RBSE SS Sitar
RBSE Senior Secondary Sitar
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ExploreAbout this exam
The RBSE Senior Secondary Sitar is a Class 12 board examination in Hindustani instrumental music, offered by the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) as a senior secondary elective. It suits students who have studied sitar through secondary level - or who have trained privately and can demonstrate a working command of the instrument - and who want board-recognised certification before pursuing music at university or a performance career. The assessment has two parts: a written theory paper answered in descriptive, essay-style prose, and a practical performance examination in front of examiners. Theory covers the instrument's history and gharana lineages, construction, tuning and maintenance, raga grammar (that, jati, vadi, samvadi, aroha–avaroha), laya and tala with notation systems, prescribed ragas and their chalan, compositional forms from masitkhani and razakhani gat to tarana, and the contributions of prominent players and composers. Practical work tests alap, jod, jhala, gat presentation and tala accompaniment. Preparation should be steady and paired: practise daily so fingers and tuning are automatic, and write out notations, raga descriptions and tala theka by hand rather than only reading them, because the theory paper rewards precise written recall. Confirm the current syllabus, raga list, marks distribution and exam schedule on the official RBSE website, since these are revised periodically.
What you'll study
About RBSE SS Sitar preparation
What is the exam format?
Two components: a written theory paper with descriptive, essay-type answers, and a practical performance examination. Theory rewards structured written answers on raga grammar, tala, notation, instrument construction and history. Practical work is assessed live, so both need separate preparation. Check the official RBSE site for the current marks split and paper structure.
How difficult is it?
Comparable to other Class 12 board electives: demanding but achievable with consistent work. The practical side is usually comfortable for students already learning sitar. Theory is where candidates lose marks, because descriptive answers require precise terminology, correct notation and named examples rather than general impressions.
How long is the exam, and what are the timings?
The board sets the duration and schedule for each session and publishes them in its official timetable and admit card. Do not rely on secondhand figures. Download the current date sheet from the RBSE website once it is released, and confirm the reporting time for the practical, which is set by your centre.
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
RBSE runs supplementary or additional examination opportunities for candidates who do not clear a subject, but eligibility, application windows and fees change. Read the current board notification rather than assuming last year's rules apply. Your school's music teacher or exam coordinator is the quickest route to accurate, current information.
In what order should I study the syllabus?
Start with raga grammar and tala, since they underpin everything else. Then learn the prescribed ragas in depth - aroha, avaroha, pakad, chalan and a written gat. Add notation systems, then construction and history. Finish with gharana lineages and performer contributions. Practise the same ragas on the instrument alongside written work.
What are the most common failure modes?
Vague theory answers without technical vocabulary; notation written with wrong symbols or mismatched matra counts; muddling vadi and samvadi; describing a raga's chalan without its characteristic phrases; and practical performances where alap, jod and jhala blur together. Also common: inability to tune the instrument confidently or to state the tala correctly.
Do I need my own sitar for the practical?
Usually yes - candidates normally bring their own instrument so tuning and feel are familiar. Confirm the centre's rules on instruments, accessories and any accompaniment permitted. Carry spare strings, a tuner and a small maintenance kit, and arrive early enough to settle the instrument in the room's temperature.
How should I prepare for the practical?
Practise a fixed daily routine: tuning, alap in one prescribed raga, jod, jhala, then a full gat with tala in teental. Record yourself and compare against the raga's pakad. Rehearse presenting to a listener, since examiners may ask you to name the tala, explain the gat's structure or demonstrate a specific phrase on request.
Where do I find the official syllabus and raga list?
Only on the RBSE website and in board-issued syllabus documents; prescribed ragas and marks distributions are revised from time to time. Treat coaching handouts and older guides as secondary. If your school teaches the subject, ask for the current syllabus copy at the start of the session.