Deepen your relationship with the gong — not as a musician performing a piece, but as a grounded, receptive presence entering into dialogue with a timeless source of sound, vibration, and healing.

You’ll begin by becoming more familiar with the structure and layout of the gong — its “anatomy” — and how to approach it with optimal posture, breath, and presence. Whether seated or standing, your body becomes the conduit through which the sound travels.

You’ll then be introduced to the intricate aspects of mallets, the primary tools of gong playing, and learn how to hold them, beginning to feel the subtle differences in your grip, stance, and stroke — all of which influence the resonance you create.

As you begin mapping the gong and learning the strokes — Prime, Tie, Sweet Spot, and Slur — you’ll awaken your sensitivity to the living intelligence of the gong and how it responds to your intention and energy.

You’ll learn how to play from an inner stillness, opening space for a relationship that transcends technique and speaks in the language of vibration — reverent, present, and respectful.

In this session, you’ll:

• Learn the basic anatomy of the gong and how to “map” it for future practice
• Understand how to hold the mallets with control, ease, and sensitivity
• Explore the importance of grounding through your stance — feet, arms, and hands
• Discover how your position (seated vs. standing) affects your energy and sound
• Be guided in making these key strokes: Prime, Tie, Sweet Spot, and Slur
• Begin to build a conscious connection with the gong as a sacred instrument for healing and transformation

How you approach the gong shapes the sound that emerges — not just physically, but energetically. In this module, you’ll explore the nuances of your position in relation to the gong, and how it influences both the acoustic field and your own experience as a practitioner.

Through demonstrations and reflections, you'll be guided to understand the pros and cons of playing from the front, back, or side of the gong — and how each position creates a distinct relationship with both the instrument and those receiving the sound.

You’ll be introduced to a new set of strokes that open energetic pathways in the body and awaken vibrational intelligence — including the Chakra Sweep, Spiral, Starburst, and Roll.

You’ll also deepen your understanding of mallet types and how their different weights, materials, and densities shape the sonic textures you can create.

As your sensitivity expands, you’ll begin to move beyond technique into intentional soundwork — where stroke, mallet, and position become tools for energetic communication and transformation.

In this session, you’ll:

• Explore the 3 core playing positions — front, back, and side — and understand when and why to use each
• Learn how your orientation to the gong affects sound dispersion and energetic impact
• Discover different types of mallets and how they influence tone, vibration, and texture
• Be guided in 4 new stroke techniques: Chakra Sweep, Spiral, Starburst, and Roll
• Continue building your intuitive awareness of the gong’s voice as a response to your presence and intention

To be a gong player is to be in a living relationship with your instrument — one that extends beyond sound into care, respect, and attentiveness. Discover the essentials of caring for your gong, including how to clean, store, and transport it in ways that preserve its integrity and support your long-term connection with it.

Martha also offers tips on how to prepare for sessions, what to do when you forget something, and how to select the right stand — because not all stands are created equal. You’ll come away with practical insights that will make your gong-playing journey smoother, safer, and more enjoyable.

You’ll also expand your playing repertoire with three new strokes that bring nuance and dynamics to your soundwork: Whisper Gong, Flam, and Gong With the Wind.

In this session, you’ll:

• Learn how to care for your gong to extend its life and maintain its sound quality
• Understand best practices for packing and transporting your gong safely
• Explore how to choose the right stand for your needs — and how each one affects your playing
• Receive practical strategies for staying centered and prepared in unexpected situations
• Be guided in 3 new strokes: Whisper Gong, Flam, and Gong With the Wind

Every sound you create carries the imprint of your awareness. In this module, you'll explore how your intention and attention shape the energy and impact of your gong playing — transforming a simple session into a profound energetic transmission.

You’ll learn how to incorporate your voice through toning and mantra, amplifying the healing potential of your sessions by uniting breath, sound, and spirit.

You'll be guided in connecting more consciously with each stroke, reminding you that the quality of your presence is as important as your technique.

You’ll also explore the subtlety and power of three new strokes — Swinging Gate, V Stroke, and Crescendo — each offering new textures and emotional ranges for your practice.

This is an invitation to enter into sacred partnership with sound, where the gong becomes a mirror for your inner stillness.

In this session, you’ll:

• Understand how intention influences the energetic quality of your playing
• Cultivate presence through the principle of attention — both inward and outward
• Practice using your voice with toning and mantra to enhance energetic flow
• Learn when and how to use Gong Drops to punctuate or shift energy
• Explore 3 expressive strokes: Swinging Gate, V Stroke, and Crescendo

As you deepen your relationship with the gong, it’s essential to understand the responsibility that comes with creating sound that reaches into the nervous systems, emotions, and spirits of others.

This module introduces profound teachings from Yogi Bhajan and Jens Zygar that emphasize ethical awareness, intention, and service in your playing.

You’ll examine the importance of silence as a conscious choice and powerful partner in your sessions — a space where integration, reflection, and healing can take root.

You’ll also explore how to combine all strokes learned thus far to create a cohesive, intuitive arc — and how to close a session with the essential and intentional “final stroke.”

This is an invitation to play with humility, clarity, and reverence for the sacred responsibility of holding space through sound.

In this session, you’ll:

• Explore ethical considerations in gong playing per the teachings of Yogi Bhajan and Jens Zygar
• Understand the value of silence and how to weave it into your sessions with purpose
• Learn how to combine multiple strokes to create a cohesive and intentional journey
• Practice delivering a grounded and deliberate “final stroke” to close the energetic field
• Deepen your awareness of the gong as a healing modality that requires mindful presence

What happens when you let go of what you know… and simply listen? In this module, you're invited to explore the subtle dance between intuitive expression and structured gong playing.

