Rivers of Sound: Go From Loving Kirtan to Leading Kirtan

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Allison Dennis

Allison DennisAllison DennisAllison Dennis

Vedic Mentor and Musician

Vedic Mentor and Musician Vedic Mentor and Musician

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.


K. Sridhar, one of the world’s finest exponents of the Sarod

Allison's music on Spotify

'Rivers of Sound' Free Discovery Calls

Go From Loving Kirtan to Leading Kirtan

Who is this course for?


This course is for people who want to lead kirtan, people who lead kirtan and want to know some basic Indian music principles, and those who feel drawn to build a community of song. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this course offers so much to support your journey from loving kirtan to leading kirtan. 


Book a FREE Discovery Call below if interested in chatting with Allison directly and learning more about the program.


Allison is taking Discovery Calls from March 25 - April 9 only


Early Bird Special: $1500 

An Ocean of Sound students: $750 

Regular Cost: $1800

Rivers of Sound

Go from loving Kirtan to leading Kirtan

Build community and harness the subtle allure of Indian music principles


An immersive 5-week training for those who want to lead Kirtan or amplify their established Kirtan practice. Includes private sessions, live classes, and pre recorded material


April 16 - May 21


Allison has been leading kirtan since 2006 and has a background in vocal performance. She wants to inspire trust in your authentic voice so that you feel confident to lead chanting circles in your community. You’ll compassionately be guided along the journey from loving kirtan to leading kirtan, and everything in between. It will prepare you in an individual way to meet your personal chanting goals.


You’ll enjoy lifetime access to the Music Library and can take the next several years to go through the 80+ video tutorials that teach you to play Allison’s original chants and favorite traditional ones as well. You’ll learn to play several chants in the upcoming live classes, and Allison will share her experiences and wisdom in transitioning from a home chanting practice to leading groups.


Kirtan doesn’t necessarily need to align with classical Indian music, but this course can help you explore this unique approach as a Westerner. Knowing some basic principles of Indian Music can be inspiring for writing your own kirtan tunes. Allison will guide you towards incorporating the basic principles of Indian music and encourage you to pull from your own traditions, lineages, and ancestry for songs as well. She is grateful to her mentor and Nada Yoga guru of 13 years, K. Sridhar, for molding her kirtan practice, Dr. Robert Svoboda for sharing a love of culture, music, and singing in community, and Prem Sadasivananda for introducing her to Kirtan and planting the seeds of devotion.


Early Bird Special: $1500 

An Ocean of Sound students: $750 

Regular Cost: $1800


What the Course Offers:

Homework is given individually based on where you are in your practice, how much time you have to dedicate to practice, and what your intention is. Private sessions will address your personal goals and the practices necessary to help you get there.


This course offers instruction on:

  • Harmonium 
    • Scales
    • Exercises
    • One on One checked homework
    • Reading and writing the musical notation in the Music Library
    • Cultural etiquette and instrumental well being
  • Voice
    • Sapta svara + the chromatic scale + knowing what scale you’re singing in
    • Finding your “Sa”, or the key your voice is naturally suited for
    • Scales and exercises
    • Creative expression and opening your voice
  • Rhythm 
    • Counting beats other than 4 and 8, including tala of 5, 6, and 7
    • How to use the iTabla Pro app (looks like there is an Android version now)
  • The Subtle Body and Vibration
    • Nadi’s
    • Cakras
    • Pranayama & Sound
  • Sanskrit Pronunciation Instruction
    • The alphabet 
    • Reading transliteration
    • One on one homework where Allison checks your pronunciation and sends notes and corrections
  • Reading the Musical Notation in the Music Library
  • Classical Indian Music
    • Appreciation
    • How to listen for sruti’s, the microtones
    • Who to listen to
    • How to incorporate the principles into your kirtan


What This Course Includes:


  • 3 private sessions with Allison - to be scheduled after registration - 50 minutes each


  • Checked Homework thru audio/video memos on WhatsApp 
    • Sanskrit pronunciation 
    • Harmonium scales 


  • 18 hours of Classes on Zoom with lifetime access to video archived recordings


  • Kirtan Music Library: Lifetime access to the digital Kirtan Music Library with over 80 video tutorials and 50 instructional charts: you can chew on this material for many years to come as you build your repertoire of chants


  • Heart of Yoga School Chant Book: a fully transliterated chant book with over a hundred mantras and kirtan chants.


  • Sanskrit Pronunciation Audio Series 


  • 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


How do I buy a harmonium for the course?

