Introduction to Sikh Kirtan Course

Introduction to Sabad Kirtan

Course Description

The online course “Introduction to Sabad Kirtan” is based on traditional style of Kirtan learning and will cover step by step lessons for beginners in Kirtan. By the end of the course, the student will know the basics of Sabad Kirtan including relation between Gurbani and Rags, fundamentals of vocal singing, rhythm (tal), notation system and learn simran of Satinam Vahiguru and one Sabad in rag.

The course is divided into 12 chapters. Each chapter has text lessons along with audio or video clips followed by quiz and reference material.

The course is designed to match your learning pace. You can go through all the 12 chapters in 12 days or 24 days or 12 weeks.

Bhai Kultar Singh & Dr. Manjit Singh

Bhai Kultar Singh is the Hazuri Ragi of Gurduara Bangla Sahib and Gurduara Sis Ganj Sahib, Delhi, India. His father and grandfather, Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Jwala Singh, were greatest Kirtanie of their times. He has been teaching traditional kirtan melodies to students living in North America for several years.Dr. Manjit Singh is a researcher, educator, practitioner and lover of Gurbani Kirtan. Passionate about the fine musical details contained in the Guru Granth Sahib, he is keen to bring forth their original flavor through original research and collaboration with experts in the field. He is the founder of SikhRI’s Sabad Kirtan-Musical Heritage program. He holds a PhD in Acoustics and Masters in Gurmat Sangit.

Course curriculum

1

Course Overview
- Overview - Important Tips
2

Week 1 - Fundamentals of Sikh Music
- Introduction
- Introduction of Prof. Kartar Singh Ji
- Introduction of Principal Sukhwant Singh Ji
- Introduction of Bhai Kultar Singh Ji
- What is Kirtan - Prof. Kartar Singh Ji
- What is Kirtan - Principal Sukhwant Singh Ji
- What is Kirtan - Bhai Kultar Singh ji
- What is Rag
- What is Rag - Prof. Kartar Singh Ji
- What is Rag - Principal Sukhwant Singh Ji
- What is Rag - Bhai Kultar Singh Ji
- Reference material
- Quiz - Fundamentals of Sikh Music
- Practice Lesson - Satinam Vahiguru (Female scale)
- Practice Lesson-Satinam Vahiguru (Male scale)
- Feedback for Week 1
3

Week 2 - Guru Granth Sahib Musical Framework
- Organization of Gurbani
- Rags in the Guru Granth Sahib
- Title of Sabad
- Folk music components
- Relationship between Gurbani and Rag
- Relationship between Kirtan and Rag - Prof. Kartar Singh Ji
- Relationship between Kirtan and Rag - Principal Sukhwant Singh Ji
- Relationship between Kirtan and Rag - Bhai Kultar Singh Ji
- Guru Granth Sahib Musical Framework
- Practice Lesson - Rag Asa - Female scale
- Practice Lesson - Rag Asa - Male scale
- Feedback for Week 2
4

Week 3 - Fundamentals of vocal singing
- Svar and Saptak
- Singing of Fundamental Note ‘Sa’
- Singing of Fundamental Note 'Sa'
- Tanpura
- Singing of all Notes on Male scale
- Singing of all Notes on Female scale
- Types of Saptak
- Saptak on Staff scale
- Use of Harmonium for Voice Training
- Saptak on Harmonium/Keyboard
- Practice Lesson - Week 3
- Feedback for Week 3
5

Week 4 - Fundamentals of Tal (Rhythm)
- Importance of Tal in music
- Key terms used in a Tal
- Introduction of Tin Tal
- Practice Lesson - Week 4
- Feedback for Week 4
6

Week 5 - Introduction to Indian music notation system
- Indian music notation system
- Voice Training
- Daily Practice - Riyaz
- Practice of Alankars
- Feedback for Week 5
- Practice Lesson - Week 5
7

Week 6 – Simran of Satinam Vahiguru
- Singing of Satinam Vahiguru (Line-1)
- Singing of Satinam Vahiguru (Line-1)
- Feedback for Week 6
- Practice Lesson - Week 6
- Rate the course
8

