Join us this fall for a 6-week live online Harmonium course on Zoom, designed for practitioners, teachers, and kirtan enthusiasts alike who desire to upgrade their spiritual connection and their personal joy, build a foundation in harmonium playing, learn more sacred mantras for their personal practice or community offering, and dive deeper into the heart of Bhakti yoga in a tightly-knit community of like-minded peers.
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Mantras can be powerful vehicles of awakening, and when practiced as a community they become even more potent. Communal chanting is described by ancient Vedic literature as the highest and easiest form of meditation to practice in our age where overwhelm and distraction are the norm. Through the repetition of transcendental sounds, we are effortlessly able to calm the material anxieties of the mind, remove barriers around the heart, and create a stable frequency in the body for ultimate self-healing.
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In the practice of kirtan, musical ability is not required — simply chanting from the heart yields great results! However, one’s ability to connect in kirtan can be greatly enhanced by studying the moods and techniques of music and voice. Trainees will discover the history and philosophy behind ancient devotional chanting and learn how to integrate it into their daily life. Together, we will explore 10 different Sanskrit mantras and melodies, develop foundational skills in playing the harmonium, and experience the importance of breath and voice in confidently expressing yourself without restriction.
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Catiebelle facilitates a safe spaces to express yourself authentically, and aims to cultivates a learning environment that is interactive, fun, and engaging. Each class will provide opportunities to connect with other members of the course, share your questions and progress, and receive positive feedback and encouragement from Catiebelle and your fellow participants.
“The heart is like a mirror. When we dust it off, we are able to see ourselves. The dust is all our stuff - guilt, shame, anger - this stuff is reflected back to us. The practice of chanting mantra removes the dust from the mirror of our hearts.” ~ Krishna Das
6 Group Sessions
plus
2 Personal Lessons
Whole & Holy is designed for those coming home to the truth of who they are ~ full of bliss and eternally connected to the Divine. This is for yogis, singers, artists, meditators, musicians, anyone who has been told they have a "bad voice" and is scared of singing, those who believe themselves to not be musically gifted, anyone cultivating a deeper connection with their devotion, anyone desiring to learn more about Sanskrit and Hindu Gods & Goddesses, anyone interested in learning about the power of their subtle energy within, and anyone who is seeking structure and connection with a supportive community of other truth seekers.
By the end of the course students will be able to:
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Learn the foundations of a strong harmonium practice
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Competently and confidently lead and participate in kirtans with harmonium accompaniment
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Understand the importance of and history of kirtan
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Explore the power of their unique and authentic voice
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Understand the fundamentals of melody and harmony
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Learn how to hold rhythm and develop their sense of timing through basic beats
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Recite and chant various mantras and bhajans, understanding their literal translations and spiritual significance
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Sprinkle these practices into their classes to allow for a more holistic, well rounded and inspiring asana practice
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“Chanting is a significant and mysterious practice. It is the highest nectar, a tonic that fully nourishes our inner being. Chanting opens the heart and makes love flow within us. It releases such intoxicating inner bliss and enthusiastic splendor, that simply through the nectar it generates, we can enter the abode of the Self.”
~ Swami Muktananda
Mantra Yoga is perhaps one of the most ancient ways of self realization. Mantras are universal, energetic portals into a world of wonder, mystery, happiness, and prosperity. "Man" means mind and "tra" means wave, Mantra is that which controls the waves of the mind. According to the yogic and metaphysical science, Mantras are primal sounds that alter the patterns of the mind and brain chemistry. Patanjali Sutra 1.2: yogas-chitta-vritti-nirodhah “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations, or whirlings, of the mind.”
The ancient sages describe Mantra as a seed, which when ripe flowers the Divine within you.
This training takes place in 6 Modules/Weeks and is 20 Continuing Education Hours. Students will meet to study and practice for 5 weeks. On the 6th week, we will hold a Sacred Music Open Mic, for students to share their favorite chant from the course with the group.
Throughout the 6 weeks, students will have 2 private sessions with Catiebelle, meeting you right where you are in your practice. These lessons are a great time to ask questions you may have come up, receive feedback on your playing, build technical music theory skills, learn training exercises unique to your needs, and request to learn one of your favorite mantras from your Spotify playlists.
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Curriculum Topics Explored:
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Safe Harmonium Care Practices
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Opening Prayers & Mantras for Dynamic Kirtans
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Intro to Notes, Major Scales, & How Chords Are Formed
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Preparing the Body to Chant Through Pranayama
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Voice, Ear, and Finger Training Exercises
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Transposing Melodies to Different Scales to Fit Your Vocal Range
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10 Mantras with Sanskrit Translations & Chord Progressions
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A Bit About The History, Philosophy, & Anatomy of Kirtan
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Establishing a Beat
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Cueing Other Musicians and The Audience
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Types of Vocal Dynamics
Program Includes:
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6 Group Sessions (2 hrs per week)
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2 Private Lessons (50min per call)
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Downloadable Mantra Notation Sheets
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Full Replay Library of all sessions in case you have to miss a class or desire to watch it again
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Private link to rewatch your personal sessions
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Private WhatsApp Group for community conversations
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Accountability Buddy for the course to connect with a peer at a deeper level
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Discounts on future Yogic Self-Care programs and retreats
“No man, however civilized, can listen for very long to African drumming, or Indian chanting, or Welsh hymn singing, and retain intact his critical and self-conscious personality.”