Please email my friends in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India at: info@saptaswara.in and mention that you are taking a course with K. Sridhar’s American student Allison. Ask Saptaswara Musicals about their money back guarantee if the instrument arrives damaged.

I suggest a double reed harmonium without a coupler. At least seven stops, more is fine. You don’t need anything fancy. With shipping it should cost $400-ish.


How does Rivers of Sound compare to Allison’s course An Ocean of Sound?

In An Ocean of Sound Allison offered a deep and thorough introduction to kirtan music. The course includes ten 90-minute classes and ten 60-minute kirtan sessions, many of which are organized so you can play along with Allison at home on your own harmonium.

Rivers of Sound will repeat some of what An Ocean of Sound includes, enough to welcome those new to kirtan. However, grads of An Ocean of Sound who want to lead kirtan are encouraged to join and will receive a significant discount. 

Rivers of Sound will directly address how to lead kirtan, both in-person and online. For example, you’ll learn how to optimize audio so it doesn’t sound distorted over streaming. We’ll go through the basics of developing a home harmonium and chanting practice and if there’s interest, Allison will offer further exploration into the different aspects of kirtan music in future levels of Rivers of Sound; ostensibly becoming a multi-leveled kirtan course instructing rhythm, melody, scales, sanskrit pronunciation, confidence building, community building, writing your own melodies, etc, all of which will be introduced in this initial course.

Since Rivers of Sound includes private session time structured into the course, and checked homework through audio and video messages, your own personal musical journey can be cultivated as we move through the material in community. You’ll enjoy having lifetime access to the materials; a lot will be offered, and this way you can always go back and review. Even your private sessions can be archived for future review.

Learn:

  • How to play the Harmonium: gain access to the music library with video tutorials for 50+ mantras and chants 
  • Sanskrit: Correct pronunciation and how to read the transliteration, access to the fully transliterated HoYS Digital Chant book
  • Rhythm: rhythms other than 4 and how to use the iTabla Pro app
  • Scales and exercises for the voice and harmonium
  • Practices for calming the nervous system and building confidence
  • How to live stream and optimize audio for leading kirtan online
  • Community Building + How and where to lead a kirtan

Sign up here

Sign up and more info

Link Coming Soon

"An Ocean of sound" testimonials:

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

I completed Allison's Ocean of Sound music course and have studied with her one-on-one as well.  Allison taught me how to listen, feel and express music from a new and holistic perspective.  I have 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 th

I completed Allison's Ocean of Sound music course and have studied with her one-on-one as well.  Allison taught me how to listen, feel and express music from a new and holistic perspective.  I have 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 and yet I know I have only scratched the surface.

Allison is a deeply studied and emotionally connected teacher. Learning from Allison is fun, encouraging and equally spiritual, musical, and brain re-wiring.

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 have the good fortune of finding the right teacher.

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


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. A

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. And don't even get me started about the MUSIC LIBRARY! I am so grateful to have found Allison and this program.

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

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

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 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

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

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 interwoven into my practice playing the harmonium has become. - Lauren Thie

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 y

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 possesses the uncommon combination of extraordinary beauty and clarity of singing voice, instrumental prowess, and wide-genre mastery with an unsurpassed ability to transcend human and social barriers in teaching and performance.  Taken together, she uses this to create an inclusive and educational oasis of love, peace, and oneness. 

-Bret Peterson

Lifetime access to the Music Library

"An Ocean of Sound" includes lifetime access to the ever expanding Music Library which includes over 80 video tutorials like this one, and transliterated worksheets for 50+ chants and mantras. 

Kirtan and Sacred Music

What is Kirtan?

Kirtan is call and response chanting, usually in the Sanskrit language. It is one of the main practices of Bhakti yoga; the path of devotion and love. Singing and hearing stories focuses the mind, helps tension lift to the surface and allows it to dissipate; subduing the emotional storms. 


Why is Kirtan practiced?

Kirtan creates an uplifting vibration for the mind to swim in, enabling deeper states of peaceful awareness in our day to day lives. 


How is Kirtan beneficial to the modern yogi?

We can benefit from utilizing more tools that transform our internal resonance by sublimating the raw emotional material that causes inner disturbance. Kirtan is one such tool, revealing directly our essential nature by way of sound. This practice clears the path from heart chakra to throat chakra, allowing our hearts and voices to shine authentically, expressing both confidence and vulnerability in cleaner and clearer ways.



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