ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS (LONDON - aofaonline.com

1 ACADEMY OF fine arts ( london ) PUBLIC EXAMINATION in CARNATIC MUSIC Syllabus for Vocal First Grade A (Recommended age to sit for exam - 7 years) Practical examination only All lessons to be practised in Mayamalavagowla raagam. 1. Swara Varisai 15 (See Note 1 of Notes on Syllabus) 2. Jantai Varisai 6 3. Upper Hechchu Staayi Varisai 4 1-3 to be practised in 2 Kaalams in first 2 degrees of speed Oral Theory: 1. Names of the seven swaras (saptha swaras). 2. Names of the twelve swara-staanams. 3. Definitions of Musical terms - Aarohanam, Avarohanam, Sruthi, Swaram, Staayi, Jantai Varisai. First Grade B (Recommended age to sit for exam - 7 years) Practical examination only All lessons to be practised in Mayamalavagowla raagam. 1. Thakku Staayi Varisai 4 2. Thaaddu Varisai 2 3.

2 Saptha Taala Alankarams 7 1-3 to be practised in 2 Kaalams in first 2 degrees of speed 4. Thevaram 1 Oral Theory: 5. Definitions of Musical terms - Swaraavali, Akshara-kaalams, Alankaram. 6. Definitions of Taalam, Tala-Angams, Lagu, Drutham, Anudrutham. 7. Names of the Sapta-Taalams with their respective Angams and Symbols. NOTE: At the practical exam students should submit a list of musical pieces learnt or covered for the grade. 1 ACADEMY OF fine arts ( london ) PUBLIC EXAMINATION in CARNATIC MUSIC Syllabus for Vocal Second Grade (Recommended age to sit for exam - 8 years) Practical: 1. Swara Varisai 15, Jantai Varisai 6, Upper Hechchu Staayi Varisai 4, Thakku Staayi Varisai 4, Thaaddu Varisai 2, Saptha Taala Alankarams 7 to be practised only in third Kaalam only in third degree of speed.

3 2. Geetam - in two kaalams 6 (in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Sanskrit) To be practised in the following Raagams: Malahari, Mohanam, Suddha-saveri, Kalyani, Ananda-bhairavi, Kambhoji, Mayamalavagowla, Madhyamavati, Bowli, Harikambhoji. 3. Jathiswaram 1 (see Note 2a of Notes on Syllabus) To be practised in the following Raagams: Bilahari, Kalyani, Shankarabharanam, Saveri, Vasantha, Hamsadhwani, Aabohi, Khamas. 4. Divya-nama Kirtanas 2 (Sri Thiagarajah) 5. Sankeertana (Sri Annamachari) or Devar Nama (Sri Purandaradasar) 1 6. Thevaaram 3 (should not be repetition of previous grade) Theory: 1. Definition of signs and symbols used in notation - namely, Akshara-kaala signs (comma, semi-colon), Staayi symbols (only 3 staayi ie Mandra, Matya, Tara), Kaalam (only 3 kaala speed) or degree of speed signs, Taala anga divisions, Avartam endings.

4 Numerical signs in (jaati), tala angam (lagu symbols) and symbols used for gamakams. 2. Swarastaanas taken by raagams handled in the practical lessons and their Aarohanam, Avarohanam. 3. Lakshanam of Geetam with the names of composers. 4. Triangam - Lagu, Drutam, Anudrutam - signs and definitions. 5. Sapta taalams and the scheme of 35 taalams using 5 jaatis in Lagu. NOTES: 1. All students sitting for the practical exams should submit a list of all musical pieces learnt / covered for the grade and for the previous grade. 2. At the practical exam, students will have to sing or play on the instrument a musical piece chosen by the examiner(s) from the lists submitted by the student. 3. Previous Grade s syllabus should be covered when sitting for this grade. 2 ACADEMY OF fine arts ( london ) PUBLIC EXAMINATION in CARNATIC MUSIC Syllabus for Vocal Third Grade (Recommended age to sit for exam - 10 years) Practical: 1.

5 Lakshana Geetham or Suladi 1 2. Taana Varnam 2 (in two speeds) 3. Krithi or Keerthana 3 (see Note 3 of Notes on Syllabus) 4. Swara-jati 1 5. Thevarams 3 (should not be repetition of previous grades) 6. Puranam 1 7. Thirupugazh 2 8. Sight singing: in the Aarohanam-Avarohanam of the following Raagams: Mayamalavagowla, Mohanam, Ananda-bhairavi, Kalyani, Shankarabharanam and Hamsadhwani. Theory: 1. Definition of the following Raagams: Janaka-raagam, Janya-raagam and its varieties (the eight kinds of varja raagams with examples). The three types of Vakra raagams with examples. 2. Vaageyakaras or Composers: Purantara Dasar & Muthu Thandavar - their life-history and their contributions to Carnatic music. 3. Raaga Lakshanam for the following Raagas: Mohanam, Hamsadhwani, Kalyani, Mayamalavagowla, Shankarabharanam.

