The kirtan leader has various responsibilities, some of which can vary depending how a Temple or Center does scheduling. Once scheduled, the kirtan leader needs to understand the format of the service (when to chant, when to meditate) and also the focal point of the meditation (such as a commemorative for a particular Guru). There may be some guidelines for chant selection to keep in mind. For example at Encinitas Temple, our kirtan leaders follow a general 3:1 ratio of Cosmic Chants to bhajans, and the bhajans should be drawn from the recordings on the SRF YouTube or streaming channels. In non-kirtan meditations we play only Cosmic Chants.

After selecting a number of chants and choosing the repertoire, the chants should be learned thoroughly so they can be played and sung comfortably, so the attention can be freed from the logistics of playing, to express the devotional aspects of the chant, lead the other players in the kirtan group, and lead the congregation. If a person other than the kirtan leader has been identified to handle training of the accompanists, the kirtan leader can focus on simply leading the chants, and allow the kirtan trainer to instruct the players how to provide effective accompaniment. But in general it is helpful for the kirtan leader to know the basics of what the accompanists will need to know and how the chant renderings will affect what the percussionists will play. For example, knowing whether a chant is in 4/4, 3/4, 6/8, mixed time signatures, or Free time, is essential. And if a 4/4 chant is rendered at a slower tempo it is helpful to know that the accompanists can play "double feel" so the chant will feel energetic and upbeat even when played at a slow tempo. If the chant is rendered at a medium or fast tempo, the percussion would be rendered in "straight time".

The kirtan leader generally has some responsibility for communicating with the group about logistics of any rehearsals and when to arrive for setup, depending on how the group operates. Sound checks and rehearsals should be light, relaxed, and focused on the essentials of learning the chant. Occasionally it can be helpful to play a full chant like it would be rendered in a service, but normally this is not necessary, and each chant can be practiced in a more brief way, touching on the beginning, end, and any key aspects that need to be practiced (such as a tempo change, or transition between sections if the chant moves between "free" and "in-time" sections).

It is fine to have a brief period of silence or short prayer before a rehearsal, but it is not necessary for the kirtan leader to treat it as a "service" with them as the leader. And especially for a sound check, the real service is coming up soon, so any spiritual aspect done for the rehearsal should be very light and there should be free flowing communication about aspects of microphones, tampura tuning, chant selections, rhythms, etc, without feeling that an extra layer formality need to be added.

The best thing that a kirtan leader can do, is be well prepared and adept in the skills and principles mentioned below. And naturally, through leading, the discipleship and devotion of the leader, and how deep they are able to take the chants within themselves (while handling the "outward duty" of leading at the same time), will shine through. When a kirtan leader is adept and natural at a chant, a small portion of concentration is on the execution of the chant, a small portion on the act of leading the players and congregation, and the predominant concentration is on the spiritual feeling behind the chant, offering the words to God.

These are principles and skills needed effectively leading a kirtan. Not of all of them have to be mastered in order to lead, but by becoming aware of them, and developing them, a kirtan leader will be on a path of improvement to lead effectively and guide the attendees deeper and deeper into the chanting experience:

• render chants with melodic and rhythmic accuracy (using Cosmic Chants book as source, and occasionally SRF bhajans using SRF recordings as source)

• ability to play chants with a metronome at a variety of tempos

• ability to "keep time" by tapping foot or moving the body on beat while chanting

• ability to play chants melody-only

• understanding of time signature and song form

• emphasize Cosmic Chants over Bhajans, and emphasize In Time chants over Free chants

• if using chords / drones / tapping, understand what chords are being used to create a tasteful aesthetic; if using tapping play in-time to enhance the rhythm of the chant

• understanding of what drone note should be used in order to instruct tamboura player or use an app for tamboura

• knowing how to start a chant and establish a tempo that the percussion can latch onto

• ability to vary the tempo for intentional speed-ups and slow-downs

• effective use of dynamics (louder & softer), including ability to chant quietly with intensity to interiorize

• singing into microphone to produce a good amplified sound and ability to work with A/V team to check monitor and house levels during sound check before a kirtan

• understanding of the roles of accompanying instruments and ability to direct rehearsals to create a cohesive group sound

• sufficient mastery of a chant to play it successfully while focusing primarily on the meaning and devotional aspects

• ability to enunciate clearly and project the voice in a rhythmic way that is easy to follow

• able to smoothly jump between sections of the chant and repeat subsections effectively and use subtle cues to guide the group through those changes

• can play chants for prolonged periods without breaking tempo, able to recover from wrong fingerings without stopping the chant

• coordinate with kirtan members to organize rehearsals and sound checks

• understanding and attunement with the goals of chanting and how it is used within the SRF teaching, ability to receive and apply guidance/feedback from committee chairs / minister's office / ministers

• effectively lead the group toward a devotional experience without becoming over-emotional or performative

• be able to "get out of the way" so that our personality is not leading the way, we become a clear channel for the practice of the chant

• ability to use repetition with intensity and getting quieter without losing tempo, to facilitate to pratyahara

The main role of the kirtan leader is to help the congregation to feel and express devotion.

Learn to spiritualize the chants and make them your own. Think about them, meditate on them and find passages that are meaningful to you and that awaken your devotion.

Learn to go deep with the chants repeatedly in your private meditations before you play them at temple events.

Kirtan is not a performance. Find ways to get your ego out of the way. Ask God to use you as his instrument. Remember that all power to think, speak and act comes from God. Before (and during the kirtan), ask God to bless everyone present with his tangible presence.