Gong Master Practitioner CMA Accredited Training

“Man is a musical being. His origin is in the spoken Word. By sound was he sustained and by music he evolved. One day he will recognize music as a vital factor in the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual evolution of the whole human race.” – Corinne Heline (1882-1975)

The Gong is one of the most ancient and important instruments, thought to have originated nearly six thousand years ago in Sumeria, it has been used for healing and ceremony ever since. It has experienced a renaissance in recent years here in the UK and throughout the World and has been adopted as part of their therapeutic or personal practise by many therapists, sound healers, yoga teachers, shamanic practitioners and those following a spiritual path. Gong Healing practitioners offer Gong Baths or Immersions either in a group setting or as a one on one. Recipients report very deep states of relaxation, along with a feeling of totally letting go, often going into a state of deep meditation where healing can more readily occur.

From our own varied experience conducting many sound baths and attending a large number of different certified sound healing and gong trainings, we have developed what we feel is a unique and comprehensive training in the Gong. Our Gong Master Practitioner Training is comprised of two parts. Part One is a practical non-residential training followed by a distant learning correspondence course. Firstly, you will attend the Harmony of the Spheres six day non-residential training held in a dedicated studio on the Herts & Essex borders.

The Gong Master Practitioner Harmony of the Spheres Intensive is a mixed ability workshop. No musical experience or experience of the gong is required to attend. The workshop is suitable for complete beginners as well as advanced, experienced players who wish to immerse themselves in the gong space.

This intensive training will provide participants with enough knowledge and practical experience so they have the confidence and competence to practise in a healing environment or group performance situation. Participants will be taught everything they need to know about playing the gong, giving one on one treatment sessions and group gong baths/performances at a relaxed pace. It is a complete course in how to play the gong from basic to advanced playing techniques. The aim is to impart as much knowledge and teaching about the gong as possible within the timeframe. The non-residential is held over six days in a very high vibrational centre perfect for the work we undertake. The Intensive is suitable for those who wish to use the gong for transformation and healing, both for themselves and others in a non-professional capacity. You may attend the Intensive only if you wish, or you can also proceed to Part Two to complete your professional qualification.

A wide range of gongs will be available during the non-residential in-person training for participants to use.

All participants will take part on the final day in a gong puja ceremony and for those proceeding to Part Two, this is an essential part of the certification.

The emphasis of this non-residential is upon practical, hands on experience mixed with relevant theory. Participants will truly be immersed in the gong for the entire length of the non-residential.

Course Syllabus

History & Background of the Gong
Intention – Intuition – Meditation
Mallets and Flumis
Types of Gongs
Choosing your Gong
How to approach and play the Gong
Taking care of your Gong
Basic and Advanced Playing Techniques

Conducting a one on one Gong healing session
Giving a Group Gong Bath
Hand held Gong
Journeying with the Gong
Other Instruments to accompany the Gong Bath
The Universal Greeting
Using the voice with the Gong – mantra and toning
All night Gong Puja

We now run the first part of our Harmony of the Spheres practical in-person training in our dedicated Phoenix Studio on the Herts & Essex borders about 40 minutes from Central London.

The training is held over six days with five days class teaching and you will also be expected to attend a puja as part of the required training. We endeavour to arrange these on the sixth day of the training.

We have a wide range of gongs and instruments for class participants to work with. The venue is a high-vibrational space. It is light and airy and we keep the group sizes small to a maximum of eight students per class so that individual attention can be provided at all times.

For those who continue to our accredited Part Two training, there are further CPD opportunities during the course, such as our CPD Journey Day which incorporates an intensive day working with shamanic journeying and the gong.

Non-Residential Training Hertfordshire

Fee for the non-residential training is £760 for the practical training (including the puja arrangements/attendance and Part Two distant learning syllabus). Places are limited to 8 students per class.

