Jonathan Goldman
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Goldman is an author, musician and teacher in the fields of Harmonics and Sound Healing. He is based in Boulder, CO. His career spans over 30 years. In 2011, he was listed by the Watkins Review as one of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential People in the World.
scene in the late 1970s. While playing, he became aware of how sound could be made to affect listeners, determined, in part, by the intention of the musician, not just the physical act of playing an instrument, nor the emotional energy expressed by the musician while playing. Based on these experiences, Goldman began to research the science of sound and music psychology, directing his overall studies towards the use of sound as a healing force.
His research and desire to connect with like-minded people led to his founding of the Sound Healers Association (SHA) in Lexington, MA in 1982. SHA was a small, informal gathering of musicians, artists, scientists, teachers and authors, as well as anyone else who was interested in the topic of sound healing. Meetings were organized by Goldman; they were held in his home once a month and typically included a guest speaker's presentation, followed by a Q&A. Guest speakers included Steven Halpern
, John Beaulieu, Randall McClellan and Dr. Peter Guy Manners
. Subjects discussed at SHA meetings included the work of Hans Jenny
; Resonance
; Musica universalis
; Harmonics and Entrainment
.
During this time, Goldman worked on his Master's Degree program in Independent Study from Lesley University
, researching the Uses of Sound and Music for Healing. This work would later become the main source of material for his first published works. He also began recording his own music and he formed Spirit Music, one of the first record labels dedicated to the therapeutic use of sound and music. Spirit Music has recorded and released music by Goldman, as well as Don Campbell
, Sarah Benson, Sam McClellan, Laraaji
, the Gyume Monks and more recently, Lama Tashi
, among others.
Goldman's healing music and writing has been heavily influenced by the early SHA meetings as well as mythology; psychology; multi-cultural music traditions; ancient religions; mathematics and speculative fiction. In short, Goldman has a three-part theory that runs beneath all of his written and music works:
, whose sacred chanting
of ancient mantras is said to be encoded with healing properties and to be of great benefit to its listeners. Goldman met and became a student of the monks during their 1988 US Tour. During this time, Goldman recorded and produced a concert of the Gyume Monks' chanting, and he learned the art of deep voice chanting and the 'One Voice Chord'
technique from the monks.
He later went on to meet the Tibetan Buddhist Monk, Rinchen Chugyal, then Chant Master for the Drepung Loseling Monastery
. In 1995 Rinchen Chugyal ordained Goldman as a Chant Master, empowering him to teach Tibetan Chanting in the West. Goldman also met and became close to the aforementioned Venerable Ngawang Tashi Bapu
(Lama Tashi), who followed Rinchen Chugyal to become Chant Master of Drepung Loseling Monastery. Lama Tashi recorded several sessions of Tibetan chanting with Goldman. His 'Tibetan Master Chants', recorded and produced by Goldman, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004.
Goldman's chanting has been featured on several recordings, notably the 1999 Grammy Award winning album by Kitaro
, 'Thinking of You'; his own 'Chakra Chants' series; 'Chakra Dance', which was produced for the opening of a holistic dance club in New York City, and 'Medicine Buddha', made for the US teachings of HH Dalai Lama
in 2001.
. He also hosts private clinics for small groups or individuals. He has lectured and taught internationally at major sound conferences and health expos, including National Music & Health Conference, Harvard University, Wesak Festival, American Association of Music Therapy Conference, Tufts University, Global Sound Conference and the University of Hawaii. He also is the presenter of a monthly online radio show on www.healthylife.net.
, Chanting, Ambient
, Minimalist, to Techno
as well as music intended to be played during specific activities such as meditation, reiki yoga and massage. In 2011 Jonathan Goldman was inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame.
As of May 2011 Goldman has written six books in the field of sound healing which have been published. Four of Goldman's books have been published in numerous languages and are Best Sellers.
Goldman continues to work out of his private recording studio, Spirit Studios, which is located in his home in Boulder, CO.
and Rodney Dangerfield
. Henny Youngman
performed at Goldman's bar mitzvah.
