In my theme-based gong workshops, the focus is on practical experience. Participants are not only meant to understand a theme intellectually, but to perceive and experience it directly through several sound journeys.

Each sound journey is dedicated to one specific aspect of the overarching theme. My aim is to make it possible for participants to experience perceptions that are clearly different from one another and that can consciously be related to each other.

My current workshop series is dedicated to the theme Mind, Body and Soul. The three sound journeys take place consciously in the order of mind, body and soul. The mind comes first because it makes the observing position possible and creates the basis for consciously perceiving the experiences that follow.

From these directly experienced differences, personal inner reference points can emerge. Later, participants do not only remember a thought or an explanation, but a perception they have actually experienced. This memory can help them reconnect with these experienced states in everyday life and use them for their personal development.

Before each sound journey, the respective aspect of the theme is clearly introduced. After that, the point is not to follow a theory or confirm a particular idea, but to perceive for oneself and gather one’s own practical experience.

In these workshops, participants learn to play the gong themselves. Since the gong is an intuitive instrument, its basic techniques can also be learned without any previous musical experience.

After an introduction to the basic playing techniques, participants have time to discover their own sound. In doing so, they directly experience how posture, movement, and attention influence the way they play.

The aim is not to copy my way of playing. Each participant is supported in developing their own perception and finding a personal expression. Through this intuitive way of playing, the emerging sound becomes a mirror of what the person playing perceives and feels in that moment.

Another part of the workshop is attentive listening. Participants learn to perceive differences in playing style and expression, and to recognize which theme or feeling becomes audible in the sound. In this way, attention and empathy are developed.

After that, two participants play together. One begins, and the other responds with their gong. This creates a communication through sound, in which it is important to truly listen to the other person, rather than simply continuing one’s own idea.

In a further step, the whole group plays together as a gong orchestra. Participants take turns leading the group and guide it with simple, clear signs toward a shared sound image. In doing so, they experience both the responsibility of leading and the importance of perceiving attentively and following a common direction.

I also offer this format for companies — as a standalone workshop or as a practical addition to seminars and team-building activities. Playing the gong together makes it directly tangible how leadership, attentive listening, personal responsibility, and collaboration influence a shared result.