Learn Authentic Mantra Singing, Chanting, Kirtan, Harmonium, Tabla, Santoor
Manish Vyas offers in the sacred musical traditions of India, rooted in authenticity, devotion, and classical understanding. His teaching includes Mantra singing and chanting, Harmonium, Vocals, Tabla, and Santoor, guided by time-honored principles passed down through living traditions. With his vast experience of more than 25 years in teaching music, especially to teh western students and lovers of Sacred Music of India, Manish is able to share a unique style, which is grounded in the authentic sound yet easy to understand and learn. Being from India originally, Manish is able to develop a sense of patience and commitment in the students' journey of this music.
Mantra chanting is taught in its true form, with attention to correct pronunciation, rhythm, tone, and inner awareness. The practice is approached as a sacred discipline, allowing the sound to become a vehicle for meditation, healing, and transformation.
Harmonium instruction follows the authentic style used in Mantra and devotional music, rich in melody and firmly supported by the Raga system and chords. This approach nurtures sensitivity, depth, and a natural connection between voice, breath, and sound.
Through these lessons, students develop a strong and authentic foundation in the sacred music of India—one that unites musical skill with devotion, presence, and inner stillness.
Your journey into the Sacred Music of India
These lessons are designed in such a way, that if you are a beginner, it will introduce you to the basic foundations of Indian Music, required in the Mantra and Kirtan singing, helping you to create strong roots. If you have been already a student for a certain period, the packages help you to deepen your process of learning and developing more confidence and fluency into singing and playing. Manish's guidance is one to one, helping each student enjoy the process of learning and creating a deep bond with the sound and vibrations of Mantras and Kirtans.
1 single lesson 45 min.
Learning at your own pace, paying lesson by lesson. This allows you to have ample time to practice and deepen the understanding before moving on to the next session.
EUR 70
1 single lesson 60 min.
Learning at your own pace, paying lesson by lesson, for those who prefer one whole hour.
EUR 80
1 single lesson for 2 students 55 min.
Learning at your own pace, paying lesson by lesson. For those who like to share the learning with a friend.
EUR 90
3 lessons 45 min.
Welcome package for new students! You give yourself the opportunity to meet your teacher and have an idea about the lessons and about learning Indian music. After these 3 lessons, you will have a frame of general understanding to know if Mantra, Harmonium or Indian music are for you!
Valid 1 month.
EUR 185
4 lessons 45 min.
Speed up the learning! Semi-intensive option, for those who would like to take a lesson a week and then decide how to continue based on that experience.
Valid 1 month.
EUR 260
5 lessons 45 min.
Building consistency and confidence in learning. Builds upon the introductory foundations, guiding students into a deeper and more integrated practice. The training focuses on combining melody with chord structures, developing coordination between both. Valid 5 months.
EUR 340
10 lessons 45 min.
From foundation to fluency: for committed students who prefer a long term deal. Designed to establish a well-rounded and confident practice, the training integrates harmonium technique, voice development, raga-based melody, and rhythmic understanding. It will expand the student's understanding of ragas and how chords are applied in accordance with the structure and mood, supporting both musical integrity and expressive depth.
Valid 10 months.
EUR 680
.jpg)
10 lessons 60 min.
From foundation to fluency: for committed students who prefer a little longer lessons. Students progressively refine their ability to combine melody, chords, and mantra while learning traditional mantras and kirtans rooted in classical frameworks. Emphasis is placed on consistency, attentive listening, and embodied practice, fostering a sustained and authentic engagement with this living musical tradition. Valid 10 months.
EUR 750
HOW TO BOOK?
Once you decided which package or lesson you would like to take, fill up the form below and let us know.
We will guide you with the rest of the process within the same day your request is received.
We will also provide you options of dates and times for your first lesson, but you can suggest already your preferences below.
We will also provide information about the payment options.
It is possible to pay by bank transfer to India or to Europe, and also Paypal and Credit Card (the last 2 option bear a 2% charge)
You will receive our answer and instructions by email with no delay.
The form below can also be used if you have questions.
About the Technical Aspects
Manish will give you some more tips for the online Zoom lessons (for the optimal sound) but these are some suggestions to be considered:
. . . . . . . . .
Recommended Setup:
-
Laptop or Computer
-
USB Microphone
-
Headphones (Any wired headphones)
1. First connect the microphone to your laptop and then connect a good quality headphone to your laptop
2. Download ZOOM app on your computer and open it. Preferably do not use Zoom through browser
3. Now on the left bottom, you will see an icon called AUDIO. Choose/open Audio settings there. Once you open, in the SPEAKER option, choose your headphones and test it. Then in the MICROPHONE option, choose the USB mic and test it
4. Then scroll down, you will see MICROPHONE MODES. You select - ORIGINAL SOUND FOR MUSICIANS, HIGH FIDELITY MUSIC MODE and ECHO CANCELLATION
5. This will be saved for future, but in case it doesn't work next time, refer to this settings
6. Last step - When you start the lesson, on the right top side, you will see an option called ORIGINAL SOUND FOR MUSICIANS. Switch this ON
You are ready for your lesson. When you open the ZOOM app, use the ID and passcode which is given for each lesson in advance.
