Chanting circle

facilitator course

2026

Deepen your ability to facilitate, hold space and lead Mantra Chanting circles and Kirtan with Kevin James and Susana

This course will provide everything you will need in order to lead your own chanting circle with more confidence, to have the room singing together with you in harmony.

This course is for anyone interested in going deeper into chanting circles: from yoga teachers who want to lead a chant after a class, to budding musicians with a vision to hold their own circles, to those who want make a life of chanting, recording, and songwriting, we will be sharing all that reflects a lifestyle of Bhakti.

To put yourself as a leader in front of a group can be a daunting or even a terrifying obstacle to pass. This course is designed to help you to transform that experience into something that is inspiring, enjoyable and relaxing, where you can give people a heart opening, and profound experience of your music.

“My intention is to share the deeper meaning of what it is to hold space for these kinds of circles in community, in service and to hold your intention with what you are sharing.

I will give you the tools, based on years of on-the-ground experience to support your musical offering, either as a workshop leader, or professionally as a Bhakti singer.

All could benefit from these effective and powerful tools of connection.” Kevin James

The Chanting circles

If you’ve sat in a chanting circle, and let your voice fly, surrounded by other voices in harmony like a chorus of angels, then you know the feeling.

It’s pure magic, a feeling that, at the time, is beyond any need or wanting. It’s complete fulfillment that transcends time. For me, the chanting circle allows us to co-create a wave that lifts us higher.

As a chanting circle leader, our role is to ride that wave and guide the group energy to take flight, to a place where there are no leaders, and then recognize the moment to land us back again smoothly and safely.

For me, it’s a taste of pure presence, when what is happening outside of us is so beautiful that you can only surrender, and let go of the endless searching for more, and drop into your own true nature.

When we hold a chanting circle, we offer an opportunity for everyone to harmonize and connect with the source together, directly, without the middleman.

Over the years of leading chanting circles with different groups around the world, I’ve developed it as a form of art based on real experience, that follows a natural flow. Making chanting inclusive and accessible to everyone regardless of experience, language or culture.

I feel the greatest service we can give as a chant leader, is to provide a space that helps people to reconnect with their hearts, experience positive feelings, and also deal with challenging emotions or situations in their lives.

If you are passionate about singing, love mantras and want to provide this experience to others, then this course is for you

What we will cover

By the end of this course, you will have the tools, knowledge and techniques to lead your own chanting circles, and share your music with the world.

Here’s how we will do that together:

INTRODUCTION

An introduction to chanting (Bhakti, Kirtan, Bhajans, Rainbow songs) and the circles

THE CHANTING CIRCLES

Preparation of yourself and the circle. A great circle is where your preparedness meets opportunity
Sound acoustics and sound equipment set up
Holding space in a chanting circle, supporting group connection. What can make or break the connection.
Chanting circle dynamics, rhythm and working with the rising and falling energy of the room, what works and what doesn’t
Create a ceremonial participatory experience vs. passive performance based.

MUSIC

Learn new songs on guitar or harmonium and the art of simplicity.
Songwriting and composition for circles. Sourcing inspiration and tapping into your creative potential
Receive personal help from Kevin to write your own song or develop your existing piece to be your own chanting hit.
Recording your own music. You will learn the different possibilities and techniques available to find what works best for you in making high quality recordings of your music, either live or in the studio. Receive tips on how to save time and money and avoid common mistakes that could make or break your music.
Music business. How to make an abundant business following the heart and keeping the vision. Basics of marketing adapted to the music industry.
Kevin will share his personal practices that:

– Improve your vocal tone

– Pitch and open your voice

– Connect you with your authentic, natural voice

– Singing with emotion to connect to the heart

– Taking care of your voice

Q&A

Every day we will dedicate time for answering any burning questions that you may have about any topic regarding your music. We will be there for you to support your journey as much as we can.

Highlights

• Chanting and more chanting. There will be chanting every day and we will also support each other to lead the group.

• Open Bhakti night chanting circle. For the last evening, we will be welcoming people from outside the retreat center and create a “Bhakti band” where some participants will have the opportunity to lead the group and put into practice what we have learned.

• Song sharing sessions. Depending on the group, we will take some time to share and learn new songs and mantras from around the world, provided by Kevin, but also amongst each other as we feel, expanding our repertoire and sourcing inspiration.

• Tailoring to your needs. During the registration process, we send a detailed questionnaire that will make this course more tailored as best we can to your needs.

• Personal attention. The course will have a maximum of 25 participants, to make sure all of you have the guidance you deserve and we can all get to know each other.

• Evening Jam session. Every evening, after dinner, is free time and a favorite amongst our participants is to get together in the living room or out by the fire and jam. Sometimes someone just shares a song and we all support or we start that way and then completely create something new on the spot. Either way, to be part of a circle of devotional musicians together is a rare and amazing opportunity and experience.

