Deep Listening™ Workshop
Deep Listening, as developed by the American composer Pauline Oliveros (1932–2016), explores the difference between the involuntary nature of hearing and the conscious nature of listening. The practice includes bodywork, sonic meditations, and interactive performance, as well as listening to the sounds of daily life, nature, one’s own thoughts, imagination, and dreams. It cultivates a heightened awareness of the sonic environment, both external and internal, and promotes experimentation, improvisation, collaboration, playfulness, and other creative skills vital to personal and community growth. From the 1980s onwards, Deep Listening workshops, retreats, and the Deep Listening Certification Program were developed and facilitated in close partnership with playwright IONE (also Oliveros’ life partner) and movement artist Heloise Gold. Today, the philosophy and practice of Deep Listening continues to evolve through a growing international community of listeners. In this workshop, the participants will explore together the core principles, practices, and philosophy of Deep Listening through the three modalities: Listening through Sound, Dreaming, and Movement. Deep Listening offers a wonderful framework for people to get together, to create, improvise and experiment together, and to experience freedom and playfulness, all within the topic of listening, moving and sound-making. To some of us, it also may serve as a great source of inspiration for artistic practice. A welcome side-effect of all this are the feelings of peace and calm, and a shift in perspective in everyday life. The participants can expect a relaxed, playful atmosphere, lots of experimentation and improvisation, and leaving the workshop feeling more connected to themselves and one another.