~ Aldous Huxley
PROGRAM DATES:
October 13, 2022 – November 17, 2022
Thursdays from 3:00pm–5:00pm Pacific / 6:00pm–8:00pm Eastern
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TUITION OPTIONS:
• Early Bird Until October 1st - A One Time Payment of $411.00 USD
• Full After October 1st - A One Time Payment of $444.00 USD
• Three Monthly Payments of $158.00 USD
• One extra private session can be booked for an additional fee of $88.00 USD
Partial discounts for returning harmonium students.
Partial scholarships available for financial need candidates and BIPOC students.
Please Note:
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This class is accessible to every experience level - for the yoga teacher, the seasoned practitioner, and new comer alike. No music experience necessary, beginners are welcome!
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Class size is limited to allow for more personal attention and a more intimate, group experience. Early registration is recommend to ensure a space.
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You will need a harmonium to participate. A borrowed instrument will work, and you could even sign up with a friend and share a harmonium for class. If you would like to purchase one of your own, please email Catiebelle for recommendations on vendors.
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Viewing Device: Desktop or laptop computer will provide the best experience, although you can also connect via a tablet or smartphone.
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Internet Connection: High-speed broadband wired or wireless is best.
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Video: Download Zoom to your computer, or install the Zoom app to your device. For interactive group sessions, a webcam or integrated camera will allow others to feel more connected with you.
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Audio: A quality microphone is recommended to capture the sounds of the harmonium. Please email Catiebelle for recommendations on specific Zoom audio settings and microphones.
I would love to connect with you deeper, and answer any questions you may have leading up to our first group session. Below are some common questions I am asked. If you’d also enjoy setting up a one on one call to talk about the training, don’t hesitate to reach out!
FAQ
Q: When are the live sessions?
A: Six Thursdays in a row, October 13, 2022 – November 17, 2022
from 3:00pm–5:00pm Pacific / 6:00pm–8:00pm Eastern
Your two private lessons will be individually booked to fit your schedule.
Replay of all sessions will be available if you have to miss a week here and there!
Q: Do I need to have a harmonium to participate in this course?
A: Yes! Either your own, or if you sign up with a friend you can share a harmonium for the training. Below are a few of my suggested vendors. Many of my students have been first time players and purchased an instrument online or at a local shop.
~ Living in Portland, OR? I recommend heading to the Ananda Center in Beaverton and tell Micheal Fellows that Catiebelle sent you.
~ Getting one on the east coast? I recommend:
Keshav Music Pomona, NY
Mindra Harmoniums Queens, NY
~ Getting one in the midwest or online? I recommend:
Old Delhi Music Urbana, IL
Q: I’m tight on funds, what are my payment options?
A: The energy exchange for this course can be paid in one full payment, or split into 3 smaller payments spread over 3 months. * Please let me know if you qualify for one of the following discounts and I can send you a code to use at checkout — returning harmonium student, BIPOC student, veteran student, financial need scholarship student.
Once you have made an account and payment, you are fully registered for the training and should keep an eye out for a group welcome email with full training details about 3 days before our first group session on October 13th.
Q: What’s so special about this course, can’t I just study alone online with a cheap DIY video course?
A: Yes, you certainly can. I feel what sets our training apart is the community and the direct support it offers. Learning an instrument and sharing your voice can feel like a vulnerable process. Our space is female led by a teacher who knows your name and your individual practice needs, and the student peers who have signed up over the years have time and time again held safe space for each other’s authentic experiences, learning, and expression. I also keep the trainings small, so we have more time for questions, student shares, and personal guidance for each student.
If you have any other questions leading up to the training, don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly! Until then, here's a playlist of my favorite mantras to play while making lunch or walking the dog or dying your hair, to get you in the mood of divine love.
My name is Catiebelle Bulmer – visual artist, yoga educator, globe-trotting kirtan enthusiast, founder of Yogic Self-Care, and your partner in devotional chanting for inner healing over the next two months. When you sign up for Whole & Holy, you are signing up for an awakening of dynamic creative energy, a loving community, and an accountability to living your full truth as a cocreator with the Divine.
Having studied yoga and kirtan in their place of origin, India, it is my intent to preserve these traditions by bringing them to our communities in the West with as little alteration as possible.
It is my passion in life to help others like yourself come home to their innate joy and connection to the Divine. This work is my whole heart.
Please feel free to reach out with questions, and together we can explore whether this program is right for you.