Goldman's father, Irving B. Goldman
was a pioneer in the field of Ear, Nose and Throat. His patients included Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Goldman's brother is a dermotologist to the stars in Beverly Hills, who has treated many luminaries of Hollywood, including Frank Sinatra.
His wife, Andi Goldman, is a licensed therapist and was one of the first therapists in the US to adopt a phone-in service for patients in crisis.
Background
Goldman's interest in using sound as a healing modality originated from his own experiences during live performances as a guitarist in the Boston punkPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene in the late 1970s. While playing, he became aware of how sound could be made to affect listeners, determined, in part, by the intention of the musician, not just the physical act of playing an instrument, nor the emotional energy expressed by the musician while playing. Based on these experiences, Goldman began to research the science of sound and music psychology, directing his overall studies towards the use of sound as a healing force.
His research and desire to connect with like-minded people led to his founding of the Sound Healers Association (SHA) in Lexington, MA in 1982. SHA was a small, informal gathering of musicians, artists, scientists, teachers and authors, as well as anyone else who was interested in the topic of sound healing. Meetings were organized by Goldman; they were held in his home once a month and typically included a guest speaker's presentation, followed by a Q&A. Guest speakers included Steven Halpern
Steven Halpern
-Early career:Halpern played trumpet and guitar in the New York City jazz scene of the 1960s, but became disenchanted with it and moved to California. There he began exploring the idea of creating music entirely for the purpose of relaxation, which he called "anti-frantic alternative" music...
, John Beaulieu, Randall McClellan and Dr. Peter Guy Manners
Cymatic therapy
Cymatic therapy or "cymatherapy", is a scientifically unsupported alternative medicine technique using acoustic waves which was developed in the 1960s by Sir Peter Guy Manners.-Background :...
. Subjects discussed at SHA meetings included the work of Hans Jenny
Hans Jenny (cymatics)
Hans Jenny was a physician and natural scientist who is considered the father of cymatics, the study of wave phenomena.-Life and career:Jenny was born in Basel, Switzerland...
; Resonance
Resonance
In physics, resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate at a greater amplitude at some frequencies than at others. These are known as the system's resonant frequencies...
; Musica universalis
Musica universalis
Musica universalis is an ancient philosophical concept that regards proportions in the movements of celestial bodies—the Sun, Moon, and planets—as a form of musica . This 'music' is not usually thought to be literally audible, but a harmonic and/or mathematical and/or religious concept...
; Harmonics and Entrainment
Entrainment (physics)
Entrainment has been used to refer to the process of mode locking of coupled driven oscillators, which is the process whereby two interacting oscillating systems, which have different periods when they function independently, assume a common period...
.
During this time, Goldman worked on his Master's Degree program in Independent Study from Lesley University
Lesley University
Lesley University is a private, coeducational university in Boston, Massachusetts and Cambridge, Massachusetts.The university is a member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and New England Collegiate Conference.-History:The...
, researching the Uses of Sound and Music for Healing. This work would later become the main source of material for his first published works. He also began recording his own music and he formed Spirit Music, one of the first record labels dedicated to the therapeutic use of sound and music. Spirit Music has recorded and released music by Goldman, as well as Don Campbell
Mozart effect
The Mozart effect can refer to: * A set of research results that indicate that listening to Mozart's music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as "spatial-temporal...
, Sarah Benson, Sam McClellan, Laraaji
Laraaji
Laraaji is an American musician. Born Edward Larry Gordon in Philadelphia, he studied violin, piano, trombone and voice in his early years in New Jersey. He attended Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C. on a scholarship to study composition and piano...
, the Gyume Monks and more recently, Lama Tashi
Ngawang Tashi Bapu
Ngawang Tashi Bapu , also known as Lama Tashi, is a former Principal Chant Master of the Dalai Lama. A Monpa, Tashi was born in the Thembang village of West Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh, India and commenced formal study in 1985, at age 17. He is a multi-phonic chanter and has performed twice at the...
, among others.
