Intro to Handpans and Tongue Drums

A hands-on introduction to the instruments of sound ceremony
Sound has long been a pathway into stillness, presence, and deeper awareness. Across cultures and traditions, instruments have been used to create spaces of listening, reflection, and connection.
Join Dallas McKenzie and Adron Beene, teachers in the Fall 2026 Ceremony of Sound course, for an intimate series introducing several of the foundational instruments used in sound ceremonies and contemplative sound practice.
Each gathering offers a hands-on introduction to the voice and character of several instruments, including:  
Handpans and Tongue Drums 4/4 1-2:30pm
Didgeridoos 4/4 3-4:30 and 5/16 1-2:30pm
Gongs 4/19 1-3 (There will be a Gong event 3:30-5pm) 
Native American Flutes  4/26 2-3:30pm 
Harmonium and Shruti  5/9 1-3pm 
Didgeridoos  Repeat 5/16 1-2:30pm
The Instruments You Will Experience
Gongs
Deep, resonant instruments capable of producing expansive sound landscapes that fill a room with vibration and tone.
Native American Flutes
Breath-centered instruments known for their warm, expressive voice and intuitive playability.
Handpans and Tongue Drums
Meditative steel instruments that create flowing melodic patterns and calming rhythmic tones.
Didgeridoos
Ancient drone instruments whose deep grounding sound connects breath, rhythm, and earth resonance.
Harmonium and Shruti
Traditional drone and keyboard instruments used to support meditation, chanting, and sustained tonal soundscapes.
Participants will hear, explore, and gently begin working with these instruments while learning how they are used to create spaces of calm, reflection, and sound ceremony.
Dallas brings an intuitive connection to the earth-based and elemental qualities of sound, while Adron offers a perspective rooted in yogic awareness and contemplative listening. Together they create a welcoming environment where participants can explore sound in a grounded and approachable way.
Who This Is For
These gatherings are ideal for people who:

• Feel curious about sound instruments but do not know where to begin
• Are interested in instruments for personal meditation or relaxation
• Would like to explore sound used in sound ceremonies or sound healing
• Simply want to spend time experiencing beautiful and unusual instruments

You Do Not Need to Be a Musician
Many people feel drawn to these instruments but hesitate because they believe they are not musical. These gatherings are designed especially for beginners and curious explorers. The instruments themselves are intuitive, and learning begins simply with listening, breath, and touch.
A Hands-On Experience
Because the experience is experiential, participants will have the opportunity to work directly with the instruments, ask questions, and begin discovering which instruments resonate most naturally with them.
Yes, you may bring your own instruments! 
This is a small, hands-on learning experience
To allow everyone time with the instruments and personal guidance, each gathering is intentionally limited to 10 participants.
 
Early registration is recommended.
What You Will Leave With
Participants often leave these gatherings with:

• A direct experience of several sound instruments
• A sense of which instruments resonate most strongly with them
• A basic understanding of how these instruments are used in sound ceremonies
• Practical guidance on how someone might begin learning an instrument
• A deeper appreciation for the role of sound in creating calm and presence

Whether you are simply curious or feel a deeper interest in sound, these gatherings offer a welcoming place to explore.

Discover the instruments that speak to you.

A Pathway Into Deeper Study
For many people, these introductory gatherings are simply an opportunity to explore an instrument that has been calling to them.
For those who feel a deeper connection, these experiences may also serve as a doorway into our broader Ceremony of Sound program — a 100 hour structured path of study exploring sound, presence, and the art of holding space with instruments.
The Ceremony of Sound course brings together tradition, intuitive listening, and contemplative practice to support those who feel called to share sound with others.

Adron Beene is a sound ceremony facilitator and teacher whose work centers on the thoughtful and intentional use of gongs within immersive sound experiences. Drawing on classical music training and the Viniyoga tradition, his teaching emphasizes sequencing, harmonics, transitions, and attunement to group dynamics to support regulation, integration, and ease.
He teaches gongs as the primary medium, with bowls, voice, harmonium, handpans, and flutes used in supportive roles. Adron was a co-teacher for the 2025 Fall Ceremony of Sound training and has offered workshops in Voice Optimization and Introduction to Gongs. He holds certifications in Gong Therapy, Gong Yoga Nidra, and Viniyoga (RYT-500). For more, see Layagongs.com

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Host or Publisher Carrie Arlah Burr