Hindustani Music — Syllabus & Chapters

The complete syllabus for Hindustani Music — every chapter you need to study, and how the exam paper is structured.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Vocal Music Terms and Detailed Theory
Chapter 2: Raga Descriptions and Raga Identification
Chapter 3: Taal Notation and Layakari
Chapter 4: Bhatkhande Notation and Vocal Forms
Chapter 5: Amir Khusro, Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar and Eminent Vocalists
Chapter 6: Tanpura Components, Tuning and Handling
Chapter 7: Vocal Practical Performance
Chapter 8: Instrumental Music Terms and Detailed Theory
Chapter 9: Instrument Origin, Handling, Tuning and Diagram
Chapter 10: Raga Descriptions and Raga Identification for Instrumental Music
Chapter 11: Taal Notation and Layakari for Instrumental Music
Chapter 12: Maseetkhani and Razakhani Gat Notation
Chapter 13: Amir Khusro, Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar and Eminent Instrumentalists
Chapter 14: Instrumental Practical Performance
Chapter 15: Tabla Terms and Detailed Theory
Chapter 16: Eminent Percussionists
Chapter 17: Taal Notation, Theka and Layakari
Chapter 18: Tabla Components, Tuning and Taal Identification
Chapter 19: Tabla Practical Performance and Accompaniment
Chapter 20: Practical Work in Music
Chapter 21: Course Work Activities
Chapter 22: Practice and Performance Assessment Criteria

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in Hindustani Music?

The Hindustani Music syllabus has 22 chapters, listed in full above. Cover the high-weightage chapters first using the exam pattern as a guide.

How do I know which Hindustani Music chapters carry the most marks?

Compare the chapter list above with the exam pattern and the last few years of question papers — the topics that appear most often and the units with the highest marks are where to focus first. Always confirm weightage against the official syllabus for your exam year.

Has the Hindustani Music syllabus changed this year?

Boards occasionally revise the syllabus or remove topics for a session. Always download the official syllabus for your exact exam year from the official ICSE & ISC portal rather than relying on an older copy or a social-media list.

How can I prepare for Hindustani Music faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for Hindustani Music — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused Hindustani Music study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.