Dates for 2025: Please be advised that our professional gong training courses do not have availability for the remainder of 2024 and first half of 2025. Current courses are full, and there is a waitlist. If you want to be notified when new dates are arranged, please sign up for our newsletter or email us at info@sacredsoundinspirations.co.uk for priority notification.

Part Two Distant Learning Programme

Should you wish to continue after the practical non-residential class and receive the qualification of Gong Master Practitioner, you can continue to Part Two after you have attended the practical training. Part Two follows a distant learning online syllabus separated into five modules which are based on both practical and theoretical study. The aim of Part Two is to provide practical and theoretical learning opportunities for students to really explore both their relationship with the gong and also experience working with “clients” on a one to one and group basis. The explorations are both interesting, developmental and fun and on completion the students will have extensive practical and theoretical knowledge and the confidence to practice professionally should they wish.

To complete this training, should you go on to Part Two, you will need to have your own gong or be able to use a gong to complete Modules One to Five. You will receive an introductory workbook during the in-person training and a more comprehensive workbook at Part Two which will provide all the theoretical information you need to complete the training. On successful completion of each module, assessed and approved by your tutor, you will be able to move on to the next module. The modules must be completed within 12 months of attending the residential.

This training is certificated and evaluated and recognised by the CMA (Complementary Medical Association), the leading professional body in the field of complementary therapies. As a registered CMA college, we are recognised as one of the leading providers for gong training. We feel the two parts combined give students the best of both worlds; an intensive non-residential in-person training to really immerse themselves in the teachings of the gong, and an extended course of study to assimilate the teachings over a longer period of time at a pace to suit yourself.

Course Introduction
The Origins of Sound Healing
How sound heals
Intuition / Intention / Meditation
The Role of the Gong in Sound Healing
Origins of the Gong
The Golden Mean
The Sound of the Gong
Benefits of the Gong
Types of Gong
How the Gong is made
Paiste Planet Gongs

Accompanying Equipment –
Mallets, Flumis, Stands, Bags
Taking Care of the Gong
Cleaning the Gong
Approaching & Playing the Gong
Hung Gong Techniques
Walking Gong Techniques
Creating Sacred Space
The Universal Greeting
Healing with the Gong
One on One
Consultation
Consent Form Filling

Delivery
Aftercare
Contraindications
Professional Boundaries
Group Gong Bath / Performance
Journeying with the Gong
The Gong Puja
Other Instruments within the Gong Bath
Role of the Gong Master Practitioner
Code of Ethics
Good Business Practise including Insurance
Continuous Development

Practical and Theory Modules Distant Learning

You will receive the course manual in PDF format by email within 10 working days of receipt of your application, as well as the first module’s exercises via our online teaching platform. Once you have sent back your completed module via email, your homework will be assessed and you will be notified of your results within 10 working days of receipt by your tutor. On successful completion, you will be sent the subsequent module’s exercises to complete. Upon successful completion of all of the modules within 12 months of the date of the residential training, you will be sent your Gong Master Practitioner Certificate (in PDF format) and will be able to gain insurance to practise professionally. Please ensure you leave enough time to complete each module within the twelve-month timeframe. Each module has its own deadline. Suggested time frames for completion are in brackets next to module details, and suggested times are generous in this aspect, with more time than is actually needed to complete the module. Should you complete each module in less time than the suggested timeframe, once assessed, you can move immediately on to the next module. CPD trainings will be run throughout the year that you may also wish to attend.

Module One – Introduction to Sound Healing & the Gong – Theory (3 months).
Module Two – Exploration with the Gong and other instruments – Deepening your relationship (one month)
Module Three – One on One and Group Gong Healing/Performance – You will be required to complete 36 one on one case studies and 2 group gong baths. (3-6 months).
Module Four – Shamanic Practise, Journeying with the Gong – 1 case study plus 1 group session. (One month).
Module Five – Voice Work, Mantra & Gong Mastership (one month).

Tutorial sessions by phone or Zoom can be arranged with Sarah at a mutually agreed time at £30 per half hour.

