LEVEL 1: Launch YOUR Home Chant Practice

If you want to play harmonium and lead Kirtan in yoga classes or in your community... or desire to do so, this INTRODUCTORY Kirtan Leader intensive is for you! 

This four day INTRODUCTORY intensive offers big fun, amazing community and practical learning around "How to" launch your own home CHANT practice, and perhap event share Kirtan with others!

Come join us if you are a Kirtan Leader ready to take a safe and fun step into leading Kirtan. You may already have a home Kirtan practice, or share Kirtan in yoga classes or on retreats. Or, perharps you long to do so. Either way, the curriculium of this training will get you up and running in no time!

HOW WE LEARN
Within a safe space, this fun program quickly gets beginning Kirtan Leaders up and running with their home chant practice and prepares them to share Kirtan with others. Using a time-tested and well proven methodology, the elements of this four day introductory program (training sessions, work with a professional drummer, Mike's Kirtan event and a culminating Kirtan Leader potluck and jam session) create the perfect structure for beginning chant leaders to step into a HOME chant practice, and perpare to share Kirtan with others. 

ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM
You will learn to sing and play (on the harmonium) six chants from your favorite Kirtan artists, connect with amazing community, have big fun and step into this exquisite heart-opening practice in a new and deeper way!

YOU WILL LEARN TO:
* Play chords with ease and make the most of the harmonium
* Strengthen your singing
* Expand your repertoire with six chants from your favorite chant artists
* Build comfort in speaking publicly about chants, telling stories, and sharing the power of Kirtan as a sacred practice

WHEN: 
* Thursday, March 15 from 9am-3pm (training session)
* Friday, March 16 from 9am-2pm (training session)
* Saturday, March 17 Kirtan event at 7:30pm
* Sunday, March 18 from 6-9pm - potluck and Kirtan Leader Jam Session. Those deemed ready will have the opportunity to lead the group in a chant with a professional drummer and response singer. 

WHERE: 
Nyland Co-housing, 3525 Nyland Way Lafayette, CO 80026. http://www.nylandcohousing.org/

ONSITE HOUSING
A limited number of very affordable and highly convenient onsite housing slots are available at Nyland Co-Housing on a first-come, first serve basis. Contact Mike ASAP to arrange! 

HARMONIUM
You will need to beg, borrow, steal, purchase or rent a harmonium for this program. Don't have access to a good harmonium? Don't worry. We can help you purchase or rent a great instrument.

HIGH TOUCH, HIGH LEARNING
Just as in Dancing with the Stars, or Fantasy Baseball Camp, this Kirtan Leader Intensive will offer you the opportunity to work with professional musicians who are accustomed to performing at large, successful Kirtan events. 

Working with professionals will quickly increase your level of development, as there are no external obstacles to developing your Kirtan skills. You will experience the added value of accessing real time coaching guidance within a safe and supportive container so you stay focused on your learning edge. 

Program participants will be supported by Mike Cohen and outstanding percussionist/educator Issa Malluf in building the skills and gaining the confidence to step into sacred chant in a whole new way!

All participants will receive downloads of Mike's three albums, a 30 page handout on Kirtan and Bhakti Yoga and detailed chant sheets for the songs we work with. 

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
"I loved learning to play the harmonium and I am so excited to have one now!! I've been playing everyday and I am hooked. It's amazing how great I feel everytime I chant, it's like the express way to bliss. I'm feeling so much gratitude for this practice and want to go deeper. I really feel like this is what I need to be doing. It feels so clear to me."
-- Heather Harris, dance/yoga instructor and choreographer

""I'm feeling grateful for amazing experiences at Mike Cohen's Kirtan leadership intensive in Boulder, CO.This is an awesome systematic training that gets you leading Kirtan quickly! I have attended three Kirtan training programs and this one, by far, generated the most beautiful connections and deepest learning. There was so much wonderful energy created with such beautiful souls - I can't recommend this program enough!"
-- John Warriner, Kirtan Leader 

"There are so many dimensions to leading this practice, yet Mike skillfully guided each participant through the process so that it never seemed overwhelming.”
-- Tim Jordan, RN BSN, yoga teacher, Kirtan leader

TUITION INCLUDES: 
* 11 hours of class time.
* Lunch on Friday afternoon. 
* Free admission to Saturday night Kirtan event.
* Participation in Sunday evening Kirtan Leader jam session and potluck.

This 16 hour program is limited to 30 participants and will sell out- act now to reserve your spot!!

ENROLLMENT: 
* Early bird tickets $325 through February 28.
* General admission tickets $375 starting March 1.
* Level 2 program is $375 by February 28 and $425 March 1.
* Level 1 + Level 2 only $645 for both through February 28. $745 starting March 1. 

* Have you already a taken the Level 1 training and would love a refresher? Join us Friday, March 16 from 9am-2pm for our Alumni refresher day. Early bird $119 through February 28. General admission $129 starts March 1.

Register here. 