TESTIMONIES
"Namaste Manish, I thank you for being such an amazing teacher and for your great lessons. I feel so fortunate to have been able to follow lessons and receive your digital uploads on you tube and mails. You have amazed and inspired me and for that I am thankful because you are truly a wonderful teacher. As a teacher you gave me tools I need to find growth on my path." (Deva, Netherlands)
Student: could you please suggest best way to learn music or musical instruments?
Manish: Namaste - Thank you for your mail! To learn music, one needs to know where is your natural flow going….towards singing or towards an instrument? If it is instrument, try to feel which one you would like to play the most, what resonates with you the most… and accordingly simply start. When you start learning, simply enjoy the process of learning without focusing on any goal of performing or anything else, just remain patient and keep learning and soon you will fall in love with the instrument and the music. Definitely learn from a teacher, not from books or youtube. It is best to have personal attention and guidance. I wish you the best. Om Shanti Manish Vyas
I felt like I was witnessing something very special.
Richard Wanderman, Washington, Connecticut.
(of a concert with Snatam Kaur where Manish played tabla)
Manish Vyas played tabla humbly in the background for the almost the entire concert. About midway through the concert just as a song was ending the other musicians stopped as they normally would but Manish kept playing, softly at first but then a bit louder. He slowly ramped up to one of the most amazing tabla solos I have ever seen. And, I've seen many including some of the best players in the world, both live and on youTube.. This solo was beyond anything I've ever seen before and stood out as it was the only solo by any member of the group. He played hard for what seemed like ten minutes and the audience was transfixed. When he was done we all gave him a standing ovation, the only applause during the entire concert. I have no idea if this solo is a standard or it was spontaneous but whatever it was, I felt like I was witnessing something very special.
What a wonderful idea to give online lessons!
Steve Meyer
I am a beginner learning to play harmonium - the skype lessons with Manish and his music have helped me to give a wholesome picture to Indian music, and it was very useful to learn singing with harmonium at the same time. It's hard to find a good teacher in South Africa. Thank you Manish !
Finally i found the right source
Sita, Zuerich, CH
For years i was going around trying to find teachers of mantra - and i kept finding only westener mantra singers who later i realized are not even able to pronounce the word 'kirtan' correctly. I saw an article in the Jet Airways magazine about Manish Vyas while flying back to Switzerland... and due to my interest in Indian music, i checked his website. To my shock and great surprise he was living in Switzerland. So i started taking lessons right away, and i must say that finally i found in him a reliable teacher of Indian music. Not only he knows a lot, but also he knows how to organize the classes, when to advance and when to wait, he incorporates concepts of raga and rhythm that are key in Indian music... so the whole palette is really good. Of course, this is indian music, so the student first has to learn to be patient, trust his teacher and practice a lot.
A note about learning Indian Music
When we learn music from a certain country, region or tradition, we also have to adapt our feeling and perspective and understanding in relation to the place of origin of the music and tradition. For example, if we learn Tango, the attitude, spirit and approach will be very different from learning greek music, Jazz or Country-folk ... If we learn Jodel, we should learn before a little bit about this Swiss tradition, its culture and how these sounds have been transferred from generation to generation - one should know, for example, that Jodeling was used in the Alps since middle ages by herders calling their stock and also to communicate between Alpine villages when there was no phone. So if one decides to take such discipline, one should deeply understand the feeling, the culture, the scenery that conceived these calls with the use of sound. What i mean to say, is that this is not just about sitting in front of a video and learn the notes of a song. I don't mean to dis-encourage anybody, but truly my responsibility is to be authentic and respectful with my culture.
In the same way, before embarking in the ancient tradition of Indian sounds, one should learn a little bit about the subject and how the teaching has been passing mainly orally for thousand of years in a very personalized way.
As you maybe know, in India traditionally there has never been such concept as Music Conservatory or school because the musical culture is mostly passed from a master to a disciple. Sometimes the father or mother passes the knowledge of an art to the children, or sometimes one looks for a teacher in a certain Gharana and we feel really lucky if we are accepted as a student... many times a teacher will test us before accepting us in the Gharana - not for the technicality as much as for the attitude and potential. So it is important to learn and understand a little bit about the Indian musical tradition, and find a teacher who is able to transmit properly the knowledge of music - either vocal or through any Indian instrument, and then be able to make a commitment that will give us the possibility to continue learning for a lifetime, because this music world is so vast that one can never stop being a student.
Learning Indian Music is a Process, not a Goal.
This will drive you to enjoy and constantly move forward.
One of the things that attracts enthusiasts of Indian music is that the eastern sounds and the elaborate ritual of an Indian music concert never lose their mystery and their magnetic nature.