Goldman's healing music and writing has been heavily influenced by the early SHA meetings as well as mythology; psychology; multi-cultural music traditions; ancient religions; mathematics and speculative fiction. In short, Goldman has a three-part theory that runs beneath all of his written and music works:
- That everything in the universe is in a state of vibration. Everything is in motion and produces a sound or frequency. This includes the various parts of our body, organs, bones, tissue, etc.
- When we are in a state of "sound" health, everything in our bodies is vibrating in resonance or harmony with itself. When something is vibrating out of harmony, we call this "disease".
- Sound is an energy that can entrain or change the vibrational rate of objects. Therefore, if something is vibrating out of tune or harmony, it is possible to create the correct, natural "resonant" frequency of the out of tune object, project it to that out of tune portion and cause it to vibrate back to its normal, healthy state. This, in turn, can be summarized as: Frequency + Intent = Healing.
Connection to Tibetan Buddhism
During his research, Goldman worked with the Gyume MonksGyuto Order
Gyuto Tantric University is one of the great monastic institutions of the Gelug Order.-History:Gyuto was founded in 1475 by Jetsun Kunga Dhondup and is one of the main tantric colleges of the Gelug tradition...
, whose sacred chanting
Buddhist chant
A Buddhist chant is a form of musical verse or incantation, in some ways analogous to Hindu, Christian or Jewish religious recitations. They exist in just about every part of the Buddhist world, from the Wats in Thailand to the Tibetan Buddhist temples in India and Tibet...
of ancient mantras is said to be encoded with healing properties and to be of great benefit to its listeners. Goldman met and became a student of the monks during their 1988 US Tour. During this time, Goldman recorded and produced a concert of the Gyume Monks' chanting, and he learned the art of deep voice chanting and the 'One Voice Chord'
Overtone singing
Overtone singing, also known as overtone chanting, or harmonic singing, is a type of singing in which the singer manipulates the resonances created as air travels from the lungs, past the vocal folds, and out the lips to produce a melody.The partials of a sound wave made by the human voice can be...
technique from the monks.
He later went on to meet the Tibetan Buddhist Monk, Rinchen Chugyal, then Chant Master for the Drepung Loseling Monastery
Drepung Monastery
Drepung Monastery ,, located at the foot of Mount Gephel, is one of the "great three" Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet...
. In 1995 Rinchen Chugyal ordained Goldman as a Chant Master, empowering him to teach Tibetan Chanting in the West. Goldman also met and became close to the aforementioned Venerable Ngawang Tashi Bapu
Ngawang Tashi Bapu
Ngawang Tashi Bapu , also known as Lama Tashi, is a former Principal Chant Master of the Dalai Lama. A Monpa, Tashi was born in the Thembang village of West Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh, India and commenced formal study in 1985, at age 17. He is a multi-phonic chanter and has performed twice at the...
(Lama Tashi), who followed Rinchen Chugyal to become Chant Master of Drepung Loseling Monastery. Lama Tashi recorded several sessions of Tibetan chanting with Goldman. His 'Tibetan Master Chants', recorded and produced by Goldman, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2004.
Goldman's chanting has been featured on several recordings, notably the 1999 Grammy Award winning album by Kitaro
Kitaro
, better known as , is an award winning Japanese musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist who is regarded as one of the pioneers of new age music.-Early life:...
, 'Thinking of You'; his own 'Chakra Chants' series; 'Chakra Dance', which was produced for the opening of a holistic dance club in New York City, and 'Medicine Buddha', made for the US teachings of HH Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
in 2001.
Teachings
Goldman produces and hosts an annual 'Healing Sounds Intensive' course in Loveland, COLoveland, Colorado
Loveland is a Home Rule Municipality that is the second most populous city in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Loveland is situated north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. Loveland is the 14th most populous city in Colorado. The United States Census Bureau that in 2010 the...
. He also hosts private clinics for small groups or individuals. He has lectured and taught internationally at major sound conferences and health expos, including National Music & Health Conference, Harvard University, Wesak Festival, American Association of Music Therapy Conference, Tufts University, Global Sound Conference and the University of Hawaii. He also is the presenter of a monthly online radio show on www.healthylife.net.
