Learn to Lead Kirtan Foundation Training 2023

200hr Certified Training Programme, Sept-Nov 2023

 

Nikki Slade & Guest teachers Carlos Pomeda (Scholar of Sanskrit), Katy Appleton (appleyoga. Yoga for Voice), Sulekh Ruparell (Raag), Tom Simenauer (Tabla studies), Manickam Yogeswaran (Songs of the Saints) and Charlotte Pulver (Spiritual Emergency).

Are you passionate about Kirtan and chanting from the heart?

Have you ever felt that you are a budding Kirtan leader waiting to emerge?

Do you see yourself sharing this sublime and exquisite practice with the world?

If that’s you then Autumn 2023 offers you the Yoga Alliance Professionals Accredited 200 Hour Learn To Lead Kirtan Foundation Training in London.

Click below to watch testimonials and the experiences of previous students plus other videos about this training

Click here to watch 5 students from the 2017 training leading at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Click here to read a short blog that Nikki has written about the journey involved in this training.

Learn to Lead Kirtan 6 week course with Nikki Slade

If you are unsure about whether this training is the right path for you then why not dip your toe in the water by taking Nikki’s LEARN TO LEAD KIRTAN INTRODUCTORY TASTER COURSE in the comfort of your own home?  This 6-module self-paced online course will give you a flavour of the 6 pillars of Kirtan leading and help you to make up your mind about whether to commit to the full 200-hour Foundation Training.  Click here to find out more.

Learn to Lead Kirtan Foundation Training Content

MODULE 1 – 100.5 hrs

Monday 4th – Friday 8th September & Friday 15th September 2023

8:45am – 5:30pm (All dates are obligatory to attend).

  • Daily chant of the day
  • Yoga for voice
  • Mastering the breath
  • Vowel modification and vocal technique
  • Develop Bhakti, devotion through the voice
  • Yoga philosophy in Bhakti, Mantra and Sanskrit
  • Foundation training for harmonium
  • Technique practice labs
  • Revision and in-depth study of chants and personal practice

YOGA PHILOSOPHY with Carlos Pomeda – Online with Zoom

Monday 11th – Wednesday 13th September 2023.

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (All dates obligatory to attend).

Online only sessions

 

BETWEEN MODULES  ↓

Development & Integration days

Saturday 16th, Friday 22nd,
Saturday 23rd, Friday 29th & Saturday 30th September 2023

Fridays: 9:30am – 5:00pm
Saturdays: 8:45 am – 4:30 pm

  • 3-week mastery development period includes 2 group practice days with Nikki with hands on coaching to perfect your leading skills. 
  • Includes 1 individual session with Nikki (Private extra date to be booked with Nikki).
  • Personal assignment time to integrate your practice.
  • 3x 2hr. Saturday morning or afternoon practice days in smaller groups.

MODULE 2 – 99.5 hrs

Monday 2nd – Friday 6th & Friday 13th October 2023

8:45am – 5:30pm (All dates obligatory to attend).

  • Review of Module 1
  • Daily chant of the day
  • Yoga for voice
  • Mastering the inner critic when leading
  • Foundation tabla rhythms training
  • Technique practice labs
  • Devotional practice labs
  • Develop effective skills for leading Kirtan community
  • Developing Kirtan business skills
  • Integrating all aspects of training

BETWEEN MODULE 2 & ASSESSMENT  ↓

Development and Integration Days

Saturday 7th, Saturday 14th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st October 2023

(Additional optional day on Saturday 14th October)

Fridays: 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturdays: 8:45 am – 4:30 pm

  • 3-week mastery development period includes 2 group practice days with Nikki with hands on coaching to perfect your leading skills.
  • Includes 1 individual session with Nikki. (Private extra date to be booked with Nikki).
  • Personal assignment time to integrate your practice.
  • 5 mock assessment days.

 

Mock Assessment Days

(All dates obligatory).

Friday 27th & Saturday 28th October 8:45 am – 4:30 pm & Wednesday 1st, Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd November 9:30 am – 5:30 pm

  • Saturday 14th October is an additional optional day. Although optional, we highly recommend that you make use of this day. Nikki will provide a whole day of practice/catch-up/support towards your assessment with extra 1-1 attention.

Assessments 18 hrs

(Obligatory to attend)

Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th November 2023 (both days need to be attended).

Final Completion and Certification

(Obligatory to attend).

Sunday 12th November 2023

3:00pm – 6:00pm

This is a Big commitment!… Can I miss any dates?

*This is a certified 200hr training, If you absolutely have to, you are permitted to miss a maximum of: 1 Integration Friday and 1 Integration Saturday session ONLY during the whole training and for each day missed, the student is required to book a 1-1 private catch-up session with Nikki at £125.00 per session.

The Integration dates that fall on the above category are:

Saturday 16th, Friday 22nd, Saturday 23rd, Friday 29th, Saturday 30th September, Saturday 7th, Saturday 14th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st October 2023.

