What is kirtan?
Kirtan is the devotional practice of singing the names of the Divine in call-and-response. There are no qualifications. The voice that arrives is the voice that belongs.
The teaching
Thoughts on kirtan practice
1. Introduction
Kirtan is just one of several forms of chanting from the Sanatana Dharma traditions of India. The chants are typically easier and shorter than the other forms. Kirtan is typically done in call-and-response form, although at times the group facilitator may ask for everyone to chant together.
2. Benefits
a. Stilling of the mind.
b. Purifying of self and surrounding atmosphere.
c. Opening of the heart / deepening of devotion.
d. Ecstatic states.
e. Union with God / Goddess / Deity / Self.
3. Cultivating a deeper understanding and experience of chanting
a. Kirtan simultaneously involves, or can involve, a number of yogic practices from Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga:
i. Posture (asana) — sitting in a comfortable way to maintain an erect spine for maximum flow of kundalini shakti.
ii. Breath (pranayama) — the regular inhaling and exhaling required to chant consistently constitutes a form of pranayama that also helps to still the mind.
iii. Concentration (dharana) — focusing on correctly singing the words and melody of the chant is a form of concentration.
iv. Individual discipline (niyamas) — cleanliness of thought, contentment, deepening commitment to yogic practice, self-study, and surrender of the self to God / Goddess.
b. Other practices of bhakti yoga: hearing the Divine Name, remembering God / Goddess in the act of chanting the Name, and praying.
c. Within yourself, intentionally create a bhav (mood) of devotion to and love for your chosen Deity and/or for the Divine.
i. If you already have a close relationship with a given Deity, invoke your deep love for That. If the chant is to a different Deity, you can still inwardly direct all of your feeling of devotion and reverence to your chosen Deity, remembering that each are just different facets of the One.
ii. If you do not, then invoke awe through remembrance of the most magical, mystical moments in your life — perhaps an experience with nature, a potently spiritual dream, or other transcendent moment.
iii. Visualize your heart chakra opening, like the opening of your favorite beautiful flower.
d. Open your voice (which will open your throat chakra) and sing as if your singing alone will unite you with the Deity of the chant, your favorite Deity, the Infinite.
e. Maintain an awareness of staying in the chant. If you are thinking about how attractive a certain person is, or what a great job the drummer is doing, or why you overate before kirtan, and so forth, you are definitely not in the chant. Obviously, in call-and-response chanting, these "strayings" are more likely to happen during the 50% of the time you are not chanting. If you find yourself straying, gently bring yourself back to the vibration and sounds of the chant and your yearning for the Divine, just as you would bring yourself back to the mantra in meditation when you become aware of thoughts arising.
f. Speaking of food, plan any pre-kirtan meal so you don't have a heavy stomach while chanting. Of course, also dress comfortably and eliminate other distractions, like being too hot or too cold (to the degree you can control) and not sitting comfortably (while still maintaining an erect spine), as well as cell phones, unnecessary fragrances, your mind, etc. If you need to sit in a chair, do it.
g. If the chant is not complicated, keep your eyes closed as much as possible, singing the words from memory and allowing your heart to soar with the chant. If you need to keep looking at the words, still at least close your eyes when you don't need to read the words (i.e., during the "call" part of the chant) and minimize what you might be tempted to otherwise look at when your eyes open, which will simply be more distraction from going deeper into the chant.
4. Pronunciation
I suggest you make some effort to properly pronounce the names and mantras. Some people feel proper pronunciation gives more power to the names / mantras, and others suggest it doesn't matter. But, either way, people that have a better understanding of proper pronunciation demonstrate more respect in general. Probably the most audible "offender" is the "r" sound. Listen online or to other recordings of Indian people singing and chanting or simply speaking, rather than Westerners. As a side note, I have never claimed to be an expert in Sanskrit pronunciation, but in particular in my chanting I differentiate between the syllables that show "a," which is pronounced as an "uh" sound, and "aa," which is pronounced as an "aa" sound, to my understanding.
5. Deities and Mantras
I also recommend that one learn the meanings of the mantras and names in the chants. If leading the chanting, tell people the meaning of what they are going to be chanting. It's not that people should be thinking about the meaning when they chant, but having an awareness of the meaning going into the chant is a foundation for experiencing the chant more deeply.