All my life, music and sound have been important to me. After my formal studies in music education and saxophone, my interests eventually led me to study wooden flutes, toning, sound healing, and the music and spiritual practices of indigenous cultures. My interests have continued to expand and deepen, as I learn from masters in the fields of sound therapy and therapeutic sound. I use sound and music to facilitate the healing process for myself and others.
I perform and improvise therapeutic music for yoga classes, supporting the intention of the instructor and the energy of the students.
I provide therapeutic music bedside for residents at long-term care facilities, and have done the same tankside playing for sea turtles.
I offer group sound workshops and sound immersions where participants can learn about sound healing, and experience the nurturing, healing vibrations of sound. I also have a private sound therapy practice, using sound to facilitate physical, emotional, and energetic healing for individual clients. In my work, I use the vibrations of rattle, drum, voice, bowls, chimes, gong, and a variety of wind instruments.
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Honoring Space
A photo of me playing at The Arboretum, Wilmington, NC, for the re-dedication of the Japanese Tea House there.
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Supporting Ceremony
Providing music (drum and flutes), along with Mik-El Jones, for a beautiful Lantern Floating Ceremony, Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC.
Photos Alan Cradick 
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Connecting
Providing therapeutic music for Lennie, a lifetime resident at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Surf City, NC. My album, Turtle Journey, came from my work with these incredible sea turtles. Turtle Moon, an earlier short album of shakuhachi music, was inspired by sitting for a nest hatching.
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Sharing
Improvising on a Native American-style Horse Flute beside the Tree of Life statue in the garden of the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center. You see just the turtle head and a part of the shell that has that Tree coming up from it in the YouTube video link. The complete sculpture is seen in the photo to the left of the video. I provide therapeutic music for patients and their families at the Hospice Center in Wilmington, NC. I was visiting that healing space to play some music in the garden.
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Creating
Most often, my instruments are created by professional instrument makers. I have made a few of my own instruments, including two frame drums, a rattle, a nose flute, and a few shakuhachi flutes.. That intuitive, creative process helped me connect to those instruments in a deep, personal way.
A few years ago, I purchased a low bass Native American-style flute "blank", a length of beautiful Alaskan yellow cedar routed out by Scott Jones (woodwindflutes.com). I did all the rest to create a unique side-blown bass flute. Here are a few photos of the flute, and a SoundCloud link to an audio of me improvising on it. |
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One of the ways I can use this flute is to use a cover I created to block off some of the finger holes. I use a length of surgical tubing to play that low note as I also play another flute. This creates a wonderful drone for the second flute, and a bit of an interesting look! Enjoy this embedded YouTube video of a short improvisation. |
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Intention Breath Vibration
When we use intention and breath to create vibration,
we access the deep healing potential of sound and music.
When we use intention and breath to create vibration,
we access the deep healing potential of sound and music.
© 2023 David Key