Kirtan Leader Blog

You're a total newbie to Kirtan and wondering, what's this all about? Here's a brief beginner's guide to Kirtan. 

1. Kirtan is call and response chanting from India. that invokes connection with the Divine. It is the central...

Here's an excerpt on Mantra from my 30 page booklet titled Bhakti & Beyond. 

In Kirtan, we chant Sanskrit phrases of praise to the Divine called mantras. Mantra is a Sanskrit term with multiple meanings. Author...

What is Kirtan? 

Great question. Here are a few answers...

1. Kirtan is call and response chanting which utilizes sacred names of the Divine. 

2. Kirtan is the central practice of Bhakti Yoga, or the Yoga of the Heart,...

I love the harmonium... what an instrument!

The harmonium was built by the French as a home version of a giant church pipe organ. The British brought it to India, and the Indians have used it to great effect since. 

The...

Music is magic. For many of us music delivers the most awe inspiring experiences of being  fully alive and fully human. All humans have an innate desire to bond with our tribe through chanting, clapping and...

Seeing someone REALLY work their edge is incredibly inspiring. Who do you know that has been working their edge?

December 2018 I was very much at my edge. For the first time in my life I found myself staring at a video...

In 2007 I was extremely fortunate to stumble across the lineage of Sri Kaleshwar. Before he left his body in 2012 I was able to experience his presence in person both in Laytonville, CA and during four programs held in Penukonda...

I’m always delighted when Issa Noor comes to Boulder to teach and play in our Kirtan Leader trainings. We have a great ongoing conversation going about music, life and what it means to be alive at this moment in time....

Click HERE, HERE and HERE to check out Kirtan Leader Institute teacher and percussionist Ken Matarazzo teaching our Level 1 and 2 students.

Ken teaches simple and fun elements of the Hand Dance Method (created by...

Holy smokes, my old friend and tabla wizard Jim Feist is just crushing it on this video. 

Jim is hilarious, and an incredible tabla-ist and tabla teacher. I am grateful for all I learned playing regularly with Jim from...