Hindustani Classical

Hindustani classical vocal music is the singing tradition of North Indian art music. With Carnatic music from the South, it is one of India's two main classical traditions, and both rest on raga and taal. A raga (raag) is a melodic framework defined by its notes, the notes it stresses and its characteristic phrases. A taal (tala) is a repeating rhythmic cycle whose first beat, the sam, is where improvisation aims to land. A khayal performance often opens with alap, an unmetred exploration of the raga, before the singer states a bandish, a composition set to taal, and improvises on it. Tabla keeps taal, harmonium or sarangi shadows the voice and a tanpura sustains the drone.

Khayal (khyal) has been the most performed form since the 19th century. Its styles fall into gharanas, schools often named after a lineage's place of origin, such as Gwalior, Agra and Kirana. Dhrupad develops the raga in a long alap before a composition accompanied by the pakhawaj drum. Students practise the seven svaras (notes), sung by name as sargam, and alankars (note patterns). They learn compositions, recite each taal's drum pattern with hand beats and absorb nuance by listening to a teacher.

To choose a course, check its form and level against what you already sing. To play rather than sing, see Hindustani instrumental study.