Although Carnatic music is in vogue in Kerala as the classical music, Kerala appears to have evolved a somewhat distinctive style of singing known as the sopana style. It is believed that this style derived its name from the sopana or flight of steps leading to the sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) the place for the ritual singing of Ashtapadi. Kathakali has adopted this style of singing which is low in tempo and emotional in content.

Kerala has produced great masters in the realm of music. The greatest composer is Swathi Thirunal, the Maharaja of Travancore (early 19th century) who left a rich legacy of songs in six languages-Sanskrit, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi. They represent the finest flowering of the Carnatic tradition in Kerala. Irayimman Thampi, a contemporary of Swathi Thirunal, was another great composer Kerala has produced. The greatest musician in Kerala history, Shadkala Gonvinda Marar, who lived during the days of Swathi Thirunal, was a wonderful genius who elicited admiration even from the great Thyagaraja.

The dance forms of Kerala can roughly be divided into five categories, viz; tribal dances,folk dances, classical dances, neo-classical dances and modern dances.