learning of chenda

A Chenda is taught in a traditional way, the students have to practice on a stone or wood using a strong and thick stick usually made of tamarind tree bark. The learning stick would be 29cm in length, 3 cm in diameter on one side and 2.5cm on other side of the stick. Once the learning on stone is finished, students learn on Veekku Chenda  or the Valam Thala  part of the Chenda which is made of multiple layer of skin. The "Valam Thala Chenda" is played using a long and thin stick. Once the students master to play on "Valam Thala Chenda", the students start learning on the Uruttu Chenda or the Edam Thala  part of the Chenda which will have only one layer of skin.

In Kerala a traditional Chenda learning always start and end with a "Ganapathi Kai" , it is a prayer and dedication done to the Hindu god Ganapathi.
A "Ganapathi Kai" consists of 37 beats.
Gi...... Kam...
Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...
Dhi.Ri. Ki.Da. Tha.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...
Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...
Dhi.Kka. Nna.. Nna.. Kaam...
Du...... Du......
Dhi.Ri. Ki.Da. Tha.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam...

Here the letters starting with "G" (ഗീ) and "K" (ക) are beaten using left hand and others by right hand.
ഗീ.... കാം......
ണ ക ത ര കാം
ധി രി കി ട ത ക ത ര കാം
ണ ക ത ര കാം
ഡ് ക്ക ണ ണ്ണ കാം
ഡ്...........ഡ്.........
ധി രി കി ട ത ക ത ര കാം
 Once the students learn how to do "Ganapathi Kai" , the master starts teaching Chenda "Sadhakam" (സാധകം) or repeated exercise. Usually a "Sadhakam" starts with a three beat Sadhakam called "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam (ത കി ട സാധകം).
 For a "Tha Ki Ta" Sadhakam the "Onnam Kaalam" is 3 beats in a geometric speed. So the "Randam Kaalam" (രണ്ടാം കാലം) beats would be multiple of "Onnam Kaalam", 6 beats. "Muunaam Kaalam" (മൂനാം കാലം) would be multiple of "Randam Kaalam", 12 beats, "Naalam Kaalam" (നാലാം കാലം) would be 24 beats and so on. While doing a "Randam Kaalam", 6 beats should finish by the time taken for the 3 beats of "Onnam Kaalam". Similarly the "Muunaam Kaalam" (12 beats) should finish by the time taken for the 3 beats of "Onnam Kaalam". For a "Naalam Kaalam", 24 beats should finish by the time taken for the "Onnam Kaalam". That is the reason the "Onnam Kaalam" is called the "thalam" (താളം) or the basic rhythm (time taken to complete a cycle of beats, here for "Tha Ki Ta", 3 beats).