Discography & Bibliography
As of May 2010, there are over 30 albums of Jonathan Goldman's own music released on Spirit Music and other labels. His music has ranged from New AgeNew Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
, Chanting, Ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
, Minimalist, to Techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
as well as music intended to be played during specific activities such as meditation, reiki yoga and massage. In 2011 Jonathan Goldman was inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame.
As of May 2011 Goldman has written six books in the field of sound healing which have been published. Four of Goldman's books have been published in numerous languages and are Best Sellers.
Goldman continues to work out of his private recording studio, Spirit Studios, which is located in his home in Boulder, CO.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Dolphin Dreams | Spirit Music |
| 1991 | Gateways: Men's Drumming and Chanting | Spirit Music |
| 1991 | Angel of Sound | Spirit Music |
| 1991 | Trance Tara | Spirit Music |
| 1992 | Song of Saraswati | Spirit Music |
| 1992 | Sacred Gateways | Spirit Music |
| 1994 | The Angel and the Goddess | Spirit Music |
| 1995 | Celestial Reiki | Spirit Music |
| 1998 | The Lost Chord | Etherean Music |
| 1999 | Chakra Chants | Spirit Music |
| 2000 | Celestial Yoga | Spirit Music |
| 2001 | Medicine Buddha | Spirit Music |
| 2001 | Celestial Reiki | Spirit Music |
| 2002 | Ultimate Om | Spirit Music |
| 2002 | Holy Harmony | Spirit Music |
| 2003 | Healing Sounds DVD | Spirit Music |
| 2004 | Chakra Dance | Spirit Music |
| 2004 | Chakra Chants 2 | Spirit Music |
| 2004 | Celestial Reiki II | Spirit Music |
| 2005 | Healing Sounds | Spirit Music |
| 2005 | Vocal Toning the Chakras | Sounds True Sounds True Sounds True is a multimedia publishing company based near Boulder, Colorado. It was created in 1985 by Tami Simon. The company has published approximately 1,000 titles, including spoken-word audio recordings, books, music, filmed events, multimedia packages and online educational programs from... |
| 2005 | Tantra of Sound Harmonizer w/Andi Goldman | Spirit Music |
| 2005 | Frequencies: Sounds of Healing | Spirit Music |
| 2005 | The Divine Name w/Gregg Braden | Spirit Music |
| 2006 | Reiki Chants | Spirit Music |
| 2007 | De-stress | Spirit Music |
| 2007 | Waves of Light | Spirit Music |
| 2008 | 2012: Ascension Harmonics | Spirit Music |
| 2009 | Crystal Bowls Chakra Chants | Spirit Music |
| 2010 | 2013: Ecstatic Sonics | Spirit Music |
Personal life
Goldman grew up in New Jersey, at a family-owned Kosher hotel. Many celebrities at the time performed there including Jackie MasonJackie Mason
Jackie Mason is an American stand-up comedian and movie actor.-Early life:Born Yacov Moshe Maza in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, he grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City....
and Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield , was an American comedian, and actor, known for the catchphrases "I don't get no respect!," "No respect, no respect at all... that's the story of my life" or "I get no respect, I tell ya" and his monologues on that theme...
. Henny Youngman
Henny Youngman
Henry "Henny" Youngman was a British-born American comedian and violinist famous for "one-liners", short, simple jokes usually delivered rapid-fire...
performed at Goldman's bar mitzvah.
Goldman's father, Irving B. Goldman
Irving B. Goldman
Irving B. Goldman was an otolaryngologist and plastic surgeon. Dr. Goldman created and taught a popular rhinoplasty course at Mount Sinai Hospital . The course focus was the "Goldman Tip," a rhinoplasty technique that is still popular with surgeons today...
was a pioneer in the field of Ear, Nose and Throat. His patients included Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Goldman's brother is a dermotologist to the stars in Beverly Hills, who has treated many luminaries of Hollywood, including Frank Sinatra.
His wife, Andi Goldman, is a licensed therapist and was one of the first therapists in the US to adopt a phone-in service for patients in crisis.
External links
- Sound Healers Association
- Jonathan Goldman's Healing Sounds
- [ Discography at www.allmusic.com]