‘In the Dvārakā-māhātmya the importance of dancing before the Deity is stated by Lord Kṛṣṇa as follows: “A person who is in a jubilant spirit, who feels profound devotional ecstasy while dancing before Me, and who manifests different features of bodily expression can burn away all the accumulated sinful reactions he has stocked up for many, many thousands of years.” In the same book there is a statement by Nārada wherein he asserts, “From the body of any person who claps and dances before the Deity, showing manifestations of ecstasy, all the birds of sinful activities fly away upward.” Just as by clapping the hands one can cause many birds to fly away, similarly the birds of all sinful activities which are sitting on the body can be made to fly away simply by dancing and clapping before the Deity of Kṛṣṇa.’
(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 9)
But if you want to accompany kirtan, it is only good! You can accompany with a melodic musical instrument: harmonium, flute; or a rhythmic instrument: karatals, mrdanga. Kirtan can be sung with just the help of a rhythm.
Non-vedic instruments, modern ones like piano, guitar, woodwinds and brass instruments, etc., can also be used in kirtan. But it is preferable to sing along in kirtan after playing a phrase which accompanies the kirtan singer’s part.
Below you will find simple lessons in musical instruments.