In 2020 I partnered with the Ahimsa Yoga Studios to create the Ahimsa School of Sound Healing of which I am the director. Our mission was and continues to be the empowerment of people to express themselves and to support their own well-being through the playing of instruments. In order to fulfill this mission we have always looked for ways to reduce the barriers of entry, further enhance our trainings, and expand what we have to offer to our students. With that in mind we are pleased to announce that in 2026 we are expanding our core faculty along with the number of trainings we offer.
Starting in April we will be launching a newly restructured curriculum which includes Playing Crystal Bowls (Beginner Level), The Science of Sound Meditation (Intermediate Level), Thinking Like a Musician (Intermediate Level), and Facilitating Sound Meditation (Advanced).
Regardless of your previous experience with instruments, music, and meditation, we are confident that our school is for you! Please explore our curriculum below and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. And remember, you deserve to feel good, sound can help!
Playing Crystal Bowls (Beginner Level)
When? Monthly
April 4th from 1:00-6:00pm OR May 2nd from 1:00-6:00pm OR June 6th from 1:00-6:00pm
Where? Ahimsa Yoga Studio - 614 Dempster, Evanston
Investment? $250 for non-members ($215 for Ahimsa members)
Prerequisites? None
Description: This beginner level crystal singing bowl course is intended to empower participants in their exploration of sound as a tool for self-expression and meditation regardless of previous experience with instruments and/or meditation.
Learning Objectives:
Learn crystal singing bowl playing technique and methodology
Discuss basic elements of musical awareness
Cultivate your sense of hearing through targeted listening
Generate simple musical compositions in groups
Do I need a bowl to join the course? Our stock of singing bowls will be available for students to use throughout our time together. If you find a bowl you like you may purchase it at the end of the day. Students will receive 20% off of the bowls and 10% off all other instrument purchases.
Meet Your Instructor: Mehtab Kirtan is a Chicago native whose love for music began with his piano studies at age 6. He added drums to his skillset at age 10, and has been a dedicated multi-instrumentalist musician ever since. He holds a masters degree in music composition from Roosevelt University.
Throughout his life, education and original creation have been essential. Whether teaching, learning, composing, improvising, or listening he aims to make the world better through sharing beautiful music. Mehtab’s one-of-a-kind teaching approach is always catered to each unique student. Whether teaching classical sonatinas, jazz standards, rock and pop songs, or facilitating original compositions, his mission is to empower students with the self-confidence and discipline they need to excel in their studies and develop a life-long love of music.
The Science of Sound Meditation (Intermediate Level)
When?
May 16th from 1:00-6:00pm OR June 13th from 1:00-6:00pm
Where? Ahimsa Yoga Studio - 614 Dempster, Evanston
Investment? $250 for non-members ($215 for Ahimsa members)
Prerequisites? Playing Crystal Bowls
Description: This intermediate level course is intended to empower participants in their exploration of sound through a deeper understanding of how frequencies impact each other and interact with one another resulting in shifts in mood, physiology, energy levels, the nervous system, and states of consciousness. Additionally, we will dive into the science of intention which has proven to be integral to the benefits of sound meditation.
Learning Objectives:
Review compelling research in the field of sound
Utilize the scientific method to engage in experiments that focus on resonant frequency, cymatics, entrainment, and more
Extrapolate on how experiment outcomes align with the practice of sound meditation and the underlining mechanisms of the modality
Explore the Meaning Response and the science of intention
Meet Your Instructor: Justin Peterson is a musician and educator who began to prioritize self-care early in life while embracing music as a medium to explore. He believes taking care of one’s body and soul is just as important as the continued study of the craft. Driven to find balance in his own life, he fell in love with yoga, meditation, ethnobotany and sound. He firmly believes that we become our best selves when we support each other and is passionate about cultivating a community of awareness and empathy.
