How to sing Saibara depends on the school, but Biwa (Japanese lute), So (a long Japanese zither with thirteen strings), Sho (Japanese flute), etc. are used as the accompaniment and there is no mai (a formal, traditional Japanese dance).
催馬楽の歌い方は流派によって異なるが、伴奏に琵琶、箏（そう）、笙（しょう）などがもちいられ、舞はない。