Editing Carnatic music (section)

===Kalpanaswaram===
{{Main|Kalpanaswaram}}
Kalpanaswaram, also known as swarakalpana, consists of improvising melodic and rhythmic passages using ''[[swara]]s'' (solfa syllables).<ref>[[#NettlRussell1998|Viswanathan & Cormack (1998)]], p219</ref> Like niraval,<ref>[[#NettlRussell1998|Viswanathan & Cormack (1998)]], p232</ref> kalpanaswaras are sung to end on a particular swara in the [[raga]] of the melody and at a specific place (''idam'') in the [[Tala (music)|tala]] cycle.<ref>[[#NettlRussell1998|Viswanathan & Cormack (1998)]], p221</ref>

Kalpanaswaras have a somewhat predictable rhythmical structure;<ref>[[#SolisNettl2009|Solis & Nettl (2009)]], p188</ref> the swaras are sung to end on the ''samam'' (the first beat of the rhythmical cycle).<ref name="Henry2002"/> The swaras can also be sung at the same speed or double the speed of the melody that is being sung, though some artists sing triple-speed phrases too.<ref name="Henry2002"/>

Kalpanaswaram is the most elementary type of improvisation, usually taught before any other form of improvisation.