--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal/foundation' title: 'Foundation Hindustani vocal course for beginners | KalaSudha' author: name: rajeevk url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-pk/user/4add8741a490747f' date: '2026-11-06T01:52:34+00:00' updated: '2026-11-06T23:04:01+00:00' type: website summary: 'Foundation Hindustani vocal, prepared by KalaSudha: breath, a steady Sa, swaras and alankars, sargam notation, two ragas and a first chhota khayal.' tags: - Foundation - Khayal image: 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/2026-11/hindustani-vocal-course-lesson-online-kalasudha.jpg?VersionId=4_zf58621fa0f456059ae110919_f1134b6ec571dfcf2_d20261106_m225051_c003_v0312032_t0005_u01794005451738&h=ad73fbf9&itok=v5NuejER' published: true og: site_name: KalaSudha 'image:url': 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/2026-11/hindustani-vocal-course-lesson-online-kalasudha.jpg?VersionId=4_zf58621fa0f456059ae110919_f1134b6ec571dfcf2_d20261106_m225051_c003_v0312032_t0005_u01794005451738&h=ad73fbf9&itok=v5NuejER' 'image:secure_url': 'https://files.kalasudha.com/styles/d12_standard/public/2026-11/hindustani-vocal-course-lesson-online-kalasudha.jpg?VersionId=4_zf58621fa0f456059ae110919_f1134b6ec571dfcf2_d20261106_m225051_c003_v0312032_t0005_u01794005451738&h=ad73fbf9&itok=v5NuejER' 'image:type': image/jpeg 'image:width': '1200' 'image:height': '675' 'image:alt': 'A khayal singer sits on a patterned rug singing, with a tanpura behind, in a white room with a curved window' --- 1. 1Foundation 2. --- [2Intermediate](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal/intermediate) 3. --- [3Advanced](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal/advanced) Hindustani Vocal Prepared by KalaSudha # Foundation Hindustani Vocal Foundation Hindustani vocal, prepared by KalaSudha: breath, a steady Sa, swaras and alankars, sargam notation, two ragas and a first chhota khayal. [Talk to an Advisor](/en-pk/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2372) [See the modules ](#curriculum) Modules1A–1C LessonsOne-to-one or in a group Ends inA KalaSudha certificate Overview ## About Foundation **Foundation Hindustani vocal** takes you from finding Sa to a 4-minute prepared set, with no music or singing background needed. It is the first level of the Hindustani Vocal course prepared by KalaSudha, taught in live online lessons. You hear each phrase and sing it back before you read it in notation. Module 1A covers posture, breath and holding Sa on akar, the open vowel aa, against the drone. You then sing Sa, Pa and upper Sa and the seven shuddha, or natural, swaras. Module 1B adds alankars, swara patterns sung up and down, and the komal and tivra swaras, the flat and sharp forms. You learn sargam notation and mark the cycle by hand: sam, the first beat, the clapped tali, the waved khali and the vibhag sections. Then you keep Keherwa and Dadra. Read the full overviewShow less Module 1C turns swaras into ragas, starting with the aroh, avaroh and pakad, the ascent, descent and catch phrase, of two ragas such as the suggested Yaman and Bhupali. You learn a **chhota khayal**, a fast bandish in Teentaal, with its antara and a short alap. You also hear six khayal gharanas, such as [Kirana](/en-pk/gharana/kirana-gharana), through labelled excerpts. Meend, murki and slow vilambit singing come later. Each module has 14 topics, eight core and six electives, and your path is 12 of them. As a typical guide, Foundation takes 9–12 months, and you agree the pace with your teacher. In a cohort, you hear other learners sing the same phrases, and each guided rehearsal and review becomes a short performance for the group. Foundation leads to a KalaSudha award (see [certificates](/en-pk/indian-classical-music-certificates)). [Ask about Foundation in the Academy](/en-pk/academy). ### What you will be able to do - Match Sa from the drone within two attempts and hold it for 8 seconds. - Sing Sa, Pa and upper Sa, then the seven shuddha swaras, in tune. - Sing three alankars in ascent and descent at a logged tempo with no wrong swara. - Read sargam notation in tempo and write a dictated alankar with the right beats. - Sing the sthayi and antara of a chhota khayal with the mukhda landing on sam. ### Before you start - You need no previous music or singing experience to begin Foundation Hindustani vocal. - You need a drone reference, a tanpura or an app, a notebook and a device that records your voice. [Ask about placement ](/en-pk/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2372) Modules ## The three Foundation modules Foundation starts with breath and Sa, then swaras and the cycle, then your first ragas. Each module ends with a guided rehearsal and a review, and the last one closes with a 4-minute prepared set. 1. 1A ### Module 1A: Voice, breath and Sa 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Set up your practice and keep a record. Find Sa from the drone and hold it on akar, then sing Sa, Pa and upper Sa and the seven shuddha swaras. Hear a phrase and sing it back, then present your held notes without losing Sa. 1. 