What: The path of a maqām's development: opening from the root, expanding toward the octave, then closing on the tonic.
Why: A maqām is a journey, not a scale; the sayr gives a taqsīm meaning and direction.
How: Begin on the tonic, settle in the root jins, ascend gradually toward the octave to build tension, then return to the tonic.
Common mistake: Random movement among degrees with no tonic and no direction.
Exercise: Improvise on Rast for a minute: begin on its tonic, rise to the nawā, then close on the tonic.