Silence In Sound

DO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW HOW LOUD YOU ARE?

At Silence In Sound, our own approach has always leaned towards gentleness.

We are interested in coaxing sound rather than forcing it. In listening to decay, subtle overtones, texture and silence. In discovering how little input an instrument may need before it begins to reveal something interesting.

But that is our approach.

Other practitioners may work differently. Some use greater intensity, larger dynamic ranges, amplification, repeated strikes or more powerful playing styles.

And that is precisely why awareness matters.

A decibel meter cannot tell you whether your playing is beautiful, sensitive or meaningful.

It cannot tell you whether a soundscape works.

But it can tell you something very simple:

How loud is this actually getting?

Our ears adapt surprisingly quickly. What begins as loud can start to feel normal after a while.

So whether your natural style is gentle like ours, or considerably more energetic, perhaps it is worth occasionally measuring what is happening in the room.

Not to create fear.

Not to police somebody else’s playing.

Simply to understand the sound levels we are creating — for ourselves and for those listening.

We spend a great deal of time choosing mallets, instruments, microphones and equipment.

Perhaps a decibel meter deserves a place in the toolkit too.

Do you ever measure the levels you are playing at?

A THANK YOU TO OUR COLLEAGUES — WE DON’T SAY IT ENOUGH

Silence In Sound does not teach Sound Healing or Sound Therapy.

There are already experienced people doing that work extremely well, and we have no desire to duplicate what they do.

In particular, we would like to acknowledge The College of Sound Healing and the many dedicated tutors associated with it, along with the other independent teachers and organisations whose work we have come to know and respect over the years.

Our own area is rather different.

We concentrate primarily on the instruments themselves — understanding how they respond, learning to play them and develop their into something creative and musically meaningful.

Over the years, we have been fortunate to receive recommendations from many Sound Healing tutors, including tutors from The College of Sound Healing, who have encouraged their students to visit Silence In Sound, explore instruments with us or develop their playing further.

We are genuinely grateful for that trust.

And perhaps we don't say that often enough.

So when people ask us where they might study Sound Healing or Sound Therapy, we are equally happy to point them towards The College of Sound Healing and the many excellent tutors and practitioners whose work we know and respect.

Different areas of expertise.

Shared curiosity.

Mutual respect.

And to all those tutors elsewhere who have directly recommended Silence In Sound to their students - to you also we say thank you!

We notice it.

We appreciate it.

And we are always very happy to return the goodwill.

The College of Sound Healing

AM I AN IMPOSTER — OR AM I SIMPLY STILL LEARNING?

Have you ever looked around the sound community and thought:

Everyone else seems more experienced than me.

They have more instruments.

More qualifications.

More confidence.

More followers.

They are running Sound Baths, retreats and workshops — and I am still trying to work out what I am doing.

That feeling is often described as imposter syndrome.

But perhaps we should be careful not to confuse uncertainty with inadequacy.

There is nothing wrong with saying:

“I don’t know yet.”

There is nothing wrong with being a beginner.

There is nothing wrong with revisiting the foundations.

There is nothing wrong with practising privately before sharing your work with others.

And there is certainly nothing wrong with learning at your own pace.

At Silence In Sound, we do not believe confidence comes from pretending to know more than you do.

It comes from listening, practising, asking questions, making mistakes, developing your skills and gradually understanding your instruments more deeply.

You do not need to prove that you belong.

You do not need the biggest kit.

You do not need to become a Sound Bath practitioner unless that is genuinely where your journey takes you.

You simply need curiosity, honesty and the willingness to keep learning.

Perhaps you are not an imposter at all.

Perhaps you are simply somewhere in the middle of your journey.

And that is exactly where you are supposed to be.

I DON’T WANT TO BE A SOUND HEALER.
I JUST WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY WELL.

And that is absolutely fine.

Not everyone who loves Singing Bowls, Gongs and resonant instruments wants to offer Sound Baths or work therapeutically with others.

Some people simply want to understand the instruments better — how they respond, how mallet choice changes the sound, how to develop touch, sensitivity, listening and creative confidence.

That is where Resonant Realms begins.

At Silence In Sound, we do not teach Sound Healing or Sound Therapy. Our focus is the instruments themselves — learning how to play them well and exploring what they can do.

For some, that becomes part of a professional path.

For others, it remains a personal journey.

Both are equally valid.

Join our Resonant Realms – Foundation
Understand the instrument. Develop the skills. Find your own way.

A LITTLE APPRECIATION FOR THE HARMONY HUB

Every community benefits from places where people can meet, learn, explore and simply feel welcome.

The Harmony Hub in Chorley is one of those places.

Over the years, Liz, Chris and the wider team have created a space that brings together a remarkable variety of activities, practitioners, workshops and opportunities for people interested in wellbeing, sound and personal exploration.

Silence In Sound occupies a rather different corner of the sound world — our focus is on the instruments themselves, how we listen to them, how we play them and how we develop creatively with them.

But different areas of expertise do not need to compete.

Quite the opposite.

We greatly appreciate the people and organisations who create opportunities for others to learn, discover and find their own direction — and particularly those who have shown goodwill towards Silence In Sound and recommended people to us along the way.

