Karṇāṭaka Sangeeta Pravēsha
(Junior in Karnataka Style of Music)
Syllabus
General Instructions
- The syllabus outlined below represents the minimum requirements for Junior Certification.
- The curriculum is cumulative. Compositions, skills, and competencies introduced at earlier levels remain part of the expected repertoire and proficiency at subsequent levels.
- Compositions prepared at earlier levels may be carried forward and presented at subsequent-level examinations, where appropriate.
- Students may appear directly at any level based on their preparedness. Completion of the preceding level examinations is not mandatory.
- Level 4 is mandatory for Junior Certification. Regardless of the level at which a student begins, Level 4 must be successfully completed to receive the Junior Certificate.
- A student appearing directly for Level 4 must demonstrate the cumulative repertoire, skills, and competencies required across Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. Students may skip the preceding examinations, but not the curriculum requirements of those levels.
- The Level 4 certification examination is conducted in person at designated examination centers in the United States.
- Bhajans: Sample Bhajans may be selected from the Rana Sangeetam book.
- Nottuswara: The required Nottuswaras are available through Sangeeta Bharati’s published materials.
- Students are free to refer to appropriate learning materials and select compositions of their choice. The overall repertoire should demonstrate a well-balanced selection across rāga, tāḷa, bhāśhā, and vāggēyakāra.
- Sangeeta Bharati’s curriculum is Guru- and Sampradāya-agnostic and respects diverse pedagogical traditions within Karnataka Sangeeta. Students are therefore not restricted to a prescribed list of compositions.
Students who are not exclusively following the prescribed Sangeeta Bharati texts must submit a detailed list of the compositions prepared for the examination. For each composition, the list should include:
Composition Title, Rāga, Tāḷa, Vāggēyakāra (Composer), and Bhāśhā (Language).The repertoire list must be submitted to the examiner at least one week before the examination as a PDF by email to exams@sangeetabharati.org.
Students following the prescribed Sangeeta Bharati texts are not required to submit a repertoire list.
- Detailed curriculum content and instructional material are available in the respective Sangeeta Bharati textbooks.
Pravesha
Prathama
(Level 1)
Optional and Virtual
- Swaravalis (3 speeds)
- Sarales – any 7
- Jantis – any 5
- Tarasthayi – any 3
- Mandrasthayi – any 3
- Datu – any 3
- Alankara – any 5
- Geetam
- Pillari Geetam 4
- Sanchari Geetam – any 5
- Nottuswara: Any 2
- Bhajans: Any 1
Theory: NO
Students may use Sangeeta Bharati’s book – Sangeeta Pravesha Prathama
Pravesha
Dwiteeya
(Level 2)
Optional and Virtual
- Swaravalis (3 speeds)
- Sarales – any 7
- Jantis – any 5
- Tarasthayi – any 3
- Mandrasthayi – any 3
- Datu – any 3
- Alankara 7
- Geetam
- Pillari Geetam 4
- Sanchari Geetam – any 5
- Swarajati and Jatiswara: Any 2 each (total 4)
- Beginner Varnas: Any 2 in two speeds
- Beginner Madhyamakala Krutis: Any 2
- Nottuswara: Any 3
- Bhajans: Any 2
Common theory part 1 from the book Kala Shastra Pravesha
Mode: Oral
Students may use Sangeeta Bharati’s book – Sangeeta Pravesha Dwiteeya
Pravesha
Truteeya
(Level 3)
Optional and Virtual
- Swaravalis (3 speeds)
- Sarales – any 7
- Jantis – any 5
- Tarasthayi – any 3
- Mandrasthayi – any 3
- Datu – any 3
- Alankara 7
- Geetam
- Pillari Geetam 4
- Sanchari Geetam – any 5
- Swarajati and Jatiswara: Any 2 each (total 4)
- Beginner Varnas: Any 3 in two speeds
- Beginner Madhyamakala Krutis: Any 5
- Beginner Vilambakala Krutis: Any 1
- Nottuswara: Any 5
- Vachana: Any 2
- Bhajans: Any 3
Common theory parts 1 and 2 from the book Kala Shastra Pravesha
Mode: Written
Students may use Sangeeta Bharati’s book – Sangeeta Pravesha Truteeya
Pravesha
Chaturtha
(Level 4)
Mandatory and in-person
- Swaravalis (3 speeds)
- Sarales – any 7
- Jantis – any 5
- Tarasthayi – any 3
- Mandrasthayi – any 3
- Datu – any 3
- Alankara 7
- Geetam
- Pillari Geetam 4
- Sanchari Geetam – any 5
- Lakshana Geetam – any 2
- Swarajati and Jatiswara: Any 2 each (total 4)
- Beginner Varnas: Any 4 in two speeds
- Beginner Madhyamakala Kruti: Any 8
- Beginner Vilambakala Krutis: Any 3
- Keertanam: Any 2
- Nottuswara: Any 5
- Vachana: Any 2
- Bhajans: Any 4
(Shravana Jnana)
Common theory parts 1 and 2 from the book Kala Shastra Pravesha, and Music theory from the book Sangeeta Pravesha Chaturtha
Mode: Written
Karṇāṭaka Sangeeta Madhyama
(Senior in Karnataka Classical Music)
Work in progress. For now, one can access the available materials from the link
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1zsNVryJQ0pqEVdLYqibCwYXyiy-dCBTY.
Textbooks
Juniors Karnataka Sangeeta Learning
An abridged version in Kannada
Juniors Karnataka Sangeeta Learning – An abridged version is a concise junior’s Karnataka Sangeeta book in Kannada. This book is compiled in accordance with the practical syllabus prescribed by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) for the juniors music examination. Unlike other Sangeeta Bharati books which are designed for Letter size printing, this book is designed for printing on A4 size papers, a common paper size used in Bharat.
Sangeeta Pravesha Practicals
This book, termed an encyclopedia of Karnataka Sangeeta, has everything needed for the practical examination at all three levels of Sangeeta Pravesha (Karnataka Sangeeta Junior).
The download of this book is disabled while we prepare its revised version.
Sangeeta Pravesha Theory and Examination Manual
This book contains the theory (shastra or lakshana) of Karnataka Shastreeya Sangeeta, which a junior-level student should be familiar with. The book has both elements and principles of music to prepare for the written music examination.
The book also has information about the examination, syllabus, sample question papers, evaluation criteria, and much more for Pravesha and its sub-levels.
Video Lessons
