Ocean of Sound

"Ocean of Sound" early enroll is $500 off thru 3/1

Ocean of Sound: Kirtan Teacher Training

Rāga & Tāla Based Kirtan Teacher Training

All levels of students welcome. Whether you've been leading kirtan for a long time or you've started to explore chanting, this program will help you sound more traditional and less western when leading kirtan. We focus on proper pronunciation of Sanskrit and exploration of scales and time signatures that are distinctly eastern.

Learn about rāga, tāla, and śruti

Rāgas are the Indian scales, tāla is working with time in beats other than an 8 count, and śruti's are the microtones that transport and captivate the listener into a meditative listening trance like state.

Part of what distinguishes eastern music from western is the use of notes that live inbetween the 12 note chromatic scale of the west. Sliding the notes from one to the next with grammatic precision creates unique tones that are deified emotional healers. These deities of sound are called śrutis.

What's included in "Ocean of Sound"?

3 private sessions
6 weeks of live play-along- kirtans
pre recorded classes
a library of video tutorials and harmonium charts
Sanskrit pronunciation course
Bhakti Yoga course
ongoing support on WhatsApp as you hone your skills and focus your attention on what feels most important to you.

In person cohort lasts 3 months, and students can schedule sessions on zoom or live and in person at the Nāda Room in Kingston, NY.

The materials in "Ocean of Sound" could take you years to move through and you'll have lifetime access. Allison will get you started and you can take your time, fully resourced, to grow your chanting and harmonium practice in the direction you want to expand.

Who is "Ocean of Sound" made for:

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

Learn more here

"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

Ocean of Sound

A Comprehensive Rāga based Kirtan and Harmonium Training

When do we meet live?

Allison will offer a weekly Thursday night kirtan at 7-9pm ET June 18 - July 23, 2026.

The kirtan will be open to the public from 7-8.

From 8-9 will be a private kirtan practice session for all "Ocean of Sound" students where we break down the chants just offered and students play along with Allison. If you are testing out streaming gear, she will stick around after class to help you test and troubleshoot your gear.

The chants offered in the live kirtan will be different from the ones you receive instruction on inside the Teachable portal, so your repertoire will be expanded even more!

When should I watch the Pre-recorded materials?

Enrollment includes immediate access to the recordings of classes.

Proposed Schedule:

Watch the 4 Foundation Classes in April and May; about 90 minutes each
Watch the 4 Practice Kirtans in May and June; about 1 hour each
All other materials are for you to enjoy your lifetime access and dig into a later date when you have time, or sign up early and dig into before we begin.

When should I schedule my private sessions?

If you are a repeat student of "Ocean of Sound" you may schedule the sessions anytime from April - July.

If this is your first time in "Ocean of Sound" please schedule your sessions in June and July AFTER watching the 4 Foundation Classes and at least the first Kirtan Practice Class. If you watch all the classes quickly, then you can schedule your 1 on one sessions sooner.

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. All levels of students are welcome.

Includes

3 hours of private sessions with Allison scheduled individually
4 foundational classes
4 Play-Along-Kirtans + Group Harmonium Instruction
6 Live Kirtans + Kirtan Breakdown and Play-Along
Immediate access to recordings and material from the previous cohort
Weekly office hours on zoom for students with questions - Spring 2026
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

Description of Pre recorded materials:

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

Repeat Students get 3 new sessions + 3 months of weekly check ins on WhatsApp using audio and video recordings to show Allison your progress and get the next step for your practice. Message Allison to repeat the program for $600.

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

Allison Dennis

Ocean of Sound: Kirtan Teacher Training

Rāga & Tāla Based Kirtan Teacher Training

Learn about rāga, tāla, and śruti

What's included in "Ocean of Sound"?

Who is "Ocean of Sound" made for:

"Ocean of Sound" testimonials:

The Music Library

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.

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.

Buying a Harmonium

The Chant Book

Allison's long-time interest in the spiritual philosophies that underpin the physical and mental exercises associated with yoga has served her well in grasping how sound/ tone can be a spiritual tool.