Here are Alankars (pronounced 'a-lun-cars'), the first exercise in Hindustani music. I am sharing some important points on Alankars.

Alankars help an aspiring vocal singer in many ways: better breath control, clarity in singing notes, singing in high-low pitch, finding one's unique singing voice, correct singing of vowels and consonants, fast singing, etc. Alankars can ( should ? ) be part of every vocal singer's riyaaz, whether beginner or experienced because they help in complete "voice-culture" or training. "Voice training" is another detailed subject and I will write on this separately.

Alankars can be sung in shuddh and vikrit swaras (notes) and with other variations (like in sounds on "om", "um", "aa", "a", "ee", "he", "oo", etc.). Singing in slow speed and fast speed (with tabla) also help one's control on singing correct notes. Preferably, Alankars should be sung with tanpura (not with harmonium/keyboard/piano) to know once mistakes distinctively. Though Harmonium (or keyboard/piano) can be used to understand a note and learn it separately. Electronic tanpura or tabla are great help (unless you can pay two people to play real tanpura and tabla for you, the old royal days of King's courts!! :-) ).

Alankars are also helpful when learning any instrument (harmonium, guitar, violin, veena, etc.). They help in teaching your fingers about notes and practice them.

Last but not the least, one is free to be innovative and create once own exercises with the 7 swaras. The tougher exam you can create for yourself will make you feel easier when giving the real exam (performing on the stage, infront of real people).

Set 1:

1. S R G M P D N S^
   S^ N D P M G R S
2. SS RR GG MM PP DD NN S^S^
   S^S^ NN DD PP MM GG RR SS
3. SSS RRR GGG MMM PPP DDD NNN S^S^S^
   S^S^S^ NNN DDD PPP MMM GGG RRR SSS
4. 3 swaras with one beat gap:
   SRG_, RGM_, GMP_, MPD_, PDN_, DNS^
   S^ND_, NDP_, DPM_, PMG_, MGR_, GRS
5. SRG, RGM, GMP, PDN, DNS^
   S^ND, NDP, DPM, PMG, MGR, GRS
6. SRGM, RGMP, GMPD, MPDN, PDNS^
   S^NDP, NDPM, DPMG, MGRS
7. 5 swaras with 1 beat gap:
   SRGMP_, RGMPD_, GMPDN_, MPDNS^_
   S^NDPM_, NDPMG_, DPMGR_, PMGRS_
8. SRGMP, RGMPD, GMPDN, MPDNS^
   S^NDPM, NDPMG, DPMGR, PMGRS
9. 6 swaras with 2 beats gap:
   SRGMPD_ _, RGMPDN_ _, GMPDNS^_ _
   S^NDPMG_ _, NDPMGR_ _, DPMGRS_ _
10. 7 swaras with 1 beat gap:
    SRGMPDN_, RGMPDNS^_
    S^NDPMGR, NDPMGRS_
11. SRGMPDNS^
    S^NDPMGRS

1. SG_, RM_, GP_, MD_, PN_, DS^_
   S^D_, NP_, DM_, PG_, MR_, GS_
2. SM_, RP_, GD_, MN_, PS^
   S^P_, NM_, DG_, PR_, MS_
3. SP_, RD_, GN_, MS^_
   S^M_, NG_, DR_, PS_

1. SGRS, RMGR, GPMG, MDPM, PNDP, DS^ND
   S^DNS^, NPDN, DMPD, PGMP, MGRM, GSRG, RNSR, SDNS
2. SMGR, RPMG, GDPM, MNDP, PS^ND, DR^S^N, NG^R^S^
   S^PDN, NMPD, DGMP, PRGM, MSRG, GNSR, RDNS
3. SPMG, RDPM, GNDP, MS^ND, PR^S^N, DG^R^S^
   S^MPD, NGMP, DRGM, PSRG, MNSR, GDNS
4. SDPM, RNDP, GS^ND, MR^S^N, PG^R^S^
   S^GMP, NRGM, DSRG, PNSR, MDNS