Obligatory dates: All Module days, mock assessment days, main assessments and our completion day MUST be attended.

Important: If you are looking for a casual training where you can drop-in or miss a chunk as you need to, this is NOT the training for you. This training has been designed as a group journey as well as a personal one and your absence would have a detrimental impact on everyone’s journey.

Fees: £3,000 (Please note that 20% VAT will be added to any payments from 1st April 2023)

Early Bird: £2800 when you pay by 15th February 2023

Please note we can offer an instalment plan upon application. This option is only available if you apply before 1st April 2023 and the full fee must be paid by 1st August 2023.

Venues: The Study Society. 151 Talgarth Rd, Hammersmith, London W14 9DA

2nd Venue (for all Saturdays only): LiveWell Kew. Unita A, Quadrant House, Levett Square, Kew, Richmond TW9 4FF

Are you ready to apply? If YES, scroll back up, and go to the next tab to find out the pre-requisites and the application form.

To avoid unnecessary administration, please check your finances and check that you can do all the dates required before applying.

 

The application is a 3 step process.

  1. Please check the pre-requisites below and make sure you meet all the requirements.  Before you send your your application, check you can attend all the dates required and your finances to avoid unnecessary administration.
  2. Submit the application form (with ALL questions answered) and a short audio recording of your voice.
  3. Within 3 weeks we will announce whether you have a place in the course.

 

1. PRE-REQUISITES

  • Have you engaged in a combination of Kirtan and physical Yoga practice for a minimum of 2 years. (It is fine that you may have done one form of these practices more extensively than the other).
  • Are you someone who has attended at least 10-15 Kirtan classes or workshops either with Nikki Slade or other Kirtan leaders around the world?
  • Are you someone who chants regularly with Kirtan call and response recordings with e.g. Nikki Slade or Krishna Das, Deva Premal, Jai Uttal, Wah or other?
  • Please note we will require you to send back an audio file attached with an example of your singing voice singing the first 4 lines of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz as this is the way we will be able to be ascertain the musicality of your vocal skills for this training.

2. APPLICATION FORM

Please fill the application form on the next tab and send over your recording. We are open for applications for the 2023 Learn to Lead Kirtan Foundation Training now. We appreciate your enthusiasm but DO make sure you can do all dates required and that you can pay for the training before you apply.

3. APPLICATION ACCEPTANCES

Within 3 weeks of your application form being received, we will announce whether you have been accepted.

 

    What is your full name?

    What is your email address?

    How old are you?

    How did you hear about this training?

    Please name the friend colleague teacher organization or other who referred you to us?

    What is your current profession?

    What is your spiritual path philosophy?

    Who is your teacher in your field of transformation yoga meditation or other?

    What is your previous experience of Kirtan?

    Can you sing in tune and in key with a musical instrument accompanying you?

    YesNo

    Please record a sample of your singing voice singing the first 4 lines of "Somewhere over the rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz with the line ending: "once in a Lullaby" ideally accompanied by a piano or guitar or a-cappella. Send us the audio file to [email protected]

    Do you have keyboard/piano playing skills?[please note this is not obligatory?]

    YesNo

    Do you have a basic hatha yoga practice? Who are your teachers?

    YesNo

    Have you any physical injuries?

    YesNo

    It is a requirement for the Learn to Lead Kirtan Foundation training that you have a mentor or psychotherapist available to you on stand-by in order for you to participate in this training as the intensity of this course is powerful and we request this to ensure that you have this support available to you at all times during the training in case it is needed. We will ask you for signed proof from your therapist, counsellor or mentor ahead of the training.

    If you are already in psychotherapy or counselling, please let us know which type you are attending and why.

    Please note we are happy that participants are in psychotherapy or mentorship programmes, if that is what you need to support you throughout your participation. If you know you have any conditions that need extra support, please take responsibility for your own wellbeing.

    Do you have a history of BI-POLAR or PTSD? If so we are sorry but this training is not suitable for you.

    ***NB: We have come to realize that in 25 years of experience with primordial sound that there are some mental health conditions including Bi-Polar and PTSD and Schizophrenia which require a massive amount of extra support during the process of extensive kirtan and sound work, and thereby for your own safety and support, conditions such as these are not appropriate for attendance on the LTLKFT training due to the intensity of this work and to protect your well being. Hence we will have to ask you certain questions regarding your mental health in your application process out of respect and support to whom so ever this may apply to. We ask you to be honest and frank in this matter.***

    YesNo

    Please also inform us if you are currently taking any medication for any physical, or psychiatric conditions?

    YesNo

    When & where

    The Study Society: 151 Talgarth Rd, Hammersmith, London W14 9DA

    All Saturdays (Only): LiveWell, Kew. Quadrant House, Levett Square, Kew, Richmond TW9 4FF

    September - November 2023

    Directions

    The Study Society is a 2-minute walk from Baron’s Court underground station. LiveWell is a 10-minute walk from Kew Gardens Station.