Carnatic Music Certificate Course and Exams
Conducted by The International Foundation for Carnatic Music and Acharyanet.com
IFCM is incorporated in India and USA as a not-for-profit organization
Syllabus followed: "Perfecting Carnatic Music (PCM)"
Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 1 and Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 2
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The Carnatic Music Certificate Course on Acharyanet is based on Perfecting Carnatic Music Level I and Level II books. All theory and practicals are based from this book. Each book content is split into 3 levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. The content is listed below. Students may apply for any level. Both vocal and instrumental students can apply.
Level 1 - Prelim Level Exam - Based on PCM I:
- Sarali, Jantai, Datu, Melsthayi varishais, 7 alankarams (in minimum 2 speeds)
- 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)
Level 1 - Intermediate Level Exam - Based on PCM I:
- First 15 geetams/thiruppugazh from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 1 book.
- 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)
Level 1 - Advanced Level Exam - Based on PCM I:
- Any 25 geetams/thiruppugazh
- Any one swarajathi from Perfecting Carnatic Music Level 1 book.
- 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)
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Practical (80 marks):
Level II Basic Exam - Based on Perfecting Carnatic Music Level II:
- 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.
- 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
Level II Intermediate Exam - Based on Perfecting Carnatic Music Level II:
- 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.
- 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
Level II Final Exam - Based on Perfecting Carnatic Music Level II:
- 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.
- 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
General Information
- 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.
Certification
Score Grade
- 90 and above Superior
- 80-90 Excellent
- 70-80 Very good
- 60-70 Good
- 50-60 Average
- Below 50- Evolving