• Course & retreat. We believe that the best way to learn something is to immerse yourself in it. That’s why we created this course to be also a retreat, where you can completely focus on receiving, disconnect from the daily distractions, and at the same time be in a peaceful and inspiring natural environment.

• Final project. After the course, we will encourage a “final project” (or starting project 😉) to create a chanting circle in your hometown, where we can support you online with any doubts you have in the process during the following 8 weeks after the residential course.

8 Possible outcomes when you implement this course

Set up and offer a professional, high quality chanting circle where it’s easier to feel confident, relaxed and at your fullest potential.
Facilitate your circle as a ceremonial experience, shifting the consciousness away from performance based, into an inclusive co-creation, supporting people to open their hearts and sing.

Know how to create a space where it’s easier to connect, where the participants feel a sense of trust in you as a leader, allowing you to guide the group from separation into oneness.
To adapt to different situations, groups, and energies.
Tap into your creative juice and expand your repertoire to have a great selection of mantras and heartsongs where you can flow through different moods and feelings.
Bring more of your personal taste into your chanting circles, to create more of an inspiring, authentic and fulfilling experience for all.
Save time and money when recording and avoid common mistakes to make the most of your abilities and music.
Know how to run and market your business in a way that is in alignment with what you sing about and staying connected to the heart.
Feel part of a supportive community of like minded devotional musicians that are encouraging and inspiring each other, collaborating and sharing knowledge and also our challenges and weaknesses.

About Kevin James

Kevin James Carroll is an experienced musician of more than 30 years, Discovering mantras quite early on his musical journey, what began as a personal practice of chanting, later found its way into being a life of devotional music.

Starting in Australia, Kevin has shared his presence and heartfelt voice with groups from different cultures and religions throughout the world.

Since 2010 he started his “continuous” tour, beginning in Bali, then following invitations on to Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, later on to Scandinavia and throughout Europe, North America including many other countries like Russia, Bhutan and India.

His chanting circles are a dynamic and heart opening experience that weaves ancient Mantras with his own prayers and heartsongs, Kevin draws upon influences from traditional Indian Kirtan, Bhajans, Celtic and Sufi chants mixed with his own Heartsongs, western folk sounds and world instruments.

Since 2013 Kevin has recorded and co-produced 5 albums and numerous live albums and singles, all of which (including a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2020) were self funded from the music and independent of any music publishers or labels.

About Susana

Susana Rodriguez is originally from Spain and met Kevin in 2016, soon after, they began their life journey together.

Susana studied Psychology and a Master’s degree in Human Resources. After years working in the corporate world, in 2013 she decided to drop her “secure” life in Madrid follow a calling to travel the world.

Three years later, when Kevin and Susana met, he passed her the harmonium.
Without having a musical background, her life was taking an unexpected turn to becoming a musician.

Thanks to her experience in previous jobs, she also started to support, not only with the music, but also in all the organizational part that is required to travel and create events.

She dived into event management, marketing, graphic design, website development, and travel agent so to speak.

As our friends sometimes say, Kevin is the “creative mind” the one who creates the music and Susana is the “practical mind” who keeps the structure.

What previous participants say about this course

Our philosophy

When I was travelling in India, I met a very special and respected Tibetan shaman in Dharamsala. He said something to me that really resonated:

“You may learn something new here in India, but you don’t need to change your name or imitate us to benefit from it, that is only the outer covering. Take what you’ve learned inward and honor yourself with authenticity, do your best to live all that you resonate with as true, and then realization can occur. Share what you have learned, in your own way, that people from your culture can relate to and understand.”

We respect each participant for who they are and where they are at, simply offering support, with the freedom for they to choose, because we recognise that each of us grows in our own way and in our own time. We just provide the best we can to help you grow.

For me, the exciting thing is that a chanting circle is your own creation where rules are superseded by natural respect, free from religious dogma, you can sing or dance to your own tune.

We still may sing a traditional Kirtan call and response chant, or one with our own translation and melody, then followed by a Buddhist mantra, and then, a self composed Heartsong, a Sufi prayer, and american indian chant, or a Peruvian pachamama song, and a Hebrew song.

It really doesn’t matter, what matters is that we sing together and enjoy ourselves, diving deep in the sounds, and vibrations handed down to us from around the world and to pour ourselves into it until only the ineffable truth remains.

So, no matter who you are, where you are from, your beliefs or music preferences, I will share from a universal perspective where you are encouraged to keep or find your own style and my mission is to help you to expand and own it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Practical information

When and where will it be?

This unique course has been offered in previous years, and we’re excited to bring it back in 2026. The exact dates and location are yet to be confirmed.

If you want to receive updates as soon as we announce the details for the 2026 edition enter your name and email below.

Join the Waitlist

What level of musical knowledge is necessary to participate in this course?

This course is for you if you have an intermediate level of music experience or above. In other words, that you can play and sing multiple songs, and have basic knowledge of chords on your instrument.

This is not for you if you are completely new to music and singing (if so, hold tight as we will be holding a beginners course in the future)