While “gong music” can follow patterns and form, intuitive play emerges from attunement — the capacity to feel and respond to the moment without agenda.

You’ll explore how control over speed, volume, and intensity can become tools for nuance rather than dominance, helping you develop sensitivity to the energy in the room and within yourself.

You’ll also be introduced to the powerful practice of blindfolded playing — a way to strengthen your inner listening and deepen trust in your body's memory and the gong’s wisdom.

This is an invitation to surrender the mind and let the vibration lead.

In this session, you’ll:

• Distinguish between intuitive play and structured gong music
• Explore how to modulate speed, volume, and intensity with intention and care
• Practice blindfolded gong playing to cultivate inner listening and somatic trust
• Strengthen your relationship with the gong as an extension of your awareness
• Deepen your sensitivity to energy flow and subtle cues through improvisational play

Explore the sacred relationship between player and gong — and how this powerful instrument becomes more than a tool… it becomes a companion, a teacher, and catalyst for healing.

You’ll learn ways to honor and bless a new gong as you welcome it into your practice, and how to recognize and help a “sick” gong — one that may have lost its clarity or balance.

You’ll also reflect on what it means to play a gong that belongs to a community, tuning into a larger field of shared intention and collective care.

Ultimately, you’ll deepen your reverence — for the living intelligence of the gong and for your role in tending its vibration with humility, presence, and heart.

In this session, you’ll:

• Learn how to bless and welcome a new gong into your practice
• Understand how to recognize imbalance in a “sick” gong — and ways to help restore it
• Explore the dynamics and responsibilities of playing a community gong
• Be introduced to the Rhythmic Gong stroke as a way to harmonize body and breath
• Deepen your intuitive bond with the gong as both a personal ally and communal voice

As your relationship with the gong deepens, so does your responsibility as a practitioner and spaceholder.

You’ll reflect on the subtle — and sometimes seductive — dynamics of spiritual materialism, and how to recognize when ego might be co-opting your intentions, even unconsciously.

You’ll explore how to hold space with honesty, humility, and clear boundaries, especially when participants experience healing crises or emotional releases.

The gong can stir profound shifts — your integrity as a player becomes the compass that guides the entire experience.

This is a time to clarify your “why” — and align your presence, practice, and purpose with the vibration of truth.

In this session, you’ll:

• Explore how spiritual materialism can show up in sound-healing work
• Understand how to navigate healing crises with compassion and steadiness
• Reflect on the impacts of integrity, honesty, and humility as a gong player
• Learn how to use the Playing a Routine stroke to support safe, intentional sessions
• Cultivate inner clarity as the foundation of your external sound practice

As you grow in confidence and connection with the gong, you’ll begin playing not just for yourself, but for others — each with their own sensitivities, experiences, and expectations.

In this module, explore how to approach different audiences with awareness, care, and adaptability.

From age and physical condition to cultural background and energetic openness, every person or group you play for will be different. Understanding demographics and tuning in to subtle cues allows you to create a safe and resonant environment where deep listening and healing can occur.

You’ll also explore how the position of the listener — front or back — can affect their experience, and how to adjust your strokes accordingly for optimal impact.

In this session, you’ll:

• Learn how to consider different demographics when playing for groups
• Explore ways to adapt your presence and approach based on who you're serving
• Reflect on the unique needs of varied audiences through breakout group discussions
• Practice playing to the front and back of participants and observe energetic differences
• Deepen your capacity to meet others where they are — sonically and soulfully

As your skill deepens, you’ll begin to explore the performance aspects of gong playing — not for entertainment, but as a sacred facilitation of transformation and resonance.

Learn what it means to hold space with integrity and presence, and how to create an arc of experience that supports emotional, physical, and energetic movement.

Explore the anatomy of a gong session — from arrival to closing — and how the soundscape you build becomes a container for others to release, realign, and return to wholeness.

You’ll also examine how to choose strokes based on how the audience is positioned — whether their heads or feet are facing you.

In this session, you’ll:

• Understand the role of the gong player as a facilitator and space holder
• Learn the key components for shaping a complete gong session
• Explore how the arc and flow of sound influence participant experience
• Adapt your session structure and playing based on how people are facing you
• Deepen your capacity to support others through intuitive structure and grounded presence

Your energy is the most powerful instrument you bring to the gong. As a practitioner, your presence — how you maintain, protect, and direct your energy — directly affects the container you create and the transformation that can unfold for those in your care.

This session explores how to remain energetically resourced and grounded before, during, and after a gong session, especially as you begin playing more frequently or in public settings.

You'll also be introduced to a new way of playing that offers intimacy and focus through hand-held strokes — allowing you to move with the gong as an extension of your own field.

In this session, you’ll:

• Explore techniques for maintaining your energy while facilitating sound experiences
• Learn how to energetically protect yourself and the space around you
• Understand when and how to adjust your presence in response to different environments
• Discover the subtle power of hand-held gong strokes for focused, mobile resonance

As your journey comes to a close, you’ll circle back to the question that began it all: Why are you drawn to play the gong?

Your “why” is not only your compass — it’s the soul of your sound. In this final module, you’ll reflect on your purpose, growth, and next steps as a gong player and sacred space holder.

Martha shares how to continue evolving your practice with integrity, creativity, and service, while staying rooted in the deeper reason you chose this path.

In this session, you’ll:

• Connect with your core intention as a gong player
• Reflect on how your “why” shapes the way you play and serve
• Receive guidance for next steps in your personal or professional sound journey