Duration of Residential Course: 5 days and distant learning modules to be completed over 12 months.
Fee: £890 (includes all workshops activities, food, accommodation and distant learning programme). Extra individual tutorial sessions can be arranged via telephone or Zoom at £25 per half hour session.
Deposit: £250 (Plus £100 single room supplement – limited availability). (Monthly payment plan also available, please enquire).
Forthcoming Dates: We are not running in 2025.
Venue: We are currently not running our residential. All non-residential trainings are held on the Herts & Essex borders.

Duration of Non-Residential Course: 6 days and distant learning modules to be completed over 12 months.
Fee: £780 (includes all workshop activities, puja attendance and distant learning programme).
Deposit: £250 (Monthly payment plan also available, please enquire.) Extra individual tutorial sessions can be arranged via telephone or Zoom at £30 per half hour session.
Forthcoming Dates 2025: Please be advised that our professional gong training courses do not have availability for the remainder of 2024 and first half of 2025. Current courses are full, and there is a waitlist. If you want to be notified when new dates are arranged, please sign up for our newsletter or email us at info@sacredsoundinspirations.co.uk for priority notification.
Venue: Herts/Essex borders

Testimonials from past Gong Residential Retreat participants

Thank you Sarah for offering such an in-depth and comprehensive gong practitioner training. I just loved the retreat at Dev Aura, the perfect setting to learn and practice gong playing techniques, playing for each other in pairs and in small groups culminating in the experience of a gong puja. The course structure was perfect for me, the combination of group retreat followed by extended home study. Sarah, you nurtured us through the initial retreat, fired up our imagination, stirred up our possibilities preparing us all to go off on our own paths of discovery, beginning our personal journeys of exploring everything gong. Thank you for being available for support if we should need it or to answer any questions, but also giving us the space to delve into the many facets of the subject in our own time. The dedicated Facebook group allowed all of us to keep in contact, creating a sense of the group working through their journeys together, a place to ask questions, share resources, support and encourage each other. Thanks again. – Candi Montgomery

I attended the Harmony of the Spheres Gong training retreat in Oct 2016. The venue was a delightful old renovated rectory in Tetford, Lincolnshire called Dev Aura, and what a perfect location it was for this very special training course. Sarah is a warm and welcoming beautiful soul and an amazing teacher, the whole weekend was quite life transforming. We not only learnt how to play the gong but also we were introduced to many other musical instruments that complement the gong during a gong bath meditation. By the end of the course I was totally hooked and I had already ordered my gong on line by the second day. I am a Reiki master so I’m used to working with energies but the healing vibrational frequencies of the gong are limitless. A gathering of like-minded people on a retreat is a beautiful experience and we all attended and contributed an hour of playing the gong in an all night “Puja” or gong bath meditation, this really gave us an opportunity to immerse ourselves fully in the beautiful vibrations, it was truly a magical experience. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in music, healing and well-being. We had the option of going on to do an accredited distant learning syllabus which I did. This involved continuous assessments on 5 modules that had to be completed in 12 months. I had to document all my experiences with the gong. 36 one on one case studies had to be documented. I received my certificate in July 2017. It was an amazing experience and I learnt so much about myself and my gong during this time, hidden emotions were released, issues were dealt with and released, it was quite a journey. I now hold sound bath meditations in the Brighton area, it started off slowly but I’ve build up a clientele and next week I have 25 people attending. Sarah is so open to sharing her passion with anyone and everyone and she holds Reiki drumming courses which I completed with her and now include this in my sound bath meditations. – Ruth Mougharbel

