Chapter 3
Common areas of overall improvement:
Lack of preparation: Not setting up the space properly for a sound bath.
Overwhelming volume: Playing the instruments too loudly, harsh vibrations of mallets, which can be uncomfortable or even painful for participants.
Improper equipment handling: Mishandling or improperly using sound instruments like singing bowls, gongs, or tuning forks.
Abrupt changes in volume and not fading in and out the instruments: Sudden shifts in volume during the sound bath, which can startle or disorient participants and disrupt their relaxation.
Playing too many instruments at once: Too many notes can create dissonance, and can be overwhelming to the listener.
Poor timing: Not maintaining a consistent rhythm or flow throughout the sound bath.
Neglecting the environment: Not creating a peaceful and conducive environment for relaxation and healing.
Overemphasis on high frequencies: Focusing too much on high-frequency sounds at the expense of lower frequencies, which are often more grounding and soothing for participants.
Underutilization of silence: Not incorporating moments of silence or quiet pauses into the sound bath, which can diminish the overall impact and depth of the experience. It can be very profound for clients to experience a duality between silence and sound. There is a lot of beauty in the silence. It is the silence that gives creation to all sound.
Inconsistent Sequencing: Failing to structure the sound bath with a clear flow or progression can result in a disjointed or unpredictable experience for participants. For example, using the ocean drum abrasively in the middle of a sound bath can disrupt the energy and awaken participants. While there is nothing inherently wrong with using the ocean drum at this point, it should align with the overall intention of the sound bath. If the overall intention is to create deep relaxation, the ocean drum in the middle might be something to reconsider.
Being Mindful of Movement and the sound you are making: Practicing awareness of the sound created by the practitioner's movements around the space, ensuring that they move mindfully and with intention to minimize distractions for participants.
Managing Jewelry: Ensuring that any jewelry worn by the practitioner, such as bracelets or necklaces, is chosen or adjusted to minimize the potential for clanking against instruments during the sound bath, reducing distractions for participants
Appropriate Clothing: Appropriate Clothing: Similar to jewelry, certain clothing materials like cargo pants can be noisy and distracting. Additionally, unless you're outside, I highly recommend wearing socks instead of shoes. Once, I attended a sound bath where, despite the practitioner's skill, all I could focus on was the sticky sound of sneakers against the wooden floor. Not good.
Inflexible Approach: Being overly rigid or inflexible in the sound bath approach, not allowing for adjustments or improvisation based on the specific energy or needs of the group.
Recommend
-Tuner/Pitch Application: There are several free applications on the Apple store and the Google Play store to check the pitch of an instrument.