6 4. Musical Instruments: Thambura & Mirudhangam - Structure and the art of handling of these Vaadyams (Instruments). Know names of past & present vidwaans. 5. Descriptions (Lakshanam) of Swara-jati, Jathiswaram and Varnam. 6. Definitions of Musical terms: Ragam, Varjam (audava-shadava-sampoorna), Upanga-bhashangam, Tri-sthayi raagam, Ancient raagam, Auspicious raagam, Melakarta raagam. 7. Definitions of Musical terms: Graham or Eduppu: Samam - Anaakatam - Atheetham. 8. Sapta taalams and the scheme of 35 taalams using 5 jaatis in Lagu. NOTES: 1. All students sitting for the practical exams should submit a list of all musical pieces learnt or covered for the grade and for the previous grades. 2. At the practical exam, students will have to sing or play on the instrument a musical piece chosen by the examiner(s) from the lists submitted by the student.

7 3. Previous Grades syllabuses should be covered when sitting for this grade. 4. Sight singing should be done in vocal (for instrumental as well). 3 ACADEMY OF fine arts ( london ) PUBLIC EXAMINATION in CARNATIC MUSIC Syllabus for Vocal Diploma Year 1 (former Grade 4) (Recommended age to sit for exam 12 years) Practical: 1. Varnam in Adi Taalam (in two speeds) 3 (1 previous, 1 new, 1 Navaraagamalika) 2. Varnam in Ata Taalam (in two speeds) 1 3. Kriti or Keerthana 4 (see Note 4a of Notes on Syllabus) 4. Thevarams 2 (1 new and 1 previous) 5. Thirupugazh 2 (1 new and 1 previous) 6. Subramaniya Bharatiyar Songs 2 7. Sight singing: Simple sancharams set to Adi or Rupaka Taalams in the following Raagams: Aabohi, Mayamalavagowla, Shankarabharanam, Kalyani, Bilahari, Mohanam.

8 Theory: 1. Raaga Lakshanam for the following Raagas: Harikambhoji, Suddha Saveri, Aarabhi, Bilahari, Aabohi, Kambhoji, Pantuvarali (Kamavardani), Sri Ranjani, Anandabhairavi and Keervani. 2. Scheme of 72 Melakartas - Names of chakras, the allocation of the swara mnemonics in the chakras. 3. Janya raagas: Bhashanga - upanga; Nishadhandya - Dhaivadhandya - Panchamandhya. Definition of these janya raagas with suitable examples. 4. Vaageyakaras or Composers: Gopalakrishna Bharati & Sri Thyagaraja - their life-history and their contributions to Carnatic music. 5. Musical instruments: Violin & Flute - Structure and the art of handling of these Vaadyams. Tuning of these instruments and use of these instruments in Carnatic Music. Know names of past & present vidwaans.

9 6. Practising to write Varnam with notations (swara and sahitya). NOTES: 1. All students sitting for the practical exams should submit a list of all musical pieces learnt or covered for the grade and for the previous grades. 2. At the practical exam, students will have to sing or play on the instrument a musical piece chosen by the examiner(s) from the list submitted by the student. 3. Previous Grades syllabuses should be covered when sitting for this grade. 4. Sight singing should be done in vocal (for instrumental as well). 4 ACADEMY OF fine arts ( london ) PUBLIC EXAMINATION in CARNATIC MUSIC Syllabus for Vocal Diploma Year 2 (Former Grade 5) (Recommended age to sit for exam 13 years) Practical: 1. Taana Varnam (Ata Talam) 2 (should not be repetition of previous grade) 2.

10 Taana Varnam in any other Taalam (other than Adi or Ata) 1 (should not be repetition of previous grades) 3. Madyama kaala Kriti/Keerthana 2 (should not be repetition of previous grades) (see Note 5a of Notes on syllabus) 4. Swara-jati by Shyama Sastri 1 5. Nava Varnam or Navagraha Kriti by Muthuswami Dikshitar 1 6. Chauka kaala Kriti/Keerthana 1 7. Ashtapadhi by Jayadevar or Jawali or Tarangam 1 (see Note 5b on Notes) 8. Sight singing: in the following Raagas: Harikambhoji, Vasanta, Hindolam, Karaharapriya, Pantuvarali, Simhendramadhyamam. Theory: 1. Raaga Lakshanam for the following Raagas: Bhairavi, Hindolam, Kamas, Vasantha, Simhendramadhyamam, Bhoopalam, Dhanyasi, Thodi, Surati, Kanada, Shanmugapriya and Neelambari. (see Note 5c of Notes on syllabus) 2.