodharmam | Niraval and kalpana swaram for any 4 ragas from given ragas Ragas: 1. Mohanam, 2. Śankarabharanam 3. Hamsadhwani 4. Kalyani 5. Bhairavi 6. Arabhi 7. Pantuvarali 8. Karaharapriya 9. Todi |
| UNIT-6 | Theory | 1. Dasavidha Gamaka-s 2. Ragalakshanas of Kharaharapriya, Bhairavi, Khambhoji, Todi, Pantuvaraläi, Purvikalyani 3. Musical Forms: Padam, Javaläi, Tillana, Ragamalika 4. Notable Vainikas – Muttusvāmi Dīkṣitar, Bāṇi-s- Dhanammal style, Mysore Style, Āndra style, Karaikkuḍi style, Travancore style, S.Balachander 5. Kutcheri Paddhati |
| UNIT 1 | Dance Composition | Any Padam -1 Javali -1 |
| UNIT 2 | Svarajati | Śyāma Śāstri Svarajati -1 |
| UNIT 3 | Kriti |
Bhajan – 1; Group Krti of Muttusvami Dīkṣita -1 |
| UNIT 4 | Application | Ragam, Thanam, Pallavi -1 |
| UNIT 5 | Manodharmam | Raga Alapana, Niraval and Karpana Swara for any 3 ragas from already covered ragas |
| UNIT-6 | Theory | 1. Group kritis 2. Introduction to Hindustani Music, Western Music, Folk Music 3. Comparative Study of Carnatic and Hindustani Ragas 4. Ragalakshana of - Darbar, Bilahari, Kēdāragauḷa, Suruṭti, ānandabhairavi, Sahana, Saveri 5. Mathematics in Music – Kōvai, Kanakku-s, Porutham-s |
The exam typically consists of three main components:
Written Examination:
Theoretical Knowledge: Students will be evaluated on their understanding of Music's history, theory, and notation. This includes knowledge of various Sruti, Swara patterns, rhythmic patterns (talas).
Cultural Context:Written exams may be conducted to test students' knowledge of Carnatic music theory, notation, and terminology.
Practical Performance:
Music Technique: S Students may be required to perform a set of pieces or compositions to demonstrate their singing skills and understanding of ragas and talas.
Expression: The performance will also be evaluated based on the student's ability to convey emotions and tell stories through their Music.
Dance Accompaniment: Students must perform to live or recorded Carnatic music, demonstrating their ability to synchronize their movements with the rhythm and melody.
Interview:
Understanding of Music: The interview may cover topics such as the student's understanding of Music's philosophy, its role in Indian culture, and their personal journey as a Singer.
Future Goals: The interviewer may also inquire about the student's aspirations and plans for further Music education or a career in Carnatic Music
Recognition of Achievement: Successful completion of the exam provides students with a formal recognition cerfication of their skills and accomplishments from The TamilNadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University.
Career Advancement: The exam can be beneficial for students who aspire to pursue a career in Music, as it demonstrates their proficiency and dedication to the art form.
Educational Progression: Passing the exam may be a prerequisite for admission to advanced Music programs or institutions.
Personal Growth: The exam can be a valuable experience for students to assess their progress, identify areas for improvement, and set new goals.
In conclusion, the Carnatic Music Grade Exam is a comprehensive assessment that evaluates a student's overall proficiency in the art form. It is a valuable opportunity for students to showcase their skills, receive feedback, and set the foundation for their future endeavors in Music.
Grade Programme Branches
Bharathanatyam
Carnatic Vocal
Violin
Mridangam
