Relaxing, soothing, calming, meditative — these are the adjectives handpan players often use to describe their instrument. Shaped like two seashells glued together, this relatively new instrument seems to be gaining popularity among yoga and meditation enthusiasts, and is also said to be catching the attention of amateur and experienced musicians in India.
Increasing popularity…
According to one Indian handpan maker, Chirag Vaisewaran, the popularity of the handpan in India has grown over the past decade. “Ten years ago there were four or five handpan players, but now there are thousands playing. Handpans are not only used by musicians in films and music festivals, but also by sound healers and therapists,” says the Bangalore-based handpan maker.
New interest sparked during the pandemic
Ashwini Hegde, a full-time visual designer and part-time painter, started playing the handpan during the pandemic. She says, “In 2019, a friend invited me to a handpan concert by Daniel Waples (famous British handpan player) in Bangalore. I fell in love with the instrument. I bought a handpan during the pandemic and decided to give it a try myself.”
How to use an instrument
Can an amateur artist master it? “I’m a trained tabla player, so I got the hang of it pretty quickly. There are free online classes and paid one-on-one classes,” says Ashwini. “I got my handpan almost a year ago and have been using it a few times every week ever since. Hitting the handpan properly requires technique. Overall, consistent practice is the key to mastery.”
“You can learn using classical Indian ragas and talas.”
I am an IT professional and not a full time artist but I managed to teach myself this instrument. Anyone can play this instrument. I come from a percussion background but I realized I could learn to play the handpan using traditional Indian ragas and talas.
— Sarvotam Venkataraman Kamath, who is currently working on his first handpan album
The benefits are…
“I play to create a good atmosphere for my students during class,” says Brent. Gianluca Pistoia, an Italian handpan player who previously performed in India, says, “Apart from the handpan, I also play Tibetan bowls, gongs and a harmonium. I play these instruments because I’m interested in meditation. I got certified in sound therapy in Indonesia. These instruments stimulate the vibrations of the body, which is 70% water. They help open the mind and relax.”
Facts about the Handpan
Origins: Invented in 2000 by a Swiss steelpan maker at the request of ghatam player Reto Weber, who wanted to combine the Indian ghatam with the Trinidad and Tobago steelpan to create a melodic percussion instrument that could be played with the fingers.
Material: Currently, handpans are made from a variety of materials, including nitrided steel and stainless steel. Nitride steel handpans are known for their warm tone, ceramic tone, and balanced sustain, allowing for both melodic and percussive playing. These handpans come in dark grey, or shades of blue and purple. Stainless steel handpans have a lighter tone. These handpans are suitable for melodic and meditative playing. They are usually golden and chocolate brown in color.
Price: Approximately 65,000 rupees for a nine-note handpan;
A handpan with lots of sounds costs 150,000 rupees.
– Chirag Vaisewaran, Bengaluru-based handpan maker
Check out these handpan artists
YataoHang Massive Nadayana David Charrier Daniel Waples Giolì & Assia Kabeção Sam Maher David Kuckhermann