Justin holds a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He has performed around the world for the past 25 years in classical, jazz, and rock groups. He is a co-creator of Jazz Out The Box, and performs regularly with several Chicago based groups including Steve Knight Trio, Here & Now Ensemble, Maxx Hunter McGathey Orchestra, and Wills McKenna Path Quintet. In addition, Justin has mixed and mastered numerous albums across all genres.
Thinking Like A Musician (Intermediate Level)
When? April 18th from 1:00-6:00pm
Where? Ahimsa Yoga Studio - 614 Dempster, Evanston
Investment? $250 for non-members ($215 for Ahimsa members)
Prerequisites? Playing Crystal Bowls
Description: This intermediate level course is intended to empower participants in their exploration of sound through developing their ear and ability to identify musical relationships resulting in an increased confidence in how to pair instruments and make informed decisions while playing.
Learning Objectives:
Build a basic understanding of the western musical system and how it came to be
Cultivate a clear and descriptive musical vocabulary
Learn to identify the relationship(s) between two or more given notes
Dispel common myths and misconceptions of music
Develop a framework for recognizing musical patterns and how to replicate and translate those patterns to other instruments
Meet Your Instructor: Julian Daniell is a multi-instrumentalist and professional percussionist, music educator and sound healing practitioner with over a decade of experience as a professional musician and music teacher in the Chicagoland area. Since graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a bachelors of music performance, Julian has sought to bridge the gap between the underlying mechanisms of music and the impact that sound frequency has on the mind, body, and state of consciousness.
Facilitating Sound Meditation (Advanced Level)
When? This 20-hour training is broken into 4 sessions:
May 23rd from 1:00-6:00pm
May 30th from 1:00-6:00pm
June 20th from 1:00-6:00pm
June 27th from 1:00-6:00pm
Where? Ahimsa Yoga Studio - 614 Dempster, Evanston
Investment? $1475
Prerequisites? Playing Crystal Bowls; The Science of Sound Meditation and Intention; Thinking Like a Musician
Description: This advanced level course is a 4-part facilitator training intended to support students in taking their sound meditation facilitation to a professional level. With a capacity of only 4 students, this training goes in depth on the Ahimsa Sound School’s 16 components of facilitation. Students will also be given opportunities each session to facilitate sound meditations for the class and to receive structured critiques. For our final session students will facilitate a meditation in front of a live audience of friends and family.
Learning Objectives:
Understand and put into practice Ahimsa’s 16 components of facilitation
Establish an overall intention for what you plan to offer
Craft a promotional description of your offering
Design a meditation introduction based on your own interests and passions in the field of sound meditation
Curate your instrument setup / layout based on functionality, symmetry, and beauty
Build experience through facilitating multiple meditation sessions
Identify areas of strength and relative weakness as a facilitator through the process of critique following each facilitated session
Receive guidance on how best to elevate your facilitation offering to a professional level
Discuss steps for building Consistency, Confidence, Connections, and Currency as a facilitator
Meet Your Instructor: Jay Taylor (aka Current Vibrations) has become a driving force in the Chicago sound meditation landscape facilitating over 2,000 sound meditation experiences over the 8 years. His mission is to reduce the barriers of entry to meditation which he has done through offering 100s of donated sound meditations and sharing his work in a diversity of high profile spaces and venues such a the Lincoln Park Zoo, Willis Tower, Chicago Botanic Gardens, Navy Pier, and the Morton Arboretum. He has contributed to the development of the sound meditation modality as the director and co-founder of the Ahimsa School of Sound Healing which was founded in 2020. Since that time he has provided access to his experience and knowledge through his curriculum and as a mentor. Additionally, he has sourced and curated retail spaces in Oak Park, Evanston, and Wicker Park providing sonic explorers with hands-on access to a variety of healing instruments. Previous to his work in sound, Jay had a 10-year teaching career working with students with special needs.
CURRENT VIBRATIONS • COPYRIGHT 2026 • JAY TAYLOR