Harmonium Workshop
Sura is leading Harmonium/kirtan workshops and classes all over Southern California. Here in Encinitas 13 students learn to play Temple Bhajan Band style.
Please Call (310) 869-2989 and ask for Sura.
See the Clip from Harmonium/Kirtan Workshop DVD below to get a taste of Sura's workshop!
Reviews and Testimonials
Reviewed by LA Yoga Magazine May 2010 by Ryan Brewer:
I think it's wonderful that Sura Dasa has taken it upon himself to be one of the first people to create an instructional kirtan DVD. Being in the heart of the kirtan movement in Santa Monica I can say there are many opportunities to take part in kirtan here. However, unless you can afford to fly out to one of Jai Uttal's kirtan camps, there are few opportunities to learn how to lead kirtan. For that reason Sura Das' valuable contribution provides more opportunities for people to learn more about this Bhakti Yoga practice.
This DVD is appropriate for absolute beginning kirtan leaders who have access to a harmonium, tanpura, ektar or a set of kartals. The majority of the DVD is devoted to playing the harmonium and singing specific chants along with it. In true Bengali style, he shows how one can easily set a drone for the prayer and play along with the melody one note at a time. This is a nice technique for creating a very full sound with your harmonium without doing anything fancy! Truly no prior music knowledge (Indian or Western) is needed to follow along. The portion devoted to the other instruments is extremely brief although it can be interesting if you've never seen the instruments in action before.
Putting all technique aside, ultimately I believe you learn to lead kirtan best by having the courage to put your whole heart into the song despite your musical prowess. Kirtan is a prayer.... not a performance. The DVD will give you a few tips to get started with your prayer, then it is up to you to be vulnerable enough to open your heart and sing your truth.
Kudos to Sura Das for sharing a piece of his heart with the community in this DVD: www.templebhajanband.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings Sura – I attended your workshop last night and wanted to thank you again for a very fun and informative experience. I feel like I learned a lot and can confidently sit at a harmonium and lead a few kirtans.
I was also thinking about something you said last night about a harmonium concerto and wondered if you’d ever heard Music for a Found Harmonium.
Sincerely, Roger Kuhn
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just wanted to send you a quick note to not only thank you for such a wonderful workshop but to say how amazing it was to be able to leave your offering with songs in my heart that I could actually go home and practice on my harmonium. You have such a great presence and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to study with you.
Ironically enough, you performed at Wake Up Yoga in Philadelphia on Friday evening, which is where my business partner, Beth did her teacher training. Together, she and I co-own a yoga studio in both Collingswood & Riverton, NJ {both just a short drive across the bridge}. I'm looking forward to attending your next kirtan!!!
A quick question too. Beth (my partner) and I are currently co-teaching a 200 hour yoga teacher training. One of the components is a section on bhakti / kirtan. Our original harmonium player is unfortunately unable to participate in tomorrow night's presentation. I was wondering if there was a fairly simple mantra or two that I would be able to add to the five songs I learned in your class? Maybe Om Namah Shivaya? or Om Gam Ganapataye Namah? If you had the time and would be willing, could you suggest something that I could offer to our students?
Again, Sura, thank you so much for a phenomenal workshop!!! Can't wait to take another...maybe a part 2?!?!
All my best,
Lisa
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sura,
Thank you for an amazing workshop at Jivamukti on Sunday. My name is Diane and I have been playing my harmonium ever since (I have never played an instrument before).
Gratitude...............
The vibrations are cracking open my heart and I have been very emotional while playing Sri Rama.
Many Blessings to you,
Diane
I think it's wonderful that Sura Dasa has taken it upon himself to be one of the first people to create an instructional kirtan DVD. Being in the heart of the kirtan movement in Santa Monica I can say there are many opportunities to take part in kirtan here. However, unless you can afford to fly out to one of Jai Uttal's kirtan camps, there are few opportunities to learn how to lead kirtan. For that reason Sura Das' valuable contribution provides more opportunities for people to learn more about this Bhakti Yoga practice.
This DVD is appropriate for absolute beginning kirtan leaders who have access to a harmonium, tanpura, ektar or a set of kartals. The majority of the DVD is devoted to playing the harmonium and singing specific chants along with it. In true Bengali style, he shows how one can easily set a drone for the prayer and play along with the melody one note at a time. This is a nice technique for creating a very full sound with your harmonium without doing anything fancy! Truly no prior music knowledge (Indian or Western) is needed to follow along. The portion devoted to the other instruments is extremely brief although it can be interesting if you've never seen the instruments in action before.
Putting all technique aside, ultimately I believe you learn to lead kirtan best by having the courage to put your whole heart into the song despite your musical prowess. Kirtan is a prayer.... not a performance. The DVD will give you a few tips to get started with your prayer, then it is up to you to be vulnerable enough to open your heart and sing your truth.
Kudos to Sura Das for sharing a piece of his heart with the community in this DVD: www.templebhajanband.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings Sura – I attended your workshop last night and wanted to thank you again for a very fun and informative experience. I feel like I learned a lot and can confidently sit at a harmonium and lead a few kirtans.
I was also thinking about something you said last night about a harmonium concerto and wondered if you’d ever heard Music for a Found Harmonium.
Sincerely, Roger Kuhn
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just wanted to send you a quick note to not only thank you for such a wonderful workshop but to say how amazing it was to be able to leave your offering with songs in my heart that I could actually go home and practice on my harmonium. You have such a great presence and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to study with you.
Ironically enough, you performed at Wake Up Yoga in Philadelphia on Friday evening, which is where my business partner, Beth did her teacher training. Together, she and I co-own a yoga studio in both Collingswood & Riverton, NJ {both just a short drive across the bridge}. I'm looking forward to attending your next kirtan!!!
A quick question too. Beth (my partner) and I are currently co-teaching a 200 hour yoga teacher training. One of the components is a section on bhakti / kirtan. Our original harmonium player is unfortunately unable to participate in tomorrow night's presentation. I was wondering if there was a fairly simple mantra or two that I would be able to add to the five songs I learned in your class? Maybe Om Namah Shivaya? or Om Gam Ganapataye Namah? If you had the time and would be willing, could you suggest something that I could offer to our students?
Again, Sura, thank you so much for a phenomenal workshop!!! Can't wait to take another...maybe a part 2?!?!
All my best,
Lisa
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sura,
Thank you for an amazing workshop at Jivamukti on Sunday. My name is Diane and I have been playing my harmonium ever since (I have never played an instrument before).
Gratitude...............
The vibrations are cracking open my heart and I have been very emotional while playing Sri Rama.
Many Blessings to you,
Diane
