The Way of the Gong™

I remember when I was younger, learning how to play music and percussion, that so much of it was discovery. And it was so exciting to get together with friends and share what we all had discovered, "Check this out!" Being a drummer/percussionist, you're automatically part of a larger group, a fraternity of sorts. And a thing I've always loved is how drummers are so willing to share their ideas. I remember as an aspiring teenage drummer writing letters to various big name drummers of the time asking them questions. Many of them were kind enough to write back with answers. The same when seeing a drummer in concert, many were more than glad to talk to people after their concert and answer all manner of drumming questions. This sort of response made an impression on me. I've been going to PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) since 1987. PASIC is a 4 day event that gathers 5,000-6,000 percussionists in a convention center with hundreds of schedu...

I wish that I could say that I'm somehow perfect, that I've got it all happening and make no mistakes. But the truth is, I'm human like all of you. And that means I need to constantly remind myself to stay on the path. Sure it's gotten easier over the years, but today there are so many more distractions! The internet can be a million distractions. So can multitasking. I know that I get caught up in doing too many things and don't allow myself the time to just be still . A view from my path… Part of the problem is our society, which seems to reward people for being as active as possible. If you take some quiet time, or just sit and meditate, people may look at you as being lazy, or unmotivated. But they fail to realize that often the best way to be motivated and creative is to be still so you can be open for incoming messages.  And this carries over to playing our instruments. We don't always have to be making busy or spectacular music.  Gongs/Bowls/B...

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few. - Shunru Suzuki This is a favorite quote of mine from the book,  Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind , by the revered Zen Master, Shunru Suzuki (1905-1971). I first came across this book over 30 years ago, and the simple, but profound teachings have had a great impact on me. Nothing is more true than the quote above.  Think of the first time you ever did any activity and how everything was new. The world was nothing but possibilities. You experimented, tried different methods, different ways, and most of all, had fun. This is the way of a child, who approaches new things with a sense of wonder. Now fast forward, you have studied hard, maybe even gone to school, in order to hone your skills. When you approach what you do you now see it through trained eyes, and as such, you see perhaps only one path to take. This is most likely the path you have been trained on. To your highly trained ...

It was only recently that I experienced my first Gong Meditation as a participant. For all these years, I've purposely avoided attending other people's sessions, because I didn't want to be consciously, or unconsciously, influenced by how someone else plays their Gongs, as I've always been more into following my own path.  The session I attended was by my good friend Kenny Kolter. He was back visiting the Chicago area and playing a series of sessions. I hadn't seen him in too long, so we met up for dinner and had a fantastic conversation. Then I attended his Gong Meditation. But I do have history with Kenny. We both played a number of dates a few years back as part of the  Vibrational Sound Trio  (VST) with a wonderful crystal bowl player and singer, Marian McNair. So I know how Kenny plays, what he sounds like. Still it was interesting to be on the other side of things experiencing the vibrations from a passive, instead of active, role.  Kenny & I in th...

Here is a quick look at what I do. This segment aired in Milwaukee yesterday (6/3/14) on FOX 6's afternoon show, STUDIO A. This 3 minutes was distilled from about an hour of talking and filming. They did a nice job of editing it together. It's nice to see Gongs and Meditation get some notice on television. We all need more of this. ~ MB Chop Wood | Carry Water | Play Gongs

Gongs are amazing metal energy portals, they work much like antennae, both receiving and transmitting energy. Because of this, the Gongs work well with various healing modalities and energy systems. Reiki, Quantum-Touch, Pranic Healing®, Integrated Energy Therapy®, and other healing energy systems can all be run into your Gongs/Bowls/Bells.  I'd like to relay a story told to me by my good friend, and fellow Gongolier, Kenny Kolter: He was presenting a Gong Session at an event where there were also 6 Reiki Masters. Before he played, they had him lie down with his Gong on top of him. All 6 Masters then directed Reiki energy into both him and his Gong. He said the affect was incredible. Besides charging your Gongs/Bowls/Bells with energy, these instruments are a perfect compliment for working with people while using energy systems. Besides creating relaxing sounds that help people be more receptive, the vibrations work well to help channel the healing energy. All things...

My last blog post ( Following Your Own Tuning ) addressed my own feelings and theories on Planetary Tunings and using Western tunings on the Ancient Chakra system. I expressed that I don't really follow those ideas and work more from an intuitive system. But beyond that, there are some ideas I feel more aligned with. Elemental Energy Besides using my intuition, I base much of what I do off of the Ancient ideas of Elemental Energy. Variations on the belief & use of 4 or 5 Elemental Energies can be found in many cultures. In his  Tetrasomia , or  Doctrine of the Four Elements , fifth century B.C. Greek philosopher, scientist and healer, Empedocles, described how all matter is comprised of four "roots" or elements:  Earth, Air, Fire, and Water , with these 'roots' interacting with each other. The philosopher Aristotle, later added a fifth element,  aithêr  (ether), which was what the Heavens were made of. Thus while the Four Element...