Frequently Asked Questions

The Kirtan Leader Institute was founded in 2010 to make sacred chant accessible to Western students through an intuitive learning system that bypasses complex musical notation. Over 15 years, the institute has trained thousands of students at all levels, from complete beginners to professional recording artists.

Our core mission is to teach the world to chant their hearts open through mainly Western Kirtan traditions, including important elements of Indian Classical Music presented in a way that is easily comprehended by Westerners.

We believe that Kirtan—the practice of sacred chant—has the power to open hearts, build community, and create profound transformation. Our teaching philosophy centers on making this ancient practice accessible to everyone, regardless of musical background or experience.

What makes our approach unique is our super user-friendly and intuitive learning system. Students learn directly, without having to master intermediary and confusing systems of musical notation like Sargam (Indian Classical Music) or Western musical notation. Our pragmatic, detailed, and easy-to-understand approach has been proven effective over 15 years of working with students.

We take great care to build relationships, meet students where they are, and gently guide them forward. One of our strongest qualities is sequencing the learning so it never feels overwhelming. Since launching in 2010, our proven approach has helped thousands of Kirtan enthusiasts step more deeply into this incredible practice.

The Kirtan Leader Institute welcomes a diverse community of practitioners at all levels:

• Non-musicians who fall in love with the heart-opening practice of sacred chant

People with no musical background who are drawn to Kirtan and want to deepen their personal practice or share it with others.

• Sound healers expanding their palette

Practitioners who wish to incorporate healing and ceremony songs into their work with clients and communities.

• Community Kirtan leaders

Those who want to share Kirtan in their local communities, yoga studios, or spiritual centers.

• Aspiring professional Kirtan leaders

Students who wish to assemble bands, write original chants, tour, record albums, and perform at festivals.

• Complete beginners through lifelong professional musicians

We work with total newbies all the way up to lifelong professional musicians, and everyone in between.

We offer a comprehensive range of programs designed to meet students at every level of their Kirtan journey:

1. Sacred Chant Mentorships

One-on-one private sessions available through Zoom or in person in Boulder, Colorado. These personalized mentorship sessions provide individualized attention, customized curriculum, and direct feedback tailored to each student's unique goals and learning style.

2. Online Group Classes

Combining pre-recorded video lessons with weekly live group Zoom sessions, these classes offer the perfect balance of self-paced learning and community connection. Students gain access to detailed instruction while benefiting from group energy and peer learning.

3. Self-Paced Classes

Start learning immediately and engage at your own convenience. These programs include instant access to detailed chant sheets, comprehensive video lessons, and recordings of previous group Zoom sessions. Perfect for those with busy schedules or who prefer independent learning.

4. In-Person Classes and Intensives

Immersive learning experiences typically offered by invitation only to existing students. These special gatherings create deep bonds within our community and provide intensive skill development in a supportive, focused environment.

All of our offerings are organized into a clear progression of five levels:

Level 1: Launch Your Home Chant Practice

Build a solid foundation in Kirtan basics, develop your personal practice, and gain confidence in chanting.

Level 2: Share Kirtan with Others

Learn to facilitate Kirtan circles, and create safe, welcoming spaces for others.

Level 3: Lead Your Own Band

Master ensemble leadership, arrangement skills, and the technical aspects of leading a Kirtan band.

Level 4: Getting Professional

Develop performance skills, recording techniques, marketing strategies, and business fundamentals for professional Kirtan artists.

Level 5: Professional Level

Advanced mastery for touring professionals, including festival performance, album production, and sustainable career development.

Kirtan is a call-and-response style of devotional singing that originated in India thousands of years ago. At its heart, Kirtan is about opening the heart through sacred sound, creating community connection, and experiencing the transformative power of group chanting.

Western Kirtan Traditions

We emphasize Western Kirtan traditions, particularly in the styles of:

• Krishna Das - Sanskrit mantras and Bhakti yoga devotional practices
• Snatam Kaur - Kundalini Yoga traditions and Gurmukhi sacred language

Expanded Repertoire

Beyond traditional kirtan, we also teach:

• Mashups combining mantra with English lyrics
• Sacred songs for healing and transformation
• Vedic chants and ancient invocations
• The Hanuman Chalisa (40-verse devotional hymn)
• Healing and ceremony songs in English, Spanish, and other sacred languages

Indian Classical Music Elements

While we focus on Western approaches, we incorporate important elements of Indian Classical Music in ways that are easily understood by Westerners. This gives students authentic grounding in the tradition without requiring years of classical training.

Direct Learning Without Complicated Notation

Our approach is revolutionary in its simplicity. Students learn directly without having to master intermediary notation systems. We bypass both Sargam (Indian Classical Music notation) and Western musical notation, which can be confusing and create unnecessary barriers for many students.

Pragmatic and Intuitive

Our system is pragmatic, easy to understand, detailed, and designed for real-world application. We focus on what actually works, stripping away complexity while maintaining depth and authenticity.

Proven Over 15 Years

Since 2010, thousands of students have successfully learned through our methods. The proof is in the results: dozens of students have written their own original chants, and over 20 have recorded and released their own albums of sacred music.

Masterful Sequencing

One of our greatest strengths is how we sequence the learning journey. Each step builds naturally on the previous one, creating a smooth progression that never feels overwhelming. Students consistently report feeling supported and confident as they advance through the levels.

Relationship-Centered

We take great care to build genuine relationships with our students. We meet each person exactly where they are and gently guide them forward at their own pace. This personalized, compassionate approach creates a safe learning environment where students can explore, make mistakes, and grow.