Carnatic Music Certificate Course and Exams

Practical (70 marks):

• Sarali, Jantai, Datu, Melsthayi varishais, 7 alankarams (in minimum 2 speeds)

Theory (30 marks):

• Chapter 1, 2 and 3 and Practical Exercises- Phase I and Phase II from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 1.
• Appendix – V Suggested Listening – Identify any 3 vocalists and 3 instrumentalists (Audio clip might be played)

Practical (70 marks):

• First 15 geetams/thiruppugazh from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 1 book.

Theory (30 marks):

• Chapter 1, 2 and 3 and Practical Exercises- Phase I and Phase II from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 1.
• First 36 melakartas with serial numbers.
• Identify and sing scale of any 12 ragas from Appendix B, ‘A Few Popular Ragas’. (Questions will be based on ragas chosen by students)
• Appendix – V Suggested Listening – Identify any 5 vocalists and 5 instrumentalists (Audio clip might be played)

Practical (70 marks):

• Any 25 geetams/thiruppugazh
• Any one swarajathi from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 1 book.

Theory (30 marks):

• Chapter 1, 2 and 3 and Practical Exercises- Phase I and Phase II from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 1.
• All 72 melakartas with serial numbers. Identify and sing scale of any 25 ragas from Appendix B ‘A Few Popular Ragas’.
• Appendix – V Suggested Listening – Identify any 7 vocalists and 7 instrumentalists (Audio clip might be played)

Practical (80 marks):

• Ability to render the 35 tala alankaram.
• Any 2 out of 10 varnams in two speeds
• Any 6 out of 20 krtis.
• Render alapanas for any 3 ragas and kalpana swaras for any 3 songs.

Theory (20 marks):

• Chapters 1, 2, 3 from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 2
• Appendix 1 – 16 note system
• Appendix 2 – Scale of first 24 melakartas with serial numbers and chakras
• Appendix 3 – Ability to identify and render basic scale of at least 20 ragas. (Questions will be based on ragas chosen by students)
• Appendix 4 – System of 7, 35 and 175 talas
• Appendix – V Suggested Listening – Identify any 10 vocalists and 10 instrumentalists (Audio clip might be played)
• Appendix 6 – A few useful technical terms

Practical (80 marks):

• Ability to render the 35 tala alankaram in 5 gatis.
• Any 5 out of 10 varnams in 2 speeds
• Any 12 out of 20 krtis.
• Render alapanas for any 6 ragas and kalpana swaras for any 6 songs.

Theory (20 marks):

• Chapters 1, 2, 3 from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 2
• Appendix 1 – 16 note system
• Appendix 2 – Scale of first 48 melakartas with serial numbers and chakras
• Appendix 3 – Ability to identify and render basic scale of at least 40 ragas (Questions will be based on ragas chosen by students)
• Appendix 4 – System of 7, 35 and 175 talas
• Appendix – V Suggested Listening – Identify any 15 vocalists and 15 instrumentalists (Audio clip might be played)
• Appendix 6 – A few useful technical terms

Practical (80 marks):

• Any 8 out of 10 varnams (including Bhairavi Ata tala varnam) in 2 speeds
• Any 18 out of 20 krtis.
• Render alapanas for any 12 ragas and kalpana swaras for any 12 songs.

Theory (20 marks):

• Chapters 1, 2, 3 from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 2
• Appendix 1 – 16 note system
• Appendix 2 – Scale of first 72 melakartas with serial numbers and chakras
• Appendix 3 – Ability to identify and render basic scale of at least 60 ragas (Questions will be based on ragas chosen by students)
• Appendix 4 – System of 7, 35 and 175 talas
• Appendix 5 – Suggested Listening – Identify vocalists and instrumentalists (Audio clip might be played)
• Appendix 6 – A few useful technical terms

• Registration: Each student wishing to take the Carnatic Music Certificate Course examination has to register with www.acharyanet.com by paying the appropriate registration fee.
• Fees are 50USD/1000INR for Level 1 exams and 60USD/1200INR for Level 2 exams of any type.
• The exams are open to any student at any part of the world but will typically be conducted in collaboration with a local institution or organization.
• When a minimum number of students have registered in a particular area, the exam will be held at a convenient time.
• In rare cases, Skype Examination will also be considered.
• Students will be informed well in advance of the date.
• Each student has to provide a list of lessons and compositions learnt and questions will be based on that.
• Students could be quizzed on both the lyrics and swaras of any piece or any part of a piece as also related information such as the arohana-avarohana of the raga, its parent raga, composer (wherever such info has been given).
• Duration per student would be about 15-30 minutes for practical and theory.
• Marks will be awarded to all levels of students based on accuracy of pitch, tempo and tala, tonal clarity, pronunciation, raga structure (with gamakas) as well as theoretical knowledge.
• Level II students will also be graded based on fidelity to sangatis in songs and creativity in alapana and kalpana swaras.
• Student has to ensure that the sruti is audible to the examiner. Online sruti might pose a problem.
• This is not an open-book exam.
• Registration Fees will not be refunded under any circumstances; however a postponement of the exam date will be considered up to ONE month maximum, if circumstances necessitate that.
• Examiners will be noted musicians and/or gurus and their decisions will be final.

Certificates will be awarded to each successful candidate, with appropriate grading, based on the performances of students.

90{b7955c42bc39fdf9760428d618341adac19cedc90c8f7d5e6434e3113a88252a} and above Superior
80-90{b7955c42bc39fdf9760428d618341adac19cedc90c8f7d5e6434e3113a88252a} Excellent
70-80{b7955c42bc39fdf9760428d618341adac19cedc90c8f7d5e6434e3113a88252a} Very good
60-70{b7955c42bc39fdf9760428d618341adac19cedc90c8f7d5e6434e3113a88252a} Good
50-60-{b7955c42bc39fdf9760428d618341adac19cedc90c8f7d5e6434e3113a88252a} Average
Below 50{b7955c42bc39fdf9760428d618341adac19cedc90c8f7d5e6434e3113a88252a}- Evolving

A student can take up to 3 exams for any given level and improve upon his or her previous results.