Studies & Degrees in Indian Music

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Are you a music student who enjoys studying and learning the different varieties of music, including those of foreign lands?  Have you considered pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Indian Music?  Students pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Indian Music have the opportunity to study multiple varieties of Indian music—music which has a long history spanning many millennia and has developed over several eras.  To help you become a bit more familiar with this program, below we will describe the Master of Arts degree in Indian music in a bit more detail, including the course content and classes you’re likely to encounter and the eligibility requirements for admission into the program.
 
Master of Arts Degree in Indian Music:  Course Content
 
The Master of Arts degree in Indian Music is a program that spans two years or four full semesters, and is designed for students who want to study the various forms and genres of the music of India.  Students in the program will be exposed to India's classical music tradition, which includes Carnatic and Hindustani music, both of which have a long and rich history.  So too, does the light classical music of India that students will also study, which includes varieties such as humri, dadra, ghazal, chaiti, kajri and tappa.  Each of these forms remains fundamental to the lives of Indians today as sources of spiritual inspiration, cultural expression and pure entertainment.
 
Although the exact structure of the M.A. program in Indian music will vary from one institution to the next, a sample of the topics students will study while in the program is provided below:
 

• Hindustani Music
• Carnatic Music
• Humri, dadra, ghazal, chaiti, kajri and tappa music
• Musical sound and noise—Noad, Ahat and Anahat Noad, Pitch, Intensity, Timbre and unmusical sound.
• Shruti, Swara, Shuddha and Vikrut Swara, Saptak, Sthana (Mondra, Madhya and Tara).
• Shruties and arrangement of Swara, 12 notes (Swara) in a Saptak.
• Thaata or Mela (10 main scale in Hindustani Sangut).
• Raga – essentials of Raja, Vadi, Samvadi, Anuvadi.
• Study of Indian voice culture.
• Sargan (Scale) exercises
• Alankavs (Scale patterns) to study rhythms
• Study of Ragas – Sargamgeet and Clhota-khyal in Raja yaman, Bhaivav and Kati.
• Practice of producing different syllables on Tabla.
• Study of rhythmic compositions (Kaida), variations and Tihai.
• Study of Thekas in following Taal with oval rendering (single and double tempo).
• And many more…

 
Master of Arts Degree in Indian Music:  Eligibility Requirements
 
To be eligible for admission into the Master of Arts degree program in Indian Music students must possess, at minimum, a Bachelor degree in Music and must be proficient in musical language.  Advanced knowledge of the Indian language and/or musical varieties is not required, however, it is helpful.  Students who complete the program become eligible to pursue a PhD degree in the field, which is typically offered by most universities that offer the Master of Arts program in the discipline.