BA Music Syllabus: Core and Elective Subjects in Govt & Private Colleges

• Updated on  Jul 23, 2025, by Epil Gagrai

BA Music is an undergraduate programme of 3 - 4 years duration aimed at offering students in-depth study and practical exposure in all areas of Indian classical and contemporary music. The syllabus offers both theoretical insight with practical performance in vocal, instrumental, and percussion music. Over six to eight semesters, students study musicology, forms of music, aesthetics, historical development, and the cultural role of music in India and India's contribution to world music.

 

With a combination of stage performances, viva, and theory, the Bachelor of Arts in Music also includes area of studies like music criticism, prime ragas and taals, Gharanas, music notation, and research methodology. The course is best for those who are passionate about music and want to become performers, composers, teachers of music, or music researchers.

 

Table of Contents

  1. BA Music Syllabus in Government Colleges
  2. BA Music Syllabus in Private Colleges
  3. BA Music Exam Scheme
  4. BA Music Vs BA Hons in Music
  5. BA Music Syllabus FAQs

 

BA Music Syllabus in Government Colleges

Here is the syllabus for BA Music course offered by Hemavati Nandan Bahuguba Garhwal Univeristy. It is expected that the syllabus followed in the other government colleges will be similar to this.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Vocal/ Sitar

Vocal/ Sitar

Theory: Introduction of Indian Music (General)

Theory: Fundamental of Indian Music (General) & Biographies of Musicians, Composers & Musicologists

Practical: Stage Performance, Viva Voce, Semi-classical & Folk Music

Practical: Stage Performance, Viva Voce, Semi-classical & Folk Music

Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Tabla /Pakhawaz

Theory: Basic Fundamentals of Tabla/Pakhawaz

Theory: General Study and Development of Tabla

Practical: Stage Performance, Viva Voce, Semi-classical & Folk

Practical: Stage Performance, Viva Voce, Semi-classical & Folk

Extracurricular Course / Co-curricular (CC)

Life Skills and Personality Development / Co-curricular (CC)

Semester 3

Semester 4

Vocal/ Sitar

Vocal/ Sitar

Theory: General Theory of Indian Music & Biography of Musician

Theory: Theory of Indian Music, Medieval Granthas & Contribution of Musicologists

Practical: Stage Performance, Viva Voce, Semi-classical & Folk Music

Practical: Stage Performance, Viva Voce, Semi-classical & Folk Music

Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Theory: Gharana & Classification of Indian Instruments

Theory: Study of North and South Indian Music Taal System & Contributions of Musicians

Practical: Stage Performance, Viva Voce, Accompaniment with Vocal and Instruments

Practical: Stage Performance, Viva Voce, Accompaniment with Vocal and Instruments

Indian Knowledge System – I

Indian Knowledge System – II

Semester 5

Semester 6

Discipline Specific Elective (DSE-1a, 1b, 1c)

Discipline Specific Elective (DSE-2a, 2b, 2c)

Vocal/ Sitar

Vocal/ Sitar

Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Vocational Course – Credits: 04

Vocational Course – Credits: 04

Study of Folk Songs of Uttarakhand

Tradition: Folk Instruments of Uttarakhand

Language – I

Language – I

Culture, Traditional and Moral Value

Culture, Traditional and Moral Value

Semester 7 (With Research)

Semester 8 (With Research)

Major Subject: Vocal/ Sitar

Major Subject: Vocal/ Sitar

Analytical Study of Raga and its Fundamental Elements of Indian Music

Analytical Study of Musical Sound based on Principles of Physics

Ragang

Indian Music and its Aesthetic Approach

Major Subject – Tabla/Pakhawaz

Major Subject – Tabla/Pakhawaz

Analytical Study of Gharana

Analytical Study of Tabla, Pakhawaz, Mridangam

Analytical Study of Sangeet Ratnakar in the Context of Taal

Indian Music and its Aesthetic Approach

Elective-A: Vocal/ Sitar/ Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Elective-A: Vocal/ Sitar/ Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Elective-B: Vocal/ Sitar/ Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Elective-B: Vocal/ Sitar/ Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Elective-C: Vocal/ Sitar/ Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Elective-C: Vocal/ Sitar/ Tabla/ Pakhawaz

Research Methodology

Research and Presentation Skills

Research Writing & Ethics

Dissertation

 

BA Music Syllabus in Private Colleges

Here is the syllabus of BA Music followed by Bharati Vidyapeeth. It is expected that the syllabus will be the same in other private colleges.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Language (English)

Language (English)

Language (Marathi)

Language (Marathi)

Theory (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Theory (Music & Dance)