1 Seating, posture and a practice recordCore Sit for singing without strain, set up the drone reference and start a practice log. 2. 2 Find and hold SaCore Match your voice to Sa from the drone and hold it steady on akar, the open vowel aa. 3. 3 Breath for a sustained noteCore Take a low, quiet breath and spend it evenly across a long held note. 4. 4 Sa, Pa and upper SaCore Sing Sa, Pa and upper Sa against the drone and hear where each one sits. 5. 5 The seven shuddha swarasCore Sing the seven natural swaras in ascent and descent, slowly, against the drone. 6. 6 Hear a phrase and sing it backCore Listen to a short sargam phrase once and sing it back with the same swaras and shape. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: voice, breath and SaCore Rehearse your held-note and swara sequence and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: voice, breath and SaCore Present your held-note and swara sequence and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 Voice care and warm-upElective Follow a short warm-up and learn the signs of vocal strain to report to your teacher. 10. 2 Humming and the open voiceElective Move from a hum to an open akar on one note without a change in pitch. 11. 3 Set the tanpura or drone appElective Set a tanpura or drone app to your Sa and check that it sounds true before you sing. 12. 4 Recording your voiceElective Place a phone or microphone so your teacher can hear the voice and the drone clearly. 13. 5 Match a heard pitchElective Sing back single pitches played on a reference instrument, with and without the drone. 14. 6 Breath counting away from singingElective Practise an even, counted exhale between singing sessions. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. 2. 1B ### Module 1B: Swaras, alankars and the cycle 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Sing alankars in ascent and descent at a logged tempo. Add komal Re, Ga, Dha and Ni and tivra Ma beside their shuddha forms. Mark sam, tali, khali and vibhag, keep Keherwa and Dadra by hand, and read and write sargam notation. 1. 1 Review Sa and set a tempoCore Check your held notes from the practice log and choose a pulse you can hold for alankars. 2. 2 Alankars in ascent and descentCore Sing the first teacher-selected alankars, patterned swara exercises, across one octave at a steady pulse. 3. 3 Komal and tivra swarasCore Hear and sing komal Re, Ga, Dha and Ni and tivra Ma beside their shuddha forms. 4. 4 Sam, tali, khali and vibhagCore Mark a cycle with hand gestures and explain matra, avartan, sam, tali, khali and vibhag. 5. 5 Keherwa and Dadra by handCore Recite the thekas of the suggested Keherwa and Dadra and keep each one by hand. 6. 6 Read and write sargam notationCore Read swaras in sargam notation with beat numbers and write a short alankar from dictation. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: swaras, alankars and the cycleCore Rehearse your alankar and hand-count set and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: swaras, alankars and the cycleCore Present your alankar and hand-count set and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 Alankars in dugunElective Sing one alankar at single and double density while the hand-count stays the same. 10. 2 Lower octave swarasElective Extend your alankars down into the lower octave without losing tone or pitch. 11. 3 A sargam geetElective Learn a short teacher-selected composition sung on swara names in a simple tala. 12. 4 Two notation conventionsElective Compare Bhatkhande and Paluskar signs in a supplied line of sargam. 13. 5 Find the cycle after silenceElective Keep the hand-count through a silent passage and re-enter singing on sam. 14. 6 Sing with a theka trackElective Sing an alankar against a recorded Teentaal theka and keep your place in the cycle. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. 3. 1C ### Module 1C: First ragas and a chhota khayal 8 core + 4 teacher-set from 14 topics Learn the aroh, avaroh and pakad of a first raga and a contrasting second raga. Sing a chhota khayal sthayi and antara and a short alap. Hear six khayal gharanas through labelled excerpts, then present a 4-minute set. 1. 1 Review swaras and cyclesCore Use your log to fix one weak alankar or cycle before starting raga work. 2. 2 Aroh, avaroh and pakad of a first ragaCore Learn the ascent, descent and catch phrase of the first raga (suggested: Yaman). 3. 3 A second raga and its contrastCore Learn a second raga (suggested: Bhupali) and hear how its five swaras change the phrase shapes. 4. 4 A chhota khayal sthayiCore Learn the sthayi of a teacher-selected drut bandish in Teentaal, words and swaras together. 5. 5 The antara and a short alapCore Add the antara, then sing a short alap in akar using the raga's phrases. 6. 6 Hear six khayal gharanasCore Listen to an attributed excerpt from each of six khayal gharanas and compare two of them by sound. 