Ocean of Sound

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Is "Ocean of Sound" for you?

2025 Program Rescheduled: TBD

you want to build community through sound
you want to play the harmonium or develop your skills with rāga scales
you want to improve your Sanskrit pronunciation
you want to build your repertoire of chants
you want to learn more about Indian Music principles
you want to learn more about the deities and myths from India
you love Kirtan music and want to build confidence to lead singing circles, sacred fires, ceremony, or kirtan
you need tech support with audio gear for live streaming and amplification
you want instruction on how to use the iTablaPro app
you're a songwriter or aspire to write your own sacred music using Indian rāga scales

Ocean of Sound

A Comprehensive Rāga based Kirtan and Harmonium Training

Enrollment includes immediate access to the recordings of classes from last year in case you want to get started on the material before we meet live.

This course is for those who want to learn to play the harmonium as well as those who already play but want to improve by learning Indian rāgas, tāla (rhythm), correct Sanskrit pronunciation, and developing a better understanding of Indian deities and myths.

Includes

3 hours of private sessions with Allison scheduled in May and June
4 live foundational classes
4 live Play-Along-Kirtans + Group Harmonium Instruction
Immediate access to recordings and material from the previous cohort
Weekly office hours on zoom for students with questions
Access to Allison through text/video/voice message for the duration of the container
Music Library (lifetime access) with video harmonium tutorials + notation charts for harmonium: this library has years of information for you to dig through
Chant Book with over 100 fully transliterated mantras, chants, bhajans, & stotrams
A list of all the equipment needed to successfully live stream kirtan as well as assistance in getting you comfortable optimizing audio for your listeners
A comprehensive Sanskrit Pronunciation Course
A comprehensive Bhakti Yoga course introducing you to the deities and myths from India - about 9 hours of material
Satsangs with Allison’s Teachers:
- Dr. Robert Svoboda on the topic of Indian music
- Prem Sadasivananda on the topic of Sanskrit
- K. Sridhar on the topic of Indian music and Bhakti Yoga

Schedule: Spring 2025 Cohort Rescheduled for TBD

You will have access to the videos from your cohort on Teachable for one full year. Each time the course is offered, the videos will be replaced with recordings from the new cohort. You will maintain access to all new recordings as the course continues over the years.

Repeat students take 50% off the early bird rate, $504 and get the private sessions and full access to all live offerings.

Foundation Classes: each session is about 90 minutes
- Foundation Class 1
  - Finding Your 'Sa"
  - Harmonium Basics
  - Sanskrit Basics
- Foundation Class 2
  - Rhythm Basics + iTabla Pro Intro
  - Audio Gear and Tech for Streaming and Amplification
- Foundation Class 3
  - Indian Music Basics
  - Reading the Music Library
- Foundation Class 4
  - The Ethics of Community Building
  - The Importance of Sadhana

Kirtan Practice Classes:
- Practice Class 1: Ganeșa & Sarasvati chants
- Practice Class 2: Devi chants
- Practice Class 3: Śiva chants
- Practice Class 4: Krishna & Rāma chants

Checked homework thru audio/video memos on WhatsApp:

Sanskrit pronunciation
Harmonium scales
Music Library support
Reading the Notation
Tech support

This program includes years worth of Information to dig into and lifetime access to materials.

Harmonium: gain access to the Music Library with video tutorials and harmonium chart notation - This course is for inspired beginners and seasoned practitioners who want to incorporate rāga music into their chanting practice
Sanskrit: Detailed instruction on Correct pronunciation and how to read the transliteration, access to the fully transliterated HoYS Digital Chant book
Rhythm: tāla, play in time and maybe even rhythms other than 4, learn how to use the iTabla Pro app
Scales and exercises: for the voice and harmonium
Mythology: Pre -recorded courses with stories one would share in a kirtan
Confidence: Spot practices for calming the nervous system and building confidence
Tech Support: How to live stream and optimize audio for leading kirtan online
Community Building: Write your Code of Ethics

Buying a Harmonium

How do I buy a harmonium for the course?

I suggest a double reed harmonium without a coupler. At least seven stops, more is fine. Some harmoniums are built without stops, which is also fine. Less knobs means less possibility of something breaking on the instrument. You don’t need anything fancy. If purchasing off Amazon or buying a used instrument you want to ask the seller for a video of each key of the instrument being played to make sure the keys aren't broken, don't buzz, and that the instrument is in tune. Always ask about money back guarantees in the event of damage in shipping.

These companies are reputable harmonium sellers and guarantee an in-tune instrument with a money back guarantee in the event of transport damage. Your harmonium should arrive in about a week from all of these companies:

Saptasvara Musicals

Old Delhi Music

Raga Mala

"Ocean of Sound" testimonials:

This course inspired in me a deeper connection to the healing benefits of Indian music and with that, a deeper connection to the heart opening aspects of singing and playing the harmonium. Allison's teachings are well paced and clear. Her teaching style is heart based and you can easily feel her love of the practice through the screen. An

Ocean of Sound is a brilliant resource for anyone wishing to explore the truly bottomless ocean of bhakti. -Sri Devi Melissa Urey

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Allison has helped me fall more into love with Indian music, and has taught me things that have helped me better understand how to play it more skillfully myself. I've had a harmonium for ten years, but now I really understand so much more about chanting and playing and I'm excited to keep learning more as I dig into the music library packed full of songs to learn! - Paula Crossfield

It was such a wonderful course! I found it very approachable. I was able to quickly learn chanting fundamentals and also love that at my fingertips are endless possibilities for building my skills and practice! After being intimidated by the harmonium for some time, I was so pleasantly surprised about how this class went and how interwove

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I completed Allison's Ocean of Sound music course and have studied with her one-on-one as well.

Having never been a "musical person", Allison gave me the confidence and support to open up my heart and to try something totally new. I am convinced that everyone has access to this music inside of them, if they are interested in learning and

I completed Allison's Ocean of Sound music course and have studied with her one-on-one as well.

After just a few short sessions with Allison I was able to play simple songs, understand the basics of scales and "write" music in a format that makes sense. I am still amazed at what I can do. - Amanda Sweeney

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I have learned so much from my harmonium lessons with Allison. She has a depth of knowledge surrounding the history and qualities of the various deities. I'm grateful for her dedication to the vedic tradition and her passion to share it with others.

- Brian Ferrel

Allison is a very kind and encouraging teacher. I had tried taking harmonium

- Brian Ferrel

Allison is a very kind and encouraging teacher. I had tried taking harmonium lessons through an online site and realized something was missing but I couldn't figure it out. Allison was able to fill in the missing pieces and explain how to properly play the harmonium. In addition to being a master at the harmonium, she has a deep wealth of knowledge about Hindu mythology which really brings the chants to life.

-Lisa McCaskill

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Allison has a magical way of sharing her deep love and expertise of Indian music in a way that makes you feel deeply connected, inspired, and enlivened. Her ability to teach these unifying vibrations through her soulful voice and soothing harmonium playing is unparalleled; you will leave each and every lesson more grounded, in-tune with yourself, and yearning for more.

-Coco Peterson

Allison Dennis

Is "Ocean of Sound" for you?

Allison taught me how to listen, feel, and express music from a new and holistic perspective. I've been able to relax my uptight perfectionism around music and singing in order to listen and truly learn about sound and the way it vibrates through and interacts with my body. I have learned so much.

Ocean of Sound

A Comprehensive Rāga based Kirtan and Harmonium Training

This program includes years worth of Information to dig into and lifetime access to materials.

Buying a Harmonium

The Music Library

The Chant Book

"Ocean of Sound" testimonials: