advanced Estimated learning time: 6 h
8.5 An Ata tala varnam
Learn an Ata tala varnam, the longest piece in the beginner repertoire.
Ata tala varnams are longer, denser and set in a fourteen-beat cycle that gives nothing away. They are the summit of this part of the repertoire, and a student who can play one is no longer a beginner.
Work through these
Count the Ata tala cycle until it is secure without the piece.
Tala (music) · ReferenceLearn the piece section by section.
Play it through in tala.
Sign in to keep your progress.
Free resources
Links last checked 30 Aug 2026.
Stuck here?
Ask a mentor. A real person answers, and they can see exactly which topic you're on. Usually within a couple of working days.
Checking your session…
Topics shown in module order.