1. Swara Exercises

• Sarali Swaras — 8 prescribed exercises

• Janta Swaras — 6 prescribed exercises

• Datu Swaras — 2 prescribed exercises

• Practice in three speeds

• Shruti alignment and correct pronunciation of swaras

2. Sapta Tala Alankaras

Practice of the seven Suladi Sapta Talas:

1. Dhruva Tala

2. Matya Tala

3. Rupaka Tala

4. Jhampa Tala

5. Triputa Tala

6. Ata Tala

7. Eka Tala

Students learn tala hand gestures, anga structure, rhythmic accuracy and prescribed speed requirements.

3. Geetams

Composition

Raga

Tala

Sri Gananadha

Malahari

Rupaka

Varaveena

Mohana

Rupaka

Sri Govinda

Shankarabharanam

Matya

Kamalajadala

Kalyani

Triputa

Analekara

Suddha Saveri

Triputa

Arere Jaya Jaya

Sriranjani

Triputa

4. Additional Prescribed Composition

• One Swarapallavi, Jatiswaram or Swarajati, according to examination requirements

• Accurate rendition of swara and sahitya

• Appropriate tala and speed control

1. Musical Terminology

Detailed explanations of:

• Sangeetam and Touryatrikam

• Nada and Shruti

• Swara and Sapta Swaras

• Swarasthanas

• Sthayi

• Arohana and Avarohana

• Raga and Murchana

• Tala and Laya

• Avarta and Aksharakala

• Laghu, Dhrutam and Anudhrutam

• Jati and Tala Angas

2. Lakshanas of Musical Compositions

• Geetam — definition, structure and characteristics

• Swarapallavi — definition, structure and characteristics

3. Raga Murchanas and Swarasthanas

• Identification of swaras in prescribed ragas

• Arohana and Avarohana

• Basic raga characteristics

• Swarasthana identification

4. Scheme of 35 Talas

• Seven Suladi Sapta Talas

• Five Jatis — Tishra, Chaturasra, Khanda, Mishra and Sankeerna

• Formation and calculation of 35 talas

5. Composer Biographies

• Purandara Dasa

• Paidala Gurumurthy Sastry

6. Swaralipi — Music Notation

• Writing swaras correctly

• Tala and anga symbols

• Notation of exercises and simple compositions

Alignment of swara and sahitya 

1. Advanced Swara and Tala Practice

• Sarali and Janta exercises in Mohana

• Alankaras in Mayamalavagowla and Mohana

• Continued Sapta Tala practice

• Voice development, speed control and swarasthana accuracy

2. Geetams and Raga Development

• Revision and refinement of Malahari Geetams

• Geetams in Mohana, Kalyani, Shankarabharanam and Suddha Saveri

• Additional prescribed Geetams and Lakshana Geetams

• Raga recognition and correct gamaka introduction

3. Swarajatis and Other Compositions

• Selected Swarajatis and Jatiswarams

• Swara Pallavis

• Introduction to Varnam structure

• Practice of prescribed compositions with tala accuracy

4. Supplementary Devotional Repertoire

Selected age-appropriate compositions may include:

• Annamacharya Keertanas

• Bhadrachala Ramadasa Keertanas

• Purandara Dasa compositions

• Ganapathy Sachchidananda Bhajans

Selected Nottuswarams 

1. Detailed Musical Terminology

Explanation of technical terms across the syllabus, including:

• Nada and its characteristics

• Shruti, Swara and Swarasthana

• Sthayi and Murchana

• Datu and Matu

• Jati and Gati

• Tala and Laya

• Aksharakala and Avarta

• Dwadasha Swarasthanas and Shodasha Swara names

• Alankaras and their significance

2. Raga Trayodasha Lakshanas

Introduction to the thirteen traditional characteristics used to describe ragas, with explanations and suitable examples.

3. Detailed Raga Lakshanas

Study of the following ragas:

1. Mayamalavagowla

2. Malahari

3. Mohana

4. Kalyani

5. Shankarabharanam

6. Kambhoji

7. Hamsadhwani

8. Vasantha

9. Hindola

10. Abhogi

11. Jaganmohini

12. Suddha Saveri

Students study prescribed raga characteristics, swaras, arohana–avarohana, classification and important musical features.

4. Lakshanas of Varnam

• Definition and significance of Varnam

• Structural components

• Purvangam and Uttarangam

• Pallavi, Anupallavi, Muktayi Swara, Charanam and Chittaswaras

• Introduction to Tana Varnam and Pada Varnam

5. Composer Biographies

• Tiruvottiyur Tyagayyar

• Patnam Subramania Iyer

6. Notation and Examination Practice

• Swaralipi writing

• Notation of prescribed compositions

• Tala identification

• Raga identification

• Technical-term explanations

• Short-answer and descriptive-answer practice