BRIAN GRIMM | MUSIC MEDITATION PRACTITIONER
[ Learn more about Brian’s acoustic music here: Brian Grimm EPK ]
I offer in-home, in-office, for event, and outdoor (weather permitting) guqin meditation sessions for individuals and groups. I also improvise live guqin accompaniment for Yoga classes & meditation services. Those experiencing a music meditation have the opportunity to be actively aware, present in the moment of the mind quieting. I hope to help participants carry this calmness forward into their life.
or contact me at | grimmusik@gmail.com | (262) 347-9590
MY SOUND, MY PRACTICE
I love to accompany yoga classes & meditation sessions with the Guqin! The guqin 古琴 is an ancient seven-string fretless-zither from China which has been used to cultivate the mind toward Enlightenment for 3,000 years. The calm, dulcet tones of this instrument are well suited for meditative wellness purposes and yogic practice.
At the start of a guqin meditation/yoga session, the participants are asked to sync their breathing with the tones of the zither. As the mediation unfolds I am there, improvising an accompaniment that follows the energy & physical feedback of the individual/group. Near the end of a long session, the participant may suddenly bloom their energy outward, releasing deep tension and stress. It is a beautiful experience and results in a deep connection to those with whom I’ve shared a session.
Guqin meditation client testimonial: “ I had the immense privilege of experiencing Brian’s musically guided meditation. The centering powers of the qin while masterfully and thoughtfully played by Brian invited me into a state of calm that had seemed unachievable previously…. ”
Those experiencing a guqin music meditation have the opportunity to be actively aware, present in the moment of the mind quieting. I hope to help participants carry this calmness forward into their life.
TESTIMONIALS
” I had the immense privilege of experiencing Brian’s musically guided meditation. The centering powers of the qin while masterfully and thoughtfully played by Brian invited me into a state of calm that had seemed unachievable previously. I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect and refrain from distractions in my own home. There are many benefits for having the session take place in my own environment. The experience showed me it is possible to maintain inner peace and strength even after the session’s conclusion. I would recommend this service to everyone; it is important to truly take the time to pause and recognize the preciousness of life. Thank you for helping me remember to savor the present moment! “
” Everything is exactly as it should be. Breathe. Listen. Actively and peacefully exist. Swirls of yellows and limes invite you to reflect. Gratitude for this moment is deeper than can be expressed. Observing and participating in the peace that is already present. Savoring sound. Slowing down. When the mind quiets, the Spirit leads. This can be a constant source of strength. Thank you for this awareness. “
古琴 GUQIN
Guqin, an ancient seven-stringed bridgeless zither, with a documented history of three thousand years, is one of China’s most important cultural instruments. Symbol of the Confucian sage scholars and Daoist literati, guqin possesses one of the largest and longest running solo repertoire of any string instrument in China. Developing throughout the Warring States period (475-221 BCE) in Classical China, its philosophical performance doctrine became rooted in Confucian and Daoist ideologies. With down tempo unmetered melodies, quiet volume, and dulcet timbre this zither guides the listener through meditation. Guqin’s silk strings traditionally typify purity and determination in classical Confucian thought. As the instrument progressed, a rift formed between its two aesthetic schools. Confucianism holds the social, political, moral, and emotional qualities in a piece of music to be inherent. Xi Kang (223-263 CE), a qin scholar from the Seven Sages of Bamboo Grove, challenged this in his poetic essays. Xi debated in Daoist sentiment that structure and form account for beauty in composition, and that emotion in music is subjective to interpretation of the individual. Daoists believe music to be a natural phenomenon. Therefore, qin should be experienced in lofty mountains, by flowing streams near shady forest trees. In such a setting, the qin scholar partakes in the Daoist tradition of returning to nature. These terrains help the instrumentalist moderate breathing and meditate while playing zither to achieve a quiet inner stillness. This practice developed into Qindao, literally “zither Daoism,” but more poetically translated as the way of guqin. In Qindao, the calm tones of guqin are utilized as a tool to cultivate the mind toward Enlightenment through meditative music. It is encouraged to share the Qindao practice while burning incense and drinking tea in the company of kindred spirits.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
America has grown to champion unhealthy mental and physical lifestyles. We are
constantly pressured to prize money and individualistic consumerism over human
interaction, education, and community wellbeing. We are burnt out on the quest for
money, jobs, and joy by materialism. Our bipartisan political structure is plagued by
those who would stubbornly disagree rather than find productive compromises. Many
movements toward global humanitarian equality are met with violence instead of
discourse. Now more than ever, people need to take a moment out of their day to sit
peacefully. Whether in public or private, I assist and nurture those seeking mental health
by providing an aural environment conducive to meditation.
~ BCG, September 2011
Brian, that’s awesome! It is definitely super relaxing. Plus, I feel a bit more culturally enriched with exposure to this unfamiliar instrument. Very interesting. Thanks!