Theory (Music – Percussion)

Viva (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Viva (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Viva (Music – Percussion)

Viva (Music – Percussion)

Practical (Vocal & Instrumental – Stage Performance)

Practical (Vocal & Instrumental – Stage Performance)

Practical (Percussion – Stage Performance)

Practical (Percussion – Stage Performance)

 

Semester 3

Semester 4

Language (Hindi)

Language (Hindi)

Language (Sanskrit)

Language (Sanskrit)

Theory (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Theory (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Theory (Music – Percussion)

Theory (Music – Percussion)

Viva (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Viva (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Viva (Music – Percussion)

Viva (Music – Percussion)

Practical (Vocal & Instrumental – Stage Performance)

Practical (Vocal & Instrumental – Stage Performance)

Practical (Percussion – Stage Performance)

Practical (Percussion – Stage Performance)

Semester 5

Semester 6

Theory (Music – Vocal & Instrumental): Introduction to Gharana, Classical, Semi-Classical, Light Forms, Folk Music of Maharashtra

Theory (Music – Vocal, Instrumental, Percussion): Musicians and Musicologists, Classification of Indian Instruments, Aesthetics of Music

Theory (Music – Percussion): Accompaniment to Classical and Semi-Classical Music

Viva (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Viva (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Viva (Music – Percussion)

Viva (Music – Percussion)

Practical (Stage Performance) (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Practical (Stage Performance) (Music – Vocal & Instrumental)

Practical (Stage Performance) (Music – Percussion)

Practical (Stage Performance) (Music – Percussion)

 

 

BA Music Exam Scheme

Here is the evaluation scheme of Bachelor of Arts in Music followed by Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce. The exam scheme will be similar for all the semesters. The table below shows the total marks for each subjects.

Course Category

Internal Marks

External Marks

Total Marks

Major Paper (Theory)

40

60

100

Major Paper (Practical)

20

30

50

Major Specific Elective (Theory)

20

30

50

Major Specific Elective (Practical)

20

30

50

Language (Theory)

20

30

50

Skill Paper

20

30

50

EVS Theory

20

30

50

Co-curricular

20

30

50

Also, check BA courses

 

BA Music Vs BA Hons in Music

Here is the comparison between 2 courses i.e BA Music and BA Hons in Music. The table below highlights the difference between the 2 courses:

Parameters

BA Music

BA (Hons.) in Music

Eligibility

10+2 in any stream and a basic knowledge of music preferred.

10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks; prior music training or aptitude often required.

Entrance Exam

Usually not mandatory, but some universities may conduct practical or aptitude tests.

Yes, most reputed universities conduct an entrance test and/or practical audition.

Top Colleges

University of Mumbai, University of Rajasthan, BHU, CCS University, etc.

Delhi University (Miranda House, Hindu College), Visva Bharati, BHU, Bhatkhande Music Institute, etc.

Course Fees

INR 5,000 – 30,000 per year

INR 10,000 – 50,000 per year

Average Salary

INR 2 – 4 LPA

INR 3 – 6 LPA

Top Companies

Music schools, Cultural Centers, Event Management Firms, All India Radio, etc

Media Houses, Performing Arts Institutions, Academic Institutes, Music Labels, etc.

 

BA Music Syllabus FAQs

Does the syllabus of BA in Music contain practical as well as theoretical aspects?

Yes, the syllabus provides equal importance to practical training (such as raga performance, demonstration of taal) and theoretical education (such as history of music, aesthetics, and musicology).

What areas of music are taught in the course of BA Music?

The course touches upon a broad gamut of styles including Hindustani and Carnatic classical, semi-classical, light music, folk music, and modern genres like Bhavgeet and Ghazals.

Do students need to specialize in vocal or instrumental music to enroll for BA Music?

Yes, students usually opt for a specialization stream—vocal, instrumental (such as sitar, violin), or percussion (such as tabla, pakhawaj)—and are given concentrated training in the same during the course.

Is stage performance examination part of BA in Music course?

Yes. Every semester consists of performance tests in which students perform learned ragas, taals, or compositions on the stage or in examination halls.

Are music theory subjects such as Gharanas and instrument classification part of BA Music syllabus?

Yes, the BA Music course includes thorough studies of musical forms, Gharana systems, musicologists, and Indian instrument classification (Sushir, Tantu, Avanaddha, Ghana).

What are some common topics of study in BA Music theory papers?

Topics cover introduction to Indian performing arts, aesthetics of music, biographies of musicians, genres like Dhrupad and Khayal, and the accompaniment genres for classical and semi-classical concerts.

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