My Journey Into Sound Healing: From Classical Musician to Vibrational Therapy Facilitator

From as early as I can remember, music has been woven into the fabric of my life. It wasn’t just a pastime; it was a lifeline. I began classical piano lessons at the age of six, and by twelve, the flute became a new companion. This love for music led me to pursue a Bachelor of Music in performance at the University of Pretoria, where music became more than a passion — it became my identity.

More Than Just the Notes

Over the years, I immersed myself in music: performing, studying, completing diplomas, playing in orchestras, and teaching. I’ve been a music educator since 2002, working with students of all ages and abilities. But despite this deep involvement, something always stirred within me — a subtle sense that music held a deeper purpose beyond technical perfection or honoring a composer’s intention.

Stage anxiety was a constant companion for me, whispering that something wasn’t aligned.

Shouldn’t music feel freeing? Joyful? Healing? I began to feel disconnected from performance as it was traditionally taught — especially when conductors demanded strict interpretations. I knew there had to be more.

And so began my journey into the world of sound.

When Sound Became Sacred

My curiosity led me to start collecting healing instruments. Tibetan singing bowls, chimes, tuning forks — each one opened a new layer of understanding. But it also raised an important question: What about me — the person playing them? 

If I was to hold space for others, how could I deepen my own connection to spirit and energy? How could I become a true channel?

I’ve never quite resonated with the label “sound healer.” I believe we all hold the capacity to heal ourselves. I am simply the facilitator — the one who holds the space and channels what is needed. A quote I often return to is from Lama Anagarika Govinda:

“It is not sufficient merely to spiritualize our life, but what we need is to materialize our spirit.”

It’s a reminder that intention matters. Anyone can strike a singing bowl. But what is the quality of the vibration you bring when playing? That awareness changed everything for me.

The Yoga Connection

In my quest for deeper understanding, I completed my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. It was here I discovered a love for children’s yoga — eventually pursuing certifications in both general and special needs children’s yoga therapy. I began using gentle sound and mindfulness with children to help them feel calm, safe, and empowered.

Each course, each experience, added to my toolbox — but more importantly, it deepened my relationship with myself and how I offer sound to others. I now see myself as a lifelong student, always learning and refining my practice.

Understanding Sound as Energy

Sound is not just something we hear — it’s something we feel. It operates in the world of frequency and vibration. Every cell in our body has a song. When that song is disrupted — through stress, illness, or trauma — dis-ease can take hold. But when the right frequencies are introduced, cells can begin to resonate again, restoring harmony.

While sound doesn’t replace medical intervention, it’s a powerful tool for prevention, relaxation, and spiritual alignment.

Sound works on multiple levels:

• Mental: It quiets the mind

• Emotional: It soothes the heart

• Spiritual: It reconnects us to our essence

• Physical: It helps balance the nervous system and may restore cellular vibration

Thoughts themselves are vibrations. They move through our energetic and physical systems — down the spine, through the nervous system, and into our cells. Sound helps us intervene at the energetic level, before imbalances manifest in the body.

The Instruments I Work With

When I work with clients, I always begin by understanding their intention. From there, I intuitively choose the instruments and approach for the session.Some of my favourite tools include:

• Handmade Tibetan singing bowls: These bowls emit overtones and undertones that fill the space with rich frequencies. Whether placed on the body or played nearby, their vibrations move exactly where needed.

• Tuning forks: Used directly on acupoints and meridians, these are wonderful for precise work.

• Tingsha cymbals & chimes: Great for clearing energy and signaling openings and closings.

• Breathwork (Pranayama): Especially helpful for calming the nervous system before deeper sound work.

• Flute: Sometimes, I weave live flute playing into group sessions, allowing music to fill the space like water.

Each session is a co-creation. I listen to the instruments, but I also listen to the subtle needs of the soul sitting across from me.

A Full Circle

Looking back, I realize I’ve been doing sound healing long before I had words for it. Even as a classical musician, I was tapping into this unseen force — I just didn’t know how to articulate it.

Today, I practice consciously, walking alongside others on their journey and offering sound as a bridge — between the physical and the spiritual, between pain and peace.

I’m deeply grateful that music found me so young. What a sacred gift it is — to turn what once felt like performance into something much more alive, intentional, and healing.

Namaste

Thomas.