UPMSP Intermediate Instrumental Music study guide
UPMSP Intermediate Instrumental Music · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The UPMSP Intermediate Instrumental Music examination is the Class 12 music (instrumental/vadya) paper offered under the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad, the state board for secondary education in Uttar Pradesh. It is intended for students who have chosen instrumental music as one of their Intermediate subjects, usually after studying it at the High School level, and who can already play a chosen instrument - commonly sitar, sarod, violin, flute or tabla - to a basic standard. The UPMSP Intermediate Instrumental Music study guide has 9 sections and about 2,925 words.
01Fundamentals of Indian Music and Musical Terminology
The Fundamentals domain tests whether you can define and use the basic vocabulary of Hindustani music accurately: nada, shruti, swara, saptak, raga, thaat, vadi, samvadi, anuvadi, vivadi, jati, aroha, avaroha, pakad, and ornament terms. Expect direct definitions, matching, and short application questions.
338 words, about 2 min02Historical Development of Instruments and Instrumental Music
This section tests chronology and contribution: which text, author, court, or musician is associated with a development in Indian instrumental music. Questions often ask you to place an event in the correct century or to distinguish documented history from legend.
341 words, about 2 min03Classification and Construction of Instruments (Tat Vadya, Sushir Vadya, etc.)
The exam tests the fourfold classical classification of instruments and the construction of the instruments on your syllabus, especially sitar, sarod, tanpura, flute, and tabla. You must be able to classify an instrument and justify it from its construction.
315 words, about 2 min04Raga Theory and Prescribed Ragas
This domain tests raga definitions and the prescribed ragas: aroha, avaroha, pakad, vadi/samvadi, thaat, jati, time, and notation. For UP Board Intermediate Instrumental Music, the prescribed list commonly includes Yaman, Bhairav, Bageshri, Kafi, Des, and Malkauns; always check the current syllabus list, because boards revise it.
325 words, about 2 min05Tala Theory and Prescribed Talas
Tala questions test matra, vibhag, tali, khali, sam, avartan, laya, and the theka of prescribed talas. You must be able to count a tala, mark its claps, and write a simple notation.
283 words, about 1 min06Notation Systems
This domain tests the two main Hindustani notation systems and the symbols used to record swara, octave, duration, tala, and ornaments. Expect questions on Bhatkhande and Paluskar notation and on converting oral phrases into written sargam.
336 words, about 2 min07Writing and Reading Notation
This section tests your ability to read a notated passage and to write one: aligning swaras to matras, recognising a raga from notation, and spotting errors in a given line. Read the tala first: identify matra count, vibhag, sam, and khali.
327 words, about 2 min08Life Sketches of Musicians and Contributions to Instrumental Music
The exam asks for short life sketches and contributions of musicians connected with instrumental music. You need dates/centuries, gurus, gharana, instrument, and specific contributions, not vague praise.
315 words, about 2 min09Practical Performance: Prescribed Ragas on the Chosen Instrument
The practical paper tests your chosen instrument in the prescribed ragas: tuning, posture, fingering/plucking, alaap, gat, jhala, tala coordination, and ornaments. You must be able to explain how you would prepare and perform a raga, not just play it.
345 words, about 2 min