sound work is reaching more people than ever and plays an increasing role in nervous system regulation. this calls for responsibility. nervous systems are fragile, they respond better to precision than intensity. structure and nervous system literacy allow depth without overwhelm.
CURRICULUM — Level 1
this is an in-depth gong training rooted in musical discipline, acoustic understanding, and nervous system literacy. across eight modules, you move from deep listening to confident facilitation and professional integration.
all online sessions are recorded — in case you can't make it live.
1 the art of gong — 2h (online) +
online · recorded · organology · metal and myth · gong across time · forgotten pioneers · cultural appreciation · the paiste legacy · materiality · overtone awareness · planetary gongs · choosing your gong · tools of craft
2 study of sound — 2h (online) +
online · recorded · wave, frequency and music theory · psychoacoustics · sound and nervous system · vagus nerve · brain waves · binaural beats · sound therapy · acoustic spaces
3 beauty of business — 2h (online) +
online · recorded · sound as a service · finding your niche · pricing · building a community · legal basics
4 gong bath the receiving session — 1h (chapel, on site) +
chapel, on site · your first encounter with the gong as a receiver — letting the sound move through you before you learn to play it.
5 practice of play — 5h (chapel, on site) +
chapel, on site · 12:00–18:00 incl. 1h lunch · hands-on playing · sound arcs · transitions · dynamics · multiple instruments
6 art of facilitation — 6h (chapel, on site) +
chapel, on site · 11:00–18:00 incl. 1h lunch · holding space · room setup · the sound journey as artwork · your first real session
7 self practice — 2h (private) +
private · your own time with the gong — developing your personal sound language
8 day one as a gong player — 2h (private) +
private · certification · reflection · you leave as a gong player
THE CHAPEL — SANKT STUDIO
bergmannkiez, mittenwalder strasse 15, 10961 berlin
during the wilhelmine era, the city of berlin resisted the construction of new churches. the church's response was to come to where the people already were. this small chapel was built directly into a residential building in bergmannkiez, where church staff and local residents lived side by side. today it is sankt studio, run by photographer and artist attila hartwig.
i met attila last year while scouting locations for the portal. his space occupies a former chapel embedded in a residential building in berlin's bergmannkiez, one of those more secret and quite historical places in kreuzberg.
he runs the studio as space for photography, visual art, and a range of artistic practices. he teaches at the university of arts berlin and has spent two decades working across advertising photography and conceptual art.
THE CHAPEL DAYS
day 1 — practice of play
12:00 practice
14:00 lunch by attila
15:00 practice
18:00 clean up
day 2 — art of facilitation
13:00 lunch by attila
14:00 practice
16:30 co-creation and certification
18:00 clean up
please let us know about any dietary wishes or allergies
WHO IS THIS TRAINING FOR
for beginners starting with sound and instruments.
for practitioners who want to integrate sound into their existing professional work.
for those exploring sound for personal practice.
and for experienced artists seeking more depth, clarity or a new angle.
note: i won't teach you to play from intuition first.
intuition without foundation is often just habit — a repetition of what we already know, what we have heard before, or what feels emotionally familiar. in this training, we start with structure. you learn the architecture of a gong bath, timing, sequencing, dynamics, and how sound interacts with the nervous system.
WHO SHOULDN'T DO THIS TRAINING
this training is not a quick certification. it's for people who value understanding, practice and time. mastery is not a title — it needs technique, listening and repetition. even after decades of piano, i still practice like a beginner. sometimes one composition takes months for me to learn until i can play or present it.
ABOUT YASEMIN
photos: kanella petropoulu
yasemin vollmond is a berlin-based sound artist, breathwork instructor and musician. classically trained in piano since the age of five, she approaches the gong as a complex acoustic instrument. she teaches gong trainings and performs sonic experiences across europe and anatolia.
alongside her artistic practice, yasemin has a background in corporate management and economics and works in venture capital and regenerative real estate. this dual perspective informs her approach to sound music as something that requires both depth and sustainability.
i came to the gong as a classically trained pianist — someone who spent years studying not just how to press keys, but how to read a composer's intention, understand timbre, shape phrasing, and move through a piece with structure. when i encountered the gong, i applied the same rigour: mapping overtones of each instrument, studying how different mallets and rubbers produce different tonal fields.
in parallel, i studied the nervous system — how it actually moves through a session, what creates safety, what creates activation, and how to guide someone from arrival to deep rest with clarity and intention.
the result is what i now call composing on the gong: understanding the tonal palette of your instrument, sequencing transitions with precision, and building a session the way a composer builds a piece — with architecture, arc and resolution. this is what i teach.
SMALL GROUP
small group = serious learning. you are seen, corrected, guided and not left alone with the instruments.
everyone receives their own gong to play on
no prior experience is needed
bring nothing — everything is provided
TRAINING FEE
the training fee can be paid in instalments (33% × 3, or 50% × 2) but must be paid in total before the training starts.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- — complete training handout
- — certification by yasemin
- — session replays — in case you can't join live
- — sound journey template
- — gong scripts with percussion + transition templates
- — instrument tone harmony and chord reference
- — partner discount up to 20% with selected suppliers
- — purchasing support
- — 22 YACEP points — for registered yoga teachers
- — homemade turkish lunch on both chapel days by attila
FAQ
do I have to bring a gong? +
everyone practices on their own gong with rotation to experience different instruments. you don't need to own one.
do I need prior experience? +
no prior experience is needed. the training is designed to work whether you are completely new to sound or already working with instruments.
on which gongs are we playing? +
we work with a wide selection of paiste planetary gongs. you will have the chance to play on multiple instruments across both chapel days.
can I pay in instalments? +
yes — payment in instalments is possible. options are 33% × 3 or 50% × 2. the full amount must be paid before the training starts.
what about other instruments? +
other instruments are integrated with a focus on tuning, harmony and transitions — including singing bowls, percussion, and more.
what language is the training in? +
the training is held in english. german is also possible depending on the group.
is the training certified? +
yes. you receive a certification by yasemin upon completion. the training also includes 22 YACEP points for registered yoga teachers.
what if I miss an online session? +
all online sessions are recorded and sent to participants — so you won't miss anything if you can't join live.