Path to the Heart - 2 day In depth Handpan Workshop

Path to the Heart - 2 day In depth handpan Workshop

Welcome to our immersive handpan workshop where you can explore the world of these unique instruments. Over two days, you'll dive deep into the heart of handpan music, learning techniques, rhythms, and melodies that will elevate your playing. Maxwell Edison will guide you on this musical journey, helping you unlock your creativity, through flow state and practice. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the music within and discover your path to the heart.

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Saturday August 23rd -24th

Otter Creek Lodge

Monroe Michigan

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What is Path to the Heart? .

This in-depth handpan workshop weekend, aims to connect individuals with their musical selves, finding the music within, and the tools to express from the heart. The weekend will include multiple in-depth workshops, ranging from technique and rhythmic play, all the way to developing a practice and exploring sound facilitation. As well as include a Saturday night sound meditation for all participants to drop into.

Path to the Heart will be hosted at Otter Creek Lodge, a serene property rooted in traditional spiritual practices. Set on peaceful woodland acreage, it hosts Spirit Lodges (sweat lodges), meditation and fire ceremonies, and other gatherings centered around indigenous practices. Their sacred, substance-free space emphasizes protocol, intention, and respect for nature and community. The space is intentionally alcohol and cannabis‑free, aligning with its mission to support clean, sacred gatherings. Otter Creek Lodge offers a unique haven blending ancestral practices with modern mindfulness.

Maxwell Edison has been a part of the handpan community for over a decade. After high school Maxwell felt lost musically, still enjoying music but not actively wanting to share his own. As is very common in the handpan world, Maxwell saw a handpan video on youtube that inspired him to explore these instruments. This moment changed the trajectory of his life, sending him back to university with much more intention and drive to explore music. Throughout this time, Maxwell applied the lessons learned at his college level music courses into understanding the handpan, and growing his skills and knowledge both in and outside the classroom. Maxwell graduated from Southern Illinois university in 2017 and has been performing and teaching handpan workshops since.

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Otter creek lodge protocols:

This sacred land is to remain free of drugs, alcohol and cannabis, including vapes. Otter Creek Lodge is focused on intention, respect for nature, community and its mission to support clean, sacred gatherings.

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Camping Available!

We are excited to offer Primitive tent camping to all participants, traveling from afar or wanting to connect with the experience of the weekend. Primitive tent camping includes being assigned a campsite, where you can park your vehicle, set up a tent and/or shade canopy.

– This is a PRIMITIVE site, meaning there are NO electric or water hook ups at the campsites.

– There are NO shower accommodations at this time.

– We are NOT able to accommodate large vehicles, and or RVs/ campers.

We invite anyone who will be camping to arrive the night before to set up their camps, and get a solid night's rest before beginning on Saturday morning. There will be no programming/ workshops on Friday evening, but it will be a great change to connect with other participants.

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Weekend Flow:

Saturday August 23rd,

8:00am - 9:30am —-—Gather/Check in

9:30am - 10:00am —– Muffins, Tea, and coffee time

10:00am - 10:45am – Opening Circle / Intention setting

11:00am - 12:15pm — First Touch / Beginner technique

12:30pm - 1:30pm –— Lunch Break, (Fruit Bowl, Salad and Soup)

2:00pm - 2:30pm –—– Connecting Nature Walk, Grounding through Chaos and Order

3:00pm - 4:30pm —— Scales, Chords and Exploring Harmony

4:30pm - 5:00pm —— Short break

5:00pm - 6:15pm —— Rhythm and Groove

6:00pm - 8:00 pm –— Potluck Dinner and freetime

8:00pm - 9:15pm –—- Sunset Sound Meditation

9:15pm - onward —— Community fire and Free Time

11pm ——————— Quiet Time

Sunday August 24th,

8:00am - 9:00am —-—Gather

9:00am - 10:00am —– Muffins, Tea, and coffee time

10:00am - 11:30am – Handpan, Flow State and the Music Within (Recognizing Flow)

11:30am - 12:30pm — Lunch Break, (Fruit Bowl, Salad and Soup)

12:30pm - 2:00pm –— Small group composition and jams!

2:00pm - 2:30pm –—– Group jam share and Closing Circle

2:30pm - 3:30pm —— Free time / Packing up

4pm ———————– Departure from Otter Creek Lodge

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Saturday Night Sound Journey!

Join us for a one-hour immersive sound meditation featuring crystal and metal singing bowls, Native-style flute, handpan, gong, chimes, vocals, and more. This ancient practice promotes deep relaxation and can help ease stress, anxiety, depression, and PTSD by guiding you into the restorative theta brain wave state. A perfect way to reset and ground after the busyness of daily life

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WHAT TO BRING:

• Tent/camping gear
• Comfy clothes
• Cushion for sitting
• Refillable waterbottle
• Your own handpan/steel tongue drum
• Other instruments

Also check out other Workshops in Darwen, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Darwen.