Welcome to the Learn to Lead Kirtan Introductory Taster Course and thank you for your joining me.
On this page you will find everything that you need to work through this course at your own pace. Please read through it carefully and if you have any questions which are not answered here feel free to email the Course Manager and Designer, Jenny Grainger at [email protected].
As a gesture of my gratitude for your courage in trying something new and trusting me, I am delighted to offer you a gift to support you on your journey to becoming a Kirtan leader.
You are invited to join me and others from all over the globe FREE OF CHARGE every Thursday at 8am and/or 8pm BST or on Fridays at 3.30pm BST from 11 March until 15 April 2021 for live Kirtan via Zoom. I really hope to see you there so you can observe me leading Kirtan and practice your Vocal Technique!
To join the LIVE KIRTAN with me simply sign in to Zoom making sure that your Zoom name is the same one that you registered for this course with. Then use the login info in the next paragraph. If we do not recognise your name you will not be admitted! If you have any problems with accessing the Live Kirtan sessions then please email Hanna at [email protected].
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84689094793?pwd=aExxem9uMFpNV2FYdmZVZE0rOHgvUT09
Meeting ID: 846 8909 4793
Passcode: Chanting3
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+44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom
+44 203 901 7895 United Kingdom
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Meeting ID: 846 8909 4793
Passcode: 846353867
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keF8fx3fVN
You will be given access to a new pillar each Monday from 8 March. Simply click on the title of each pillar in the next section below here to gain access.
You will have access to this Course Homepage until 1 September 2021 and to the video for Harmonium Skills for life.
You will be given access to a new pillar each Monday from 8 March 2021 via the list below. You will NOT receive an email about this each week. When the title of the pillar is in bold it means you can simply click on it to access the content.
1. GROUNDING (with Katy Appleton of www.appleyoga.com): Learn to ground your body to hold the Shakti.
2. VOCAL TECHNIQUE: Learn basic vocal technique
3. DEVOTION: Learn to trust yourself as a devotional instrument
4. MASTERY OF THE INNER CRITIC: How to deal with your inner critic.
5. HARMONIUM SKILLS: Learn simple harmonium accompaniments and new chants
6. LEADERSHIP SKILLS: Learn to create the journey of Kirtan for others
These have now taken place.
If you would like to connect with fellow students to share your experiences, enthusiasm and insights then please click here to join the private Facebook Group for the course.
Although you do not actually need a harmonium to enjoy this course, Pillar 5 is Harmonium Skills and it is very likely that you will be inspired to try to find a harmonium to practice on. Obviously not everyone is in a position to be able to afford a harmonium so Nikki recommends that you try to borrow one for PILLAR 5 study. If not, then perhaps you may have access to a piano or keyboard?
If you are unable to find any of these options for Pillar 5 then Nikki suggests that you absorb as much information from the video as you can for now. We will make the teaching video in PILLAR 5 downloadable so you can always buy a harmonium later.
Some of you also ask whether you can accompany with guitar? Long-term this is possible but to get the most value out of the course and for your kirtan leading future the harmonium is the most popular traditional and suitable option.
For those of you who are seeking to buy a harmonium Nikki highly recommends any of these harmoniums listed below. If you mention that Nikki Slade recommended them to you then you will be well looked after.
From JAS MUSICALS SOUTHALL – www.jas-musicals.com/southall
Call 0208 574 2686 ask for Jasmeet or she is happy for people to call her mobile during lock down. Her number is 07932 094561.
The Jas yoga Peti is very popular with Nikki’s students as is the Jas Flight Deluxe model. Both are portable.
BINA MUSICALS – www.binaswar.com or Call Rashna on 020 8843 1411
They are offering all Nikki’s students 20% percent off and a free bag – a great deal!
23B 6 x stops portable – this is the one that Nikki has used for years and she loves it.
The Bhava Mini – This has been an extremely popular harmonium with previous students. Full info here – https://oldelhimusic.com/products/bhava-mni-harmonium
The Ragamalapeti – Another nice harmonium – http://ragamalapeti.com
Anyone living in France or Belgium who needs support accessing a harmonium can contact my graduate student Claudio Salinas. He is in a position to negotiate deals! Email him here at [email protected].
Please contact Course Manager Jenny Grainger at [email protected] with enquiries.
