We study the origin streams of our traditional spiritual music to master the raw foundations

•   SONGS:  Nigunim: wordless Spiritual melodies, Psalms: ancient prayer songs, Z’mirot, Piyutim - traditional poetic songs
•  PRAYERS:  Tefillah: Prayers of our ancestors and Nusach: traditional motifs and chants through which prayers come alive in.
•  INSTRUMENTS:  Drums and stringed instruments, for meditation, joyous dancing, or accompaniment of songs.  Musicianship: Understanding music and being able to effectively use the building blocks of rhythm, melody, and harmony
•   STORIES: Absorbing stories, dreams, archetypes, lessons and visions from the musical dreamscapes of the Jewish sages and storytellers.

In Practice: Mastering a complex ancestral melody, decoding a specific seasonal prayer mode, or practicing technical skills on instruments and tabletop percussion.

We step into live group dynamics to examine how music unfolds in real time, finding the ”hint of the Divine” in our shared interconnectedness as a community.

Leading & Teaching: Facilitating song circles to build group attunement, cultivating expansive prayer environments, and learning how to teach the music itself.

Performing: Growing as a leader who can intentionally hold a collective spiritual space.

In Practice: Improving as a Shaliach Tzibbur (prayer leader) in your shul, running a local Nigun circle, teaching old musical texts to a study group, or singing at a wedding while holding down the beat on a drum.

We bring new streams of musical ideas to join the older river—adapting, widening, and extending the tradition to fill in the blanks of previous versions.

•   CREATING:  Composing and producing new spiritual music.  Developing new musical-spiritual modalities, in continuity-tension with the old.  Extending the tradition, widening the culture.  Re-Imagining the old stories. 
•   INTEGRATING Synthesizing old traditions with new ideas Translating between segmented Jewish cultures, each of whom has something to share
•   INDIVIDUATING: Inhabiting your own vision of your work as you find your own unique voice and style as an artist. Finding the courage to offer your own ideas against the overwhelming backdrop of tradition.

In Practice: Composing brand-new melodies to ancient psalms, singing Psalm 136 with a non-traditional rhythm, reviving the biblical tradition of Higayon B’Chinor (”meditations with stringed instruments”), or studying the musical dreamscape of the sages to retell their stories in your own way.

We arrive at the ultimate flowing destination where all musical boundaries dissolve into cosmic connection, revealing the secret interconnectedness of all worlds.

Listening: Activating Open Ears to deeply appreciate the music and wisdom of other cultures, and tuning into the Song of All Creation (the vibrations of nature and the whole world).

Attuning: Cultivating radical presence, soul expansion, and psychological growth by updating our old conceptions and letting go of our aspirations for control.

In Practice: Walking in the woods and realizing the birds and frogs are singing a song you get to join; experiencing a profound ”extra hearing” and human sensitivity after singing intensely with a room; or feeling the beauty that emanates from global musical traditions—even those we might historically consider ”enemies.”

In short, what is the core goal of this program?

The absolute focus of this two-year journey is to train Ba’alei Neginah (masters of song). We are gathering experienced practitioners to study the entire lifecycle and spiritual architecture of Jewish music— traditional repertoire, communal facilitation, creative composition, and spiritual depth—molding you into a fully integrated leader.

Joey teaches a holistic version of Jewish musical that allows each practitioner to "fill in the gaps" in their training and bring out a fuller version of their musical spiritual potentials.

 Do I get feedback on my own work and development?

Yes!  We designate substantial time to a peer-feedback process so that each practitioner receives substantial feedback on their progress in all areas of musical/spiritual development.  We also have designated Q/A time at each of our sessions.

Why is this program capped at 50 people?

To preserve the intimacy of the container and ensure that the small-group peer feedback sessions remain high-touch, rigorous, and deeply supportive. We are not interested in a massive, passive lecture hall; we are building a living laboratory.

How much is 1:1 mentorship with Joey a part of this program?

In order to keep this training interactive yet accessible for up to 50 people, one-on-one private coaching with Joey is not part of the program structure. Instead, you will receive direct, live access to Joey across your weekly seminars, real-time masterclass Q&As, and specialized cohort time at the retreats. This represents a more sustained, high-level interaction with Joey than almost any prior learning environment he has offered.

What are "Concentrations"? 

Through a discernment process, and with help from the cohort, each practitioner will choose a specific area to focus on per year, from an area that you would particularly like to grow in.  You create your own concentration, but here are a few examples: 1) Singing while drumming  2) Studying Nusach 3) Developing your own compositions 4) Facilitating a new singing circle

Can I choose more than one concentration area?

To ensure a truly rigorous, focused deep-dive, you will select one specific concentration area per year. This allows you to intentionally hone a specialized skillset (like drumming-while-singing or composition) without spreading your practice too thin. However, because this is a two-year program, you have the opportunity to either continue mastering that same focus in Year 2 or switch to an entirely new concentration area for your second year.

I am already an experienced professional (Cantor, Rabbi, touring musician, or veteran songleader). Will this program challenge me?

Yes. This program is explicitly designed to fill in the gaps of an already advanced practice. If you are a Cantor with flawless nusach, this is your space to unlock rhythmic instrumentation or original composition. If you are a secular touring musician, this is where you anchor your skills in deep ancestral lineages and group facilitation. We start from your strengths and build out your blind spots so you can hold the full, holistic picture of a Ba'al Neginah.

