Adventures in Gong Music is a joyful five-day deep dive into the expressive, technical, and creative possibilities of the gong. Designed for players of all experience levels, this course explores how to organize, shape, and explore the many dynamic voices of the gong.

 

Across five gong-filled days, participants will develop a deeper relationship with the instrument through playing technique, touch, tonal exploration, rhythm, phrasing, and musical language-building. As the course unfolds, the focus expands into composition, group interplay, dynamics, smooth transitions, and spontaneous musical exploration. The emphasis is on building fluency, confidence, and curiosity—learning how to shape sound intentionally while remaining open to discovery.

 

Adventures in Gong Music is about developing skill without losing wonder. It’s a space to deepen technique, expand musical vocabulary, and rediscover the joy, power, and mystery of playing the gong.

 

What We’ll Explore

 

Technique & Touch

Mallet control, striking approaches, sustaining and dampening, muting, and articulation—learning how subtle physical choices dramatically affect tone, response, and clarity.

 

Tone & Sound Shaping

Drawing out overtones, working with decay and resonance, controlling volume, density, and texture, and developing sensitivity to how sound evolves over time.

 

Rhythm, Pulse & Phrasing

From slow, spacious gestures to rhythmic patterns and repeating figures, we’ll explore how rhythm lives inside the gong—sometimes obvious, sometimes implied.

 

Dynamics & Transitions

Moving between textures, energies, and musical ideas using fades, cuts, builds, drops, and layered transitions. Understanding how music travels, not just how it sounds in a single moment.

 

Compositions & Structures

Playing existing compositions, learning structured forms, and creating original pieces—both individually and collaboratively. Participants will explore short forms, long-form arcs, and modular structures adaptable to many musical contexts.

 

Spontaneous Composition & Group Interplay

Guided ensemble playing, conduction-based exercises, and group listening practices that develop responsiveness, trust, and musical conversation.

 

Listening, Awareness & Musical Presence

Cultivating deep listening—to your instrument, the room, the group, and yourself—as a foundation for meaningful and intentional music-making.

 

How the Course Flows

The week is structured as a gradual unfolding:

• Early days focus on fundamentals, sound relationships, and technique

• Middle days emphasize interaction, transitions, and compositional thinking

• Later days integrate everything into extended group pieces, performances, and playful exploration

 

Throughout the course, exercises range from focused technical studies to open-ended explorations, allowing participants to learn, experiment, make mistakes, and have fun.