Kirtan Leader Devotee Foundation
The role of Kirtan Leader is a position that involves "presenting the teachings" to the public, leading the congregation, being the first experience of SRF for new people that come to that kirtan, and many layers of communication between the players, audio team, and sometimes ushers and schedulers. It is ideal for the devotee have a solid base of personal sadhana, study of the SRF teachings, attendance at group meditations and services, and experience leading non-kirtan meditations, before being a kirtan leader. Leading a kirtan adds many complexities and aptitudes that are not part of leading with harmonium only. Also, a kirtan leader is a visible role at a group, and the person ideally have sufficient experience in the teachings to be sincere, humble, devotional, and harmonious in their interactions at the group.
Kirtan Leader Foundation Illustration
This image gives a representation of the "foundational aspects" of being a Kirtan Leader at an SRF group, and shows how the upper layers on the pyramid are built upon the lower ones.
Things to Avoid
Because kirtan overlaps with the expression of creativity, and exists as a genre outside of SRF, it is necessary to tune into the specific characteristics of SRF Kirtan more so than kirtan as a whole, as the aesthetic of kirtan as a whole may involve more instruments, different forms (call-and-response), and promote a more outward expression such as dancing. There is nothing wrong with these devotional practices, but kirtan in SRF is specifically used to promote opening of the heart and interiorization of the consciousness to lead directly into meditation in stillness. For this reason it is ideal to select leaders who are dyed in the principles of SRF and discipleship to Guruji (plus interest in the necessary musical aspects), than only a kirtan enthusiast who wishes to present kirtan in an SRF environment.
It is also ideal to avoid any dynamic where kirtan leaders at a group are seeing the attendees as a potential audience to be invited to offsite kirtan performances. The best kirtan leaders are able to guide the congregation effectively in heartfelt group chanting but with an ability to "be invisible" such that the attendees are able to experience primarily their own personal communion with God and the Gurus. So, it is not a performance, but also the kirtan leader should not shrink from the duties of leading in the name of being humble. The voice should be strong, clear, and easy to follow, and there should be a utilization of intensity of chanting where applicable, and the chant should be infused with heartfelt devotion. It is also good to grow in musical understanding to create cohesion among the instruments and to be able to render more complex chants in an effective way. On the other hand, adding unique instruments and complex arrangements for the purpose of adding to the musical entertainment, before developing the fundamentals of simplicity, accuracy, cohesion, and conduction to interiorization, should be avoided.