Week 7 – Simran of Satinam Vahiguru
- Singing of Satinam Vahiguru (Line-2)
- Singing of Satinam Vahiguru (Line-2)
- Satinam Vahiguru Female scale
- Satinam Vahiguru Male scale
- Feedback for Week 7
- Practice Lesson - Week 7
9

Week 8 – Rag Asa Introduction
- Rag Asa Introduction
- Rag Asa Introduction
- Introduction of Rupak Tal
- Introduction of Rupak Tal
- Asa Sabad - Line 1 & 2
- Asa Sabad Line 1-2
- Practice Lesson - Week 8
- Feedback for Week 8
10

Week 9 – Rag Asa Sabad – Line 3-4
- Rag Asa Sabad - Line 3-4
- Rag Asa Sabad - Line 3-4
- Asa Sabad Line 1-4 with Tabla
- Feedback for Week 9
- Practice Lesson - Week 9
11

Week 10 – Rag Asa Sabad – Line 5-6
- Rag Asa Sabad – Line 5-6
- Rag Asa Sabad – Line 5-6
- Feedback for Week 10
- Practice Lesson - Week 10
12

Week 11 – Rag Asa Sabad – Line 7-8
- Rag Asa Sabad – Line 7-8
- Rag Asa Sabad – Line 7-8
- Asa Sabad –Line 5-8 with Tabla
- Asa Sabad – All Lines with Tabla
- Asa Sabad Complete-Bhai Kultar Singh Ji–Male scale
- Asa Sabad Complete-Bhai Kultar Singh Ji –Female scale
- Practice Lesson - Week 11
- Feedback for Week 11
13

Week 12 – Daily Practice (Riyaz) and Next Steps
- Riyaz and Next Steps
- Daily Practice - Riyaz -1
- Daily Practice - Riyaz - 2
- Voice Training - Practice in Akar
- Feedback for Week 12
- Rate the course

Reviews

Good

Sarah Malley

I thought the videos were very informative and all information was well put together.

Read Less

Very nice course to start

valeria Padrino

I have been enjoying every week of the course, is made in a simple way that allows you to start your journey with sabad kirtan

Read Less

Titles are perfect, I think.

Sharanjeet Kaur Suri

I am so grateful to all those who have created this wonder ful course. I am so thankful to wahe guru for directing me to this very well planned course. I am ...

I am so grateful to all those who have created this wonder ful course. I am so thankful to wahe guru for directing me to this very well planned course. I am quite a novice to find lapses. The only suggestion is that the kirtan sung by the 3 professors is not loud enough. I really had to strain my ears to hear them..

Read Less

harinder brar

very informative , learned a lot, simple person like me without any knowledge of music, can understand gurbani with a new way

Read Less

course rating

preet kaur

Excellent Course. I got to know the basics. Regular feedback from my instructor was the single most important thing that helped me make progress. No doubt th...

Excellent Course. I got to know the basics. Regular feedback from my instructor was the single most important thing that helped me make progress. No doubt the student has to put in hard work and do his/her own research during the learning process but this course provide excellent pointers to the areas of research. Provides step by step approach.

Read Less

Basic well thought

Harleen Kaur

Very well taught....teaches to get a better knowledge of singing .

Read Less

The best platform

Jasmine Kaur

A best platform to learn Shabad Kirtan, loved it.

Read Less

Review Of Classes

Evan Adams

I just passed the halfway point in this course, and I want to say that I am very grateful that this course is available for free, and that it is very informa...

I just passed the halfway point in this course, and I want to say that I am very grateful that this course is available for free, and that it is very informative. I have been studying Western music for over twenty years, and this class so far has been very helpful in understanding both how Indian Classical music is written, as well as the background of Gurbani Kirtan, of which I have particular interest.

Read Less

Great course

Manpreet Kler

Great course with mixture of multi-media techniques. I would recommend this course to anyone.

Read Less

feedback

Devinder Trehan

-very organized -a few more quizzes would be helpful ex. what is sum, tali, khali -good sound and picture on the videos -weekly call-in also helpful, but ...

-very organized -a few more quizzes would be helpful ex. what is sum, tali, khali -good sound and picture on the videos -weekly call-in also helpful, but harder for EST students -good to have the call recorded and dropbox link...very punctually done -go at own pace is better...ex. release every course part at the beginning

Read Less

Enroll Free