RBSE SS Sitar exam-day guide
RBSE SS Sitar · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Sitar in performance-ready condition
Check strings, bridges (jawari), tuning pegs, and that the instrument fits its case. Replace worn strings at least two days before so they settle. Confirm with the provider whether the centre supplies an instrument or whether you must bring your own.
Spare strings, mizrab/plectrum, and small maintenance kit
Pack spare strings for each course you use, at least two mizrabs, a soft cloth, and a small tuning tool if your instrument uses one. Mark any item whose permissibility you are unsure of as needs_review and confirm with the provider.
Tanpura or drone source
Confirm with the provider whether a tanpura, electronic drone, or tanpura app is provided or permitted in the hall. If you must bring your own, test it the day before.
Admit card and a government-issued photo ID
Carry the exact documents named in your admit card or information bulletin. Keep originals, not photocopies, unless the provider states otherwise. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Printed copy of your chosen raga and composition details
Write down the raga, its aroha and avaroha, the composition (gat or dhun) with its taal and laya, and the name of the composer or tradition if you know it. This is for your own reference before entry; confirm with the provider whether notes may be carried into the waiting area.
Water bottle and a light snack
Practical sessions can involve long waits. Keep the bottle clear and unlabelled if the centre requires it. Confirm with the provider what is allowed inside the hall.
Simple, comfortable clothing appropriate for sitting cross-legged
Choose clothing that lets you sit in the traditional position and move your right arm freely. Avoid loose sleeves that can catch strings. Follow any dress instructions in the bulletin.
Arrive early at the reported time
Aim to reach the centre well before your reporting time so there is time for instrument setup, tuning, and verification. The exact reporting time is on your admit card.
Know your allotted slot and sequence
Note your candidate number, slot, and any reporting window. Confirm with the provider how the order of performance is decided and whether you may wait with your instrument.
Warm-up plan practised without the instrument
Have a short routine for the waiting period: slow breathing, mental recitation of the raga's pakad, and finger exercises on your forearm. This keeps you ready without needing to play aloud.
Backup plan for a broken string or tuning problem
Know how to change a string quickly and how to ask the invigilator for a brief pause. Confirm with the provider whether a short retuning break is allowed during the performance.
Review the performance structure you will present
Decide in advance the order of your presentation, for example alap, jod or gat, and a short tihai or jhala. Keep it within the time limit stated in your bulletin. Confirm with the provider the exact time allowed and whether accompaniment is permitted.
Plan the day
Play through your full programme at least twice a day at performance tempo. Record one run and listen back for tuning drift, unclear bol patterns, and timing against the taal. Fix one specific issue per session rather than reworking everything. Check the instrument for cracks, loose pegs, and worn strings and replace anything doubtful now so it can settle. Rehearse your spoken introduction if the format includes one: raga name, thaat or parent scale, and the composition. Confirm the reporting time, venue, and document list from your admit card and bulletin.
Do a lighter practice day: slow alap and one clean gat cycle, then stop. Tune the instrument and leave it in its case. Pack the case with strings, mizrabs, cloth, admit card, and ID. Charge any electronic drone or metronome and test it. Eat familiar food, avoid loud environments, and sleep at your normal time. Re-read the raga's aroha, avaroha, and pakad once so the shape is fresh.
Eat a normal meal and do ten to fifteen minutes of slow finger warm-up and long tones, no heavy practice. Tune the instrument carefully and check each string's pitch again before leaving. Leave with enough margin to arrive early. At the centre, keep the instrument in its case until directed, stay warm, and avoid comparing your preparation with other candidates.
When called, set up calmly, tune briefly, and take one breath before starting. Announce your raga and composition if asked. Begin with a steady alap, then move into the gat at a comfortable laya before attempting faster passages. If a string slips or breaks, stop, fix it if you can, and continue from a clean point. Keep an eye on the time and finish within the limit. At the end, thank the panel, pack your instrument, and leave quietly without discussing your performance with waiting candidates.
Rules to check
Carry the admit card and the original photo ID named in your bulletin. If you are unsure which ID types are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Follow the reporting time and slot exactly. Late entry, reordering of slots, and waiting arrangements vary by centre, so confirm with the provider rather than assuming.
Bring only the instrument, accessories, and documents permitted in the bulletin. Ask the invigilator before using any electronic device, including a drone app or tuner, inside the hall.
Perform only the ragas, compositions, and format stated in your syllabus or allotted choice. Do not switch to a different raga at the last minute without checking whether that is allowed.
Keep to the stated time limit. Practise with a timer so you can end cleanly rather than being cut off mid-phrase.
Treat the panel and other candidates with courtesy. Do not play over another candidate's slot, and do not discuss your programme with candidates who are still waiting.
If you need a short break or a retuning pause, raise it with the invigilator. Whether such breaks are allowed is centre-specific, so confirm with the provider in advance.
Scoring criteria and mark distribution are set by the provider. Read the official marking scheme in your bulletin rather than relying on second-hand accounts.