Or, send check to Mike Cohen - 3551 Nyland Way Lafayette, CO 80026

If you are coming from out of town please consider participating in BOTH programs. 

If you are coming from out of town and have already taken the Level 1 intensive, consider the alumni refresher day!

TERMS OF SALE: Customer assumes all risk or danger incidental to the training or event(s), whether occurring prior to, during, or subsequent to, the actual program(s). 

NO REFUNDS: All sales are final. No refunds will be granted. However, funds may be applied to future programs. 

LIABILITY AND PHOTO/VIDEO RELEASE: I grant permission to Kirtan Leader Institute and Shiva Datta Music, LLC to use any/all photos or videos taken of me, the participant, for any Kirtan Leader Institute and/or Mike Cohen Kirtan event promotional purpose, including but not limited to the website, brochures, Facebook events, newsletter, photographer/videographer owned footage or other promotional items.

HEALTH DISCLAIMER: I certify that I, the participant, have consulted my physician and am in good health and have no physical or other impediment that would endanger me while participating. I hereby acknowledge that I understand all of the risks associated with this activity and knowingly agree to release, indemnify, discharge, waive and relinquish Shiva Datta Music, LLC (or its agents, employees, volunteers or parent companies or affiliates) from any and all liabilities, claims, or actions for personal injury, property damage, or wrongful death which may arise out of my participation.

FAQ coming soon. 

Got questions? Email Mike at [email protected].

ABOUT MIKE COHEN
Mike Cohen, MA is founder of Kirtan Leader Institute. Since 2010 he has trained and apprenticed hundreds of aspiring and emerging Kirtan Leaders across the globe from total beginners to several he has guided to create/release Kirtan albums, play at festivals and tour nationally. A life-long musician with 15 years experience developing leaders, Mike created a proven methodology for training and apprenticing Kirtan Leaders based around four relevant domains for leading Kirtan: Musicianship, Embodied Leadership, Community Building and Spirituality. Work within these 4 domains helps Kirtan Leaders build skill and confidence in serving others through the ancient/modern practice of sacred chant. Mike has released two critically acclaimed albums, and in 2016 will release new music created with legendary producer Ben Leinbach (Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, Deva Premal). For over a decade, Mike has toured North America, offering accessible and potent Kirtan events in yoga studios, healing centers and at yoga/chant festivals. Mike lives in Boulder, CO where he leads Kirtan, trains Kirtan Leaders and offers coaching, training. leadership development and mediation services. More at www.MikeCohenKirtan.com.

ABOUT SAMANTHA KELLER
Ashland, OR based Samantha Keller is a vocalist, vocal instructor, Kirtan leader and faculty at Kirtan Leader Institute. In addition to private sessions, Samantha offers inspiring workshops that guide students to their deepest expression which they can then share with the world. Her vocal workshops are playful, loving, and sacred. 

Samantha is a passionate stand for helping students find and express their authentic voice and tap into their creative potential. She has been described as encouraging, warm, caring, and one of her students recently described Samantha as a “midwife for her voice”. She is skilled at calibrating what she gives her students based on extensive experience and heightened sensitivity. Samantha has a well-honed sense of what’s too much and what’s not enough. 

A life-long performer, the last 2 years Samantha has shared the stage with Kirtan luminaries such as Mike Cohen, Tim Jordan, Katie Wise, Ganesha Das and Kat MacMillan. Samantha loves collaborating with other Kirtan artists. She recently performed at Bhakti Fest and Bhakti Village and sings regularly at Jackson Wellsprings. Samantha was featured on Mike Cohen’s 2016 release titled Illumination, and has joined him in the studio for his forthcoming album. 

Samantha studied with Silvia Nakkach and the Vox Mundi School for 7 years. In 2008 she received a sound healing certification through C.I.I.S in San Francisco, CA. 

In an earlier musical incarnation, Samantha performed at EarthDance, Beloved, BaliSpirit, and the Whole Earth Festival with her a cappella groups Sirenz and Dis Moi. Her bands toured the Pacific North West, recorded 2 self-titled albums and performed regularly in the Santa Cruz and greater Bay Area. 

ABOUT DAWNIA DRESSER

Boulder, CO based Dawnia Dresser is an Anusara inspired yoga teacher and lifelong vocalist/musician. During her 19 years in Los Angeles, CA Dawnia co-created three albums of original folk-rock music and contributed extensively on albums and movies as a vocalist and voiceover artist. A graduate of Colorado State University with a degree in music and vocal performance, Dawnia serves as faculty in the Boulder, CO based Kirtan Leader Institute.

ABOUT KEN MATARAZZO
Ken Matarazzo is a Boulder, CO based performer and teacher who has studied and performed on frame drums and afro cuban percussion since the early 90’s. Some of his teachers include master drummers, Randy Crafton, Layne Redmond and John Amira. Ken has collaborated with diverse artists, such as Jerry Joseph, Layne Redmond, Jim Matus and most recently Kirtan Leader Mike Cohen. Ken currently serves as faculty in the Boulder, CO based Kirtan Leader Institute.