How is this different from the Hadar Shatz Fellowship or DLTI?

Both are magnificent programs. The River of Song: Ba'al Neginah Practitioner Program is entirely complementary to them. It offers a unique, multi-year deep-dive across the entire River of Neginah—explicitly balancing traditional lineages, group dynamics, global musical influences, and original composition—with Joey Weisenberg as your primary instructor guiding the sequence.

How much will this feel like a "cohort"?

Very much so, but with a professional focus. While we don't have mandatory in-person attendance requirements, you are moving through a fixed, two-year sequence with the same 50 leaders. Through structured small-group peer feedback sessions, shared concentration areas, and dedicated cohort hours at our seasonal retreats, you will build a powerful, lifelong national network of colleagues.

What is the time commitment - i.e. Can I manage this program while working full-time?

The program is built specifically for working professionals—the majority of our cohort consists of practicing clergy, working musicians, educators, and communal directors, and full time students. Evening classes, generous seasonal breaks, and a curriculum that asks you to apply the work directly to your current community context make it manageable. However, the independent practice commitment is real; you should set aside at least a few hours a week for asynchronous study and local application.

• The Live Online Schedule: Live sessions meet on Thursday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM Eastern (4:00 PM – 6:30 PM Pacific). Our trimesters run October–December, January–February, and April–May, with spacious integration breaks intentionally built around major Jewish and secular holidays.
• Between-Session Momentum: Asynchronous study in our digital libraries, peer feedback, and immediate local community application.
• Retreats: Tuition includes complimentary registration for any or all of our seasonal Song Is Prayer retreats across the country if you choose to travel to them. While entirely optional, joining retreats  completely transforms the online training container by letting us connect face-to-face and sing together.  
  • Berkeley, CA: August 23–25, 2026
  • Denver, CO: November 8–10, 2026
  • Location TBD (East Coast): March 2027
  • Location TBD (Midwest): May/June 2027

Do I need to be able to read music or have formal music theory training?

No. While written charts will be provided as a reference point, our primary mode of transmission is oral—learning through repetition, listening, and memorization. The program is intermediate-to-advanced in terms of your leadership practice and experience, not your formal academic credentials or ability to sight-read.

What level of Hebrew is expected?

Functional prayerbook Hebrew—enough to comfortably navigate a siddur and recognize core prayers. While deep textual scholarship isn't a prerequisite (translations are always provided), this program functions as an immersion experience, and we cannot teach the basics of the Hebrew alphabet or vocabulary.

Why are in-person retreats "optional"?

Our participants are active communal leaders joining from multiple time zones and demanding professional schedules; forcing mandatory travel would make participation impossible for many. We split the difference by offering four retreat opportunities per year. You can choose the one that fits your calendar, come to all of them, or skip them entirely.

Are travel, lodging, and meals included for the retreats?

Your tuition completely covers your full event registration ticket to any or all of our 2.5-day public retreats as a built-in bonus. However, participants are entirely responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation, lodging, and food.

I live outside the United States. Can I participate?

Absolutely. We welcome international leaders. The primary practical constraint is the time zone: all live online seminars take place on Thursday evenings, Eastern Time (US).  We will record sessions so if you choose you can catch up at a better time for your schedule.

Will online sessions be recorded if I miss a class?

Yes, full video recordings of all live seminars will be uploaded to a private portal for cohort access. However, because a massive portion of the value comes from live masterclass interactions, Q&As, and real-time peer groups, live attendance is highly encouraged whenever possible.

Are scholarships or financial aid available?

We never want financial barriers to stand in the way of the right candidate joining the cohort. We have a limited pool of need-based scholarship support available. If financial assistance is vital to your participation, please indicate that clearly on your application.

Can my institution or synagogue cover my tuition?

Quite likely. Because this program focuses directly on advanced skills that enrich your local community, many congregations support it through continuing education or professional development funds. We are glad to provide formal letters, syllabi, or documentation to assist with your institutional reimbursement requests.

Is this certificate recognized by an external seminary or denomination?

The Ba'al Neginah Certificate is a Certificate of Completion awarded solely by Song Is Prayer. It is not a formal academic degree, a cantorial ordination, or a certificate of formal examination. It certifies something deeply meaningful: that you showed up, dedicated yourself to a rigorous two-year lineage study, and successfully completed a serious immersion in spiritual music leadership alongside Joey Weisenberg and an elite peer group.

When are applications due?

Apply by July 31 for priority consideration. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, and spots are limited. The sooner you apply the better!

You can go directly to the application form here or continue scrolling and fill it out below. 

What exactly are you looking for in the video application?

We just want to see you in your natural musical element—no fancy editing or high production value required. Simply record a quick, under-3-minute smartphone video of yourself doing one of the following:

1. Singing a short, wordless nigun or traditional prayer chant that you love.
2. Playing an instrument you use to lead or accompany communal singing.
3. Something musical of your choice!

I am currently in rabbinical or cantorial school. Can I apply?

Yes. If you can realistically carve out the time alongside your seminary workload to dedicate to independent practice and Thursday evening sessions, we welcome your application.

I am an older practitioner and wondering if this investment makes sense at my stage of life.

If the music is alive in you, if you are actively holding space for a community, and if you want to deepen your own spiritual craft, you absolutely belong in this circle. Your accumulated wisdom will only enrich the cohort.