Ocean of Sound: Spring 2025
A Rāga based Kirtan and Harmonium Training
This course runs June - August. Enrollment opens in May.
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 for musical composition. This course will also give you the tools to become a spearhead for developing spiritual community through song in your place of residence.
$1500 Includes private sessions, live classes, and lifetime access to pre recorded material:
- 2 hours of private sessions with Allison
- 4 foundational classes
- 4 Play-Along-Kirtans + Group Harmonium Instruction
- Occasional open office hours on zoom for students to practice live-streaming with their audio gear
- Access to Allison through text/video/voice message for the duration of the container
- Music Library (lifetime access) with over 80 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
Also includes lifetime access to these pre-recorded courses that you can move through at your own pace:
- Sanskrit Pronunciation 101
- Intro to Bhakti Yoga
- Pre-recorded 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: lifetime access to recordings
- 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
- Foundation Class 1
- 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
Lifetime access to all materials and recordings:
- Harmonium: gain access to the music library with video tutorials for 50+ mantras and chants - This course is for inspired beginners and seasoned practitioners who want to incorporate rāga music into their chanting practice
- Sanskrit: 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
Is "Ocean of Sound" for you?
- you want to build community through sound
- you want to play the harmonium or develop your skills with rāga scales
- you want to build your repertoire of chants
- you want to learn more about Indian Music principles
- you love Kirtan music and want to build confidence to lead singing circles, sacred fires, ceremony, or kirtan
- you want to improve your sanskrit pronunciation
- you need tech support with audio gear for live streaming and amplification
- you want instruction on how to use the iTablaPro app
- you're curious about music in your birth raga
- you're a songwriter or aspire to write your own sacred music
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:
The Chant Book
Please enjoy the chant book here.
It's fully transliterated and includes many traditional mantras, beloved bhajans, and original chants. Special thank you to Amy Apollo Cooper, Ros Schwartz, Christine Eckermann-Ross, and Prem Sadasivananda for transliterations and translations.