7. 7 Guided rehearsal: first ragas and a chhota khayalCore Rehearse your four-minute Foundation set and correct one fault using teacher feedback. 8. 8 Review and presentation: first ragas and a chhota khayalCore Present your four-minute Foundation set and discuss your preparation and corrections with the assessor. 9. 1 First akar taansElective Sing short akar taans built from the raga's ascent and descent, returning to the mukhda. 10. 2 A second drut bandishElective Learn a drut bandish in the second raga with its sthayi and antara. 11. 3 A first bhajanElective Learn a short bhajan with its tek, the refrain that returns after each line. 12. 4 Sargam in the ragaElective Sing a short sargam passage in the first raga within the bandish's tala. 13. 5 Recover a missed samElective Practise recovery after a deliberate missed entry while singing the sthayi. 14. 6 A khayal listening logElective Keep a dated log of four attributed khayal recordings and note what you hear in each. Show 10 more topics Your teacher fills 4 slots from the electives, their own topics or both. Why Foundation ## What Foundation builds - ### Listen, then sing Hear each phrase and sing it back before you read it. Your teacher hears whether your pitch is secure before working on the line. - ### A steady Sa first Breath and held notes come before ornament. The checks listen for a Sa held without drift and every swara in tune. - ### A first chhota khayal Learn the sthayi and antara of a fast bandish with a theka track, and add a short alap. Land the mukhda, its opening phrase, on sam. Lessons ## Ways to learn ### One-to-one Learn at your own pace. You book online lessons through KalaSudha in your own time zone. [Register interest in 1:1 lessons ](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal/foundation/show-interest) ### In a group Learn in a group on a timetable. [Ask about group lessons ](/en-pk/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2372) Teachers ## Teachers for Foundation - ### [Mr Tejaswini Digamber Vernekar](/en-pk/artist/tejaswini-digamber-vernekar) Tejaswini Vernekar is a distinguished Indian classical singer, BHU gold medalist & All India Radio graded artist. She has performed widely and trained under eminent gurus, bringing raga mastery to diverse audiences. Teaches [Hindustani Vocal ](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal) - [Hindustani Vocal: Foundation](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal/foundation) - [Hindustani Vocal: Intermediate](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal/intermediate) - [Hindustani Vocal: Advanced](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal/advanced) [View profile ](/en-pk/artist/tejaswini-digamber-vernekar) Questions ## Questions about Foundation Entry, pace, assessment and what you show to finish the level. ### How do I find and hold Sa as a beginner singer? On Foundation Hindustani vocal you find Sa by matching your voice to the drone and holding it on akar, the open vowel aa. Your teacher sets your Sa for your voice first. The topic closes when you match Sa within two attempts and hold it for 8 seconds without audible drift. You then sing Sa, Pa and upper Sa. ### Which ragas does a Hindustani vocal beginner learn first? Foundation Hindustani vocal starts with two ragas, Yaman and Bhupali as the suggested pair, and your teacher confirms them before teaching. You learn each raga's aroh, avaroh and pakad, its ascent, descent and catch phrase. You then sing a chhota khayal your teacher chooses. Bhimpalasi and Bihag are the suggested ragas at Intermediate. ### How do I read sargam notation? Sargam notation writes each swara by its name, Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha and Ni, and Foundation Hindustani vocal teaches it in module 1B with beat numbers. You read two lines in tempo and write one alankar from dictation with the right swaras and beats. An elective compares two notation conventions. ### How is the Foundation level of the Hindustani Vocal course assessed? The Foundation level of the Hindustani Vocal course is assessed through singing, listening and oral questions. Your teacher closes each topic when its completion check is met, and the level ends with a 4-minute prepared set. In the set you sing without losing the cycle, explain one choice and recover from any slip. A listening check asks you to match excerpts of six gharanas to supplied labels. ### Still have questions? Our support team can help you find the right answer. [Contact support](/en-pk/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2372) Next steps ## Ready to begin Foundation? Tell us what you want to learn and where you are today. An academy advisor will help you find a good next step. [Talk to an Advisor](/en-pk/form/learner-enquiry?source_entity_type=node&source_entity_id=2372) [ Back to Hindustani Vocal](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal) Next level ### Intermediate [Explore Intermediate ](/en-pk/course/hindustani-vocal/intermediate)