Practical Tala Recitation and Viva Voce
What tala recitation and viva test
You must recite theka with correct bols, hands and vibhag marks, then answer short questions on tala, laya and terminology. The examiner listens for sam, tali, khali and clean pronunciation.
Recitation method
- Say the theka in matras, not as a song. Keep a steady laya; practise with a metronome or tabla.
- Mark sam with a clap, tali with a clap, khali with a wave. Say the vibhag numbers aloud while learning.
- For Teental: 1 dha (clap), 2 dhin, 3 dhin, 4 dha | 5 dha (clap), 6 dhin, 7 dhin, 8 dha | 9 dha (wave), 10 tin, 11 tin, 12 ta | 13 ta (clap), 14 dhin, 15 dhin, 16 dha.
- For Jhaptal: 1 dhi (clap), 2 na, 3 dhi (clap), 4 na, 5 ti, 6 na (wave), 7 dhi, 8 na (clap), 9 dhi, 10 na. Check your syllabus's bol spelling.
- Be ready to explain avartan, laya (vilambit, madhya, drut), and the difference between sam and tali.
Worked example
Viva question: 'Where is khali in Teental and what does it sound like?' Reasoning: khali is matra 9, the start of the third vibhag, marked by a wave, with bols dha tin tin ta. It is not silent; it is a lighter section. If you say 'khali means no sound', you lose the point. If you say 'matra 9 is tali', you confuse the hand mark.
Traps
- Reciting bols without vibhag breaks.
- Clapping on khali.
- Changing speed mid-avartan.
- Confusing Jhaptal's 2+3+2+3 with 3+3+2+2.