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: Non-detail Musical Terms
Chapter 2: Detailed Topics in Swara, Jati, Laya, Varna and Geet Forms
Chapter 3: Ragas, Taals and Bhatkhande Notation
Chapter 4: Raga Identification and Musicians
Chapter 5: Vocal Practical: Swaras, Laya and Alankars
Chapter 6: Vocal Practical: Ragas, Geet, Padhant and Identification
Chapter 7: Non-detail Instrumental Music Terms
Chapter 8: Detailed Topics in Swara, Jati, Laya, Varna and Gat Forms
Chapter 9: Ragas, Taals and Bhatkhande Notation for Instrumental Music
Chapter 10: Raga Identification and Musicians for Instrumental Music
Chapter 11: Instrumental Practical: Posture, Alankars and Bols
Chapter 12: Instrumental Practical: Ragas, Gat, Dhun, Padhant and Identification
Chapter 13: Tabla Terms and Concepts
Chapter 14: Laya, Layakari and Origin of Tabla
Chapter 15: Taal Notation, Development and Basic Sangeet Concepts
Chapter 16: Tabla Practical: Laya, Varnas and Thekas
Chapter 17: Tabla Practical: Development, Accompaniment and Padhant

Frequently asked questions

How many chapters are there in Hindustani Music?

The Hindustani Music syllabus has 17 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.