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Immerse Yourself In The Power Of KirtanApril 22 - 28, 2024
The Yoga Barn in Ubud, Bali
Are you a Kirtan lover and passionate about singing and chanting from the heart? Would you love to share this ancient & modern spiritual practice with the world?
This is a unique and transformational opportunity to study traditional and contemporary styles of playing and singing devotional mantras. Learn to express yourself through music referencing both Indian classical music and Western folk, rock and jazz idioms, taught by two Kirtan masters, Dave Stringer and Punnu Wasu. Chanting and meditation will also be explored from the perspective of neuroscience.
The playful and empowering teaching style of Punnu and Dave will be supported by other highly-qualified music teachers in this heart, soul and voice activating intensive training. Their profound knowledge and vast experience in Kirtan combined with their Eastern and Western music background and devoted approach to teaching provides an incredibly inspirational musical experience.
This training is accessible to beginners with no previous musical training, people with intermediate experience and Kirtan leaders who want to refine their skills.
What is Kirtan?
Kirtan is a folk musical form that arose from the devotional Bhakti yoga movement of 15th century India. The primary musical feature of kirtan is the use of call and response, a figure that also deeply informs Western bluegrass, gospel music and jazz. The form is simple: a lead group calls out the melodies and the mantras. The crowd responds, clapping and dancing as the rhythms build and accelerate.
The intention of Kirtan is consciousness-transformative, directing the singers to vanish into the song as drops merge into the ocean. The mantras are primarily recitations of names and qualities given to the divine, expressing elemental philosophical principles. But perhaps the true understanding of the mantras can be found in the sense of unity, well-being and timelessness that they elicit. The mantras quiet the mind, and the music frees the heart. Ecstasy is both the process and the product.
“Immerse yourself in the rapture of music. You know what you love. Go there.” --- The Radiance Sutras
Kirtan Academy Benefits
Experience the benefits of ancient and modern sacred mantra repetition as applied to chanting and meditation. Enjoy the ecstasy and deep spiritual fulfillment of Bhakti Yoga practice. Learn the proper pronunciation and meanings of Sanskrit chants from the Hindu tradition, Gurbani chants from the Sikh tradition and Sufi zikars.
You will gain insight into Yoga philosophy, along with traditional Indian deity stories and practices, and learn to explain them in accessible modern language. Study the instruments used for Kirtan and explore the possibilities of adapting the mantras to your own original musical compositions.
TRAINER: DAVE STRINGER
Dave Stringer is a twice Grammy-nominated producer, musician and songwriter who has been widely profiled as one of the most innovative artists of the modern Yoga movement. He's both an inspiring singer and a compelling public speaker, resolving neuroscience, yoga philosophy and art into a participatory theatrical experience. Dave is featured in the documentary films Mantra: Sounds Into Silence and The Power of Mantra and has toured extensively, leading concerts, workshops and retreats all over the world.
What You'll Learn
Daily chant of the day
Vowel modification and vocal technique
Toning sessions for the voice through Classical Indian Sargams/Alankars, Alap and Ragas
Develop devotion through the voice
Sanskrit, Gurbani and Sufi chants
Chanting with small and large groups
Mastering the breath in order to have better voice control and sustain
Yoga and Bhakti philosophy & history of Kirtan
Basic arrangement, harmonium, tanpura and percussion techniques for new students
Advanced arrangement, harmonium, tanpura and percussion techniques for experienced students
Percussion workshop: Tabla, different drums and kartals (talas) rhythms
Proper pronunciation and meanings of mantras
Using mantra as a tool to deepen meditation
An overview of the neuroscience of chanting and meditation
Performance coaching on chosen or suggested songs
Explore the possibilities of creating your own chant compositions
Develop effective skills for leading Kirtan community
In depth study of chants and integration with personal practice
Participants are divided into groups: Beginner, intermediate and advanced depending on their skills and interest
TRAINER: PUNNU WASU
Punnu Wasu is an Indian vocalist, musician, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was born and raised in Hyderabad into a family that has a true love for kirtan and spirituality. He began studying harmonium and singing at the tender age of 5. At age 10, he moved on to studying the Indian Classical Music (Hindustani) while travelling with his father throughout India singing the beautiful verses of Kirtan.
Later on he also studied mandolin and tabla. He performs Kirtan, Xtatic Kirtan, Indian Fusion, Indian Classical music, Sufi, Bollywood music as well as Sound Healing around the world. Punnu is featured in the documentary The Power of Mantra. He has his own Kirtan Academy and Sound Healing Academy and also leads music workshops in combination with yoga & meditation globally.
Daily Schedule
09:00 – 10:00am: Silent Meditation, Mantra, and Pranayama techniques to help open the vocal cords
10:00 – 01:00pm: Nada Yoga (yoga of sound) & Chanting, Percussion Workshop (rhythm practice – Kaherwa and Bhajani beats and Kartals) and Bhakti Yoga Philosophy
01:00 – 02:30pm: Lunch and Relaxation Time
02:30 – 05:30pm: Vocal and instrumental practice in small groups
5:30 - 07:00pm: Dinner and Relaxation Time
07:00 – 09:00pm: Group performances
What's Included
Full tuition — Immersive study and practice
Highly qualified and professional musician teachers and assistants
In-depth Kirtan and Bhakti Yoga books and useful chant sheets that spell out the exact fingers and chords to use in granular detail
Certificate of participation upon completion of the module 1 training
Closed messaging group – A space is for learning, sharing, asking questions and keeping in touch
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Yoga Barn - Bali, The Yoga Shop, Gianyar 80571, Indonesia,Ubud
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