6 melams are called "Chempada melangal". Other than these seven "melams" two more melams are there in Kerala "Navam" and "Kalpam". The "Chenda Vattam" or the skin used on Chenda should be very thin for classic Chenda Melam like Panchari melam, Pandi Melam or for Thayambaka but for Shingari Melam Chenda the "Chenda Vattam" are hard, which are very cheap to make. "Shingari Melam" is not considered as a classical form of art. Learning 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 29 cm in length, 3 cm in diameter on one side and 2.5 cm on other side of the stick. Once the learning on stone is finished, students learn on Veekku Chenda (വീക് ചെണ്ട) or the Valam Thala (വലം തല) 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 (ഉര്രുട്ട് ചെണ്ട) or the Edam Thala (ഇടം തല) part of the Chenda which will have only one layer of skin. While striking on a Chenda with two sticks, the stick on the right hand is hit on the upper part (little above the center part) of the "Chenda Vattam" and the stick on the left hand is hit on the lower part (little below the center) of the "Chenda Vattam". In Kerala a traditional Chenda learning always start and end with a "Ganapathi Kai" (ഗണപതി കൈ), 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... Dha.Ri. Ki.Da. Dhi.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam... Na.Ka. Tha.Ra. Kaam... Dhi.Ki. Na.Na. Kaam... Dhi.Dhi Dha.Ri. Ki.Da. Dhi.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 ണ ക ത ര കാം ണ ക ത ര കാം ധി കാം... ധി കാം... ഡ് ധി രി കി ട ത ക ത ര കാം Once the students learn how to do "Ganapathi Kai" (ഗണപതി കൈ), the master starts teaching Chenda "Sadhakam" (സാധകം) or repeated exercise. Usually a "Sadhakam" starts with a