When I was first introduced to Sarah’s Gongs and sound healing I became completely in awe of the Gong. At that time I never thought that I would be in a position to play or own one, today I do. Having enjoyed Reiki drum, I also took my Reiki Master with Sarah, so when I saw the Gong Master Practitioner training I enrolled. Sarah could not have picked a more beautiful place then the Dev Aura centre in Lincolnshire. The Gong course, grounds, accommodation and food were excellent. In one word the whole experience was ‘Amazing’. During the stay Sarah encouraged us to try all the Gongs and other sound Instruments. We were given an in depth easy to read manual which helped to under pin the course information being taught, too which I still refer to on occasion. Any course work can seem daunting, especially if you have been out of education for a while as I had been. However I found the modules to be very well explained and easy to read, we had a year to complete. During this time Sarah was very encouraging and supportive. The modules are made up off practical work and theory. The contents of the modules taught me a lot but myself and the dynamics of how sound heals. On completion I had learnt to become a proficient gong player with the opportunity to become CMA registered. Thanks to Sarah’s Gong practitioner training it has enabled me to have the confidence and knowledge to stand up in public and facilitate my own gong baths. – Anita Panayiotis.

I’m writing to thank you for the magical 5 days I have just spent in Lincolnshire on the Gong Master course. It was an amazing experience and far exceeded any expectations I may have had. I thought you were brilliant, and the house, and the group together made the whole experience unforgettable. After all my indecision about which gong to buy I woke up the morning after reaching home suddenly clear, and I ordered it that morning. I’m missing the gong a lot. Looking back it seems to me that it helped me find solutions to what felt like intractable problems. It seemed to introduce a line of thought that I could accept. I wasn’t going to do Part 2 for example, but my mind was changed, and it now feels obvious that it’s the right thing to do. Thank you again for your thoughtfulness, intuition and wisdom that made the 5 days a life-enhancing experience. – SH

Firstly, sincere apologies for not being in touch sooner to say thank you for the whole experience – and what an experience! Have found myself using the word ‘beautiful’ frequently since returning. Dev Aura is beautiful, the space and energy the gardens, food and freedom. The people I met were all beautiful souls in their truly unique characters. The gongs needless to say were beautiful – even more than I could have ever imagined. The course was beautiful – so well thought out and structured, informative and practical and lastly you Sarah – a beautiful soul through and through – you enthralled us with your passion for the gong and sound, whilst keeping us all on track. Beautiful – definitely; life-changing – without a doubt. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul – MH

Thank you again for an amazing training. I came home and slept for 10 hrs and feel light and recharged today. The weekend gave me an unforced sense of ‘this is what I am meant to be doing’ i.e. working with the gong. It was so wonderful to play without expectations, to receive healing from others and to experience your teaching and holding space; you offer from a place of deep humility and wisdom. And of course the venue and its Devi energy was the perfect support for our inner work – AG

I attended the Harmony of the Spheres Gong Master Practitioner Course which commenced in the summer of 2019. The location of the Course had such a fantastic feel about it and was the perfect location for the course.

The teaching was much more than I anticipated, surrounded by so many beautiful gongs, having the opportunity to have such in-depth training, learning the different techniques and having the opportunity to try each gong, to get a sense of feeling as to preferences for future purchases. It was amazing to have the opportunity to learn healing techniques and journeying that can be undertaken with the gong, then having the opportunity to undertake 1-1 healings and journeying with different members of the group. We also had the opportunity of learning how to play a variety of other instruments and taking part in an all night Puja, which was such an amazing experience that allowed us to feel encapsulated fully in the sounds and vibrations of the gongs. Sarah is such a passionate and inspirational teacher and her knowledge and passion for the gong totally shines through.

Following the practical course, the hard work started with the Module based learning, although hard work at times, it was also thoroughly enjoyable, doing the 1-1 case studies and the inner journey work and seeing the benefits to my case studies and myself has been life-changing. I feel so fortunate that I undertook the course when i did, as having the healing from the gongs certainly helped me and others to deal with the situation we have all found ourselves in this year (2020). Sarah was very supportive throughout the course and her feedback on each Module completed was very encouraging. Completing the course was a huge achievement not only for myself but also for my fellow students, with the restrictions we all had to contend with but it certainly sorted out the men from the boys and showed who the warrior women were from the original participants.