So this is simply a public thank you to The Harmony Hub for the contribution it continues to make to its community.

Different approaches. Different areas of expertise. Shared curiosity. Mutual respect.

Long may places like this continue to bring people together. We so appreciate everything you do to make this world a better place.

The Harmony Hub, Chorley

FOR THE SOLO SOUND TRAVELLER

Not everyone who loves singing bowls, gongs and resonant instruments wants to lead Sound Baths.

And that is absolutely fine.

Perhaps your instruments are for you.

For your own listening.

Your own exploration.

Your own stillness.

Your own creativity.

Your own journey through sound.

You do not have to turn every passion into a service.

You do not have to perform for others to justify the instruments you own.

You do not have to become a “practitioner” simply because you have invested in good equipment.

And you are not a fake because your relationship with sound is private.

Sometimes we can begin to feel pressure from the wider sound community.

Should I be running Sound Baths?

Should I be posting more?

Should people see what I can do?

Do I really belong if I keep this for myself?

Perhaps the more interesting question is:

Who are you doing this for?

If your collection brings you joy, helps you listen more deeply, gives you a creative outlet or simply makes your own life richer, then it already has value.

There is no guilt in owning instruments for your own exploration.

There is no requirement to turn your passion into a public identity.

You can belong to the world of sound simply because you love sound.

Not every journey needs an audience.

Some of the most meaningful ones are travelled alone.

A PLACE TO LEARN - You'll never be turned away through lack of experience.

You do not need a huge collection of instruments.

You do not need years of experience.

You do not need to pretend to be further along than you are.

You simply need curiosity, a willingness to listen, and an openness to learn.

We believe good teaching should build confidence, encourage questions and give people the space to develop at their own pace.

Some will be taking their very first steps with singing bowls and gongs. Others may already have experience but want to revisit the foundations, refine their technique or explore a new direction.

Wherever you are starting from, there should always be room to grow.

Everyone starts somewhere.

Our role is not to impress you with what we know.

It is to help you discover what you can do.

LOST YOUR WAY? REGROUP.

Getting bored?

Lost the passion?

Too much kit?

Same old structure?

No fun anymore?

Starting to feel like it has become a chore?

Maybe you can’t see the forest for the trees.

Perhaps you feel like an imposter. Perhaps everyone else seems more accomplished.

Perhaps there are already too many people doing what you do locally.

Perhaps you are wondering whether you should buy more equipment — even though you can’t really afford it.

Or perhaps you are thinking:

“What’s the point?”

That doesn’t necessarily mean it is time to give up.

It might simply mean that something needs to change.

Businesses worth millions regularly stop, review, restructure, reposition and sometimes completely rethink what they are doing.

Why shouldn’t we?

Put the mallets down for a while.

Look at what you already have. Ask what you genuinely enjoy.

Question the habits and structures you have fallen into. Decide what still excites you — and what no longer belongs.

Maybe you need fewer instruments.

Maybe you need new skills rather than new equipment.

Maybe you need a different creative direction.

Maybe you simply need permission to play again without worrying about what everyone else is doing.

You don’t necessarily need to abandon your journey.

You may just need to remember why you started it.

There is no destination.........just the journey; this feeling is part of it.

COLLABORATION

Jacquie is usually the “Silence” and Craig is usually the “Sound”.

So this is a slightly unusual picture — a rare Silence In Sound collaboration.

Two people. Two approaches. One shared soundscape.

For us, collaboration is not about one person leading and the other following. It is about deep listening — to the instruments, to the space, and to each other.

It is about understanding when to contribute, when to leave room, when to respond, and when simply to listen.

And just as importantly, it is about enjoying the experience.

There can be concentration, sensitivity and musical intention without losing warmth, humour and a sense of play.

Because however seriously we take the craft…
if it isn’t enjoyable, why are we doing it?

Sometimes the best sound comes when everyone in the room is listening deeply — and smiling.

………..she’s a mean Flumie-player BTW 🙏🏻

NEW TO SINGING BOWLS AND GONGS? START WITH YOURSELF.

Before spending £1,000s on instruments and equipment you may or may not need, invest some practical time in your own understanding first.

Learn the instruments. Develop your touch.

Explore mallet choice. Listen properly. Build a skill set. Discover what excites you.

Most importantly, begin to establish your own vision.

Singing bowls, gongs, bells and twinkles are not solely tools for Sound Healing or Sound Therapy.

First and foremost, they are musical instruments — capable of subtlety, texture, rhythm, dynamics, composition, improvisation and extraordinary creative expression.

Of course, you may eventually choose to work within Sound Healing, and there are many reputable courses available if that becomes your direction.

But it may not.

You might discover that your interest lies in performance, recording, creative soundscapes, acoustic exploration, electronic effects, collaborative music — or somewhere you haven’t even imagined yet.

You don’t need to know where the journey will take you before you begin.

Understand the instruments.

Develop the skills.

Explore the possibilities.

Then decide what equipment — and what direction — genuinely serves you.

The world of sound is much bigger than any single label.