Solo Performance in Prescribed Taals
The practical paper tests a structured, audible solo: correct order of items, planned laya changes, and sam resolution every time.
Standard order
- Uthan or peshkar → kaida with paltas and tihai → rela → gat → tukda → paran → chakradar, closing on sam.
- Prescribed taals for this level typically include Teental, Jhaptal, Ektal, Rupak, Chautal and Dhamar; know one full solo outline for at least Teental and Jhaptal.
Planning laya
- Open in vilambit with the peshkar, move to madhya for the kaida, then drut for rela and gat.
- Demonstrate laykari in order: barabar, dugun, tigun, chaugun, with aad and kuwaad as advanced options.
- Mark tali and khali with the hand, and keep sam visually and aurally unmistakable.
Sam handling
- Every item must resolve on sam. If a composition spans more than one avartan, count backwards from sam to choose its starting matra.
- After a chakradar, hold the sam briefly so the examiner hears the resolution.
Worked example
A six-minute Teental solo. Minutes 0–1: peshkar, vilambit near 40 bpm. 1–2.5: kaida with two paltas. 2.5–3: tihai on sam. 3–4.5: rela in drut. 4.5–5.5: gat and tukda. 5.5–6: chakradar tihai on sam. Reasoning: each stage changes laya once, so control and structure are both audible.
Traps that cost marks
- Starting the kaida before the peshkar has established the taal.
- A tihai that lands one matra early or late.
- Mixing drut bols into the vilambit peshkar, which destroys the laya arc.