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Riyaaz is the practice of music, dance or any other art form usually under the guidance of a teacher or preceptor.

In Indian classical music tradition, it is employed as a repertoire of exercises to cultivate the mastery of one's art form. It is followed rigorously by the practitioner of music and dance artists.

The Riyaaz or Sadhakam, starts early in the morning at four, is taken seriously by the practitioner and requires intensity, discipline and commitment for years and forms an important component in the practitioners life.

The practice can last until midnight and at a minimum involves 10–12 hours of daily riyaz.

I personally witnessed this practice and learning tradition at the Madras Music Academy of India in Chennai and found it similar in concept to the rigorous training done in the Maktabs of Persia.

When I arrived at 5am there was a small room with the mastero sitting on a straw mat with 7 students surrounded. They would practice and learn the music heart to heart note by note.

Sometimes a single musical note can be practiced for over 10 hours a day.

The Word's Meaning in English is Devotedness.

The other similar words are Riyazat, Taqwa, Jaan Nisari, Jaan Baazi, Takhsees, Nazar and Khuloos.

The synonyms of Devotedness include are Abidingness, Adherence, Allegiance, Ardor, Attachment, Certainty, Decision, Dependability, Determination, Devotion, Doggedness, Eagerness, Earnestness, Endurance, Faith, Fealty, Fidelity, Firmness, Honesty, Honor, Integrity, Love, Loyalty, Permanence, Perseverance, Regularity, Resolution, Stability, Staunchness, Steadfastness, Steadiness, Surety, Tenacity, Trustiness, Trustworthiness, Truthfulness, Uniformity, Zeal, Principle and Unfailingness.