In my last newsletter, I promised to report back on the World Sound Healing Conference in San Francisco (May 11-14). I found it quite interesting that the preponderance of presentations featured technology; i.e., computerized voice analysis, sound tables, simple instruments like tuning forks, quartz crystal bowls and Tibetan metal singing bowls. There were also many presentations involving vocal toning and the intuitive use of the voice.

     Conspicuous in its solitude, only one panel presentation (as opposed to a keynote), featured healing music. Several well-known composers, like Iasos and myself, whose music helped launch the awareness of therapeutic music were present. However, we only got to speak about our work, rather than really demonstrate the power of the artform via a suitable interactive experience. On Monday, the fourth day of the conference, after a majority of attendees had left, there was another panel focusing on music, but even this was more about technology than spirituality or inspiration. It was entitled “Psycho-acoustic Music Production,” and included how to create and use binaural beat/brain entrainment.

     As a composer, I found it somewhat odd that the balance was weighted so heavily in favor of technology, voice and simple instruments. Why weren’t the healing potentials of other instruments included? And why wasn’t there a presentation offering suggestions and secrets to help musicians who were interested in composing and recording healing music to do so? I thought more folks would be interested in learning how to connect with their personal music, and enhance the flow of inspiration.

     My comments in this regard received the biggest applause of our panel’s audience. My intuition told me I was not alone in this observation; now I had proof (and you can hear it on the CD). I hope that some of them follow through and offer that feedback to the producers of the event to improve the offerings for next year.

     Not that there’s anything wrong with bowls and bells, etc. It’s not a matter of one vs. the other. There’s room, and a need, for all the healing tools we can access.

     By the way, to order recordings of most of the keynote and panel presentations, visit www.conferencerecording.com for a complete listing and ordering information.

     I’ve always made time during my workshops to encourage participatory music making with drums, bowls and voice. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it can undo the “wounded singer and musician” syndrome that many kids experience in grade school music classes. Just because you couldn’t quickly learn to read little black dots on five black lines on white paper shouldn’t have shut down your enjoyment of making music. Unfortunately, for many folks, it did.

     Happily, it’s easy to undo that. But more about that at a later date.

New Technology and Audible Sound Frequencies

     At the conference, there were many highlights in the exhibit area. One could have spent the entire weekend just visiting the booths and tables. Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t able to clone myself, and generally attended the presentations. I did, however, reconnect with the folks who have developed a remarkably effective technology that is based on the principle of resonance.

     Their work builds upon the pioneering research of Dr. Hans Jenny and Dr. Peter Guy Manners. If you’ve been following my work over the years, you know that I’ve been a strong proponent of their research since I became aware of it in 1977. In fact, some of you may recall that I was the first American to share their breakthroughs with the public.

     For those of you who are new, here’s the basic concept: Every atom, molecule, cell and organ in the body naturally vibrates at a characteristic frequency. However, in a case of injury or disease, the vibratory rate is typically lowered. Dr. Manners established a modality of assisting the body in reestablishing its natural vibratory state by introducing a combination of specific frequencies, which would be delivered by a small speaker. The new generation of this prototype is now computer based, which makes it very easy to use. Furthermore, the sound frequencies are combined with a proprietary rotating magnetic field.

     I’ve been experimenting with this device for the past few weeks. I’m noticing a significant (and welcome) acceleration to the reduction in swelling following surgery a month ago. To find out more about the new field of cymatherapy and the Cyma1000™, contact Mandara Cromwell at www.cymatherapy.org.

     Next time, I’ll review the presentations of the legendary Patrick Flanagan, sound healer and vocalist extraordinaire Tom Kenyon; and Dr. Masaru Emoto. In the meanwhile, if you’re interested in checking out some of the other “best of show,” in my opinion, see the work of Randy Masters (on sound and sacred geometry) and Don Estes (on voice analysis) at www.soundhealingcenter.com.

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Steven Halpern is a pioneering sound healer and award-winning composer and recording artist. His latest release In the Om Zone resonates your DNA with the primordial Om vibration. This CD is a sacred sound tool incorporating mantra, harmonics and meditative modalities ideal for yoga and to make chanting alone at home more interesting and productive. © 2007 Steven Halpern.

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