We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Helane Marie Anderson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Helane Marie below.
Helane Marie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
First I just want to thank you for having me. It’s an honor to connect with you today. Now getting to your questions… learning how to play instruments and to sing from the heart has been a lifelong process. At the beginning of my music journey, I was considered a late bloomer as I started piano lessons when I was 10, though I sang in choir as soon as I entered school at 5. For my process at present, it’s very much about continuing to challenge my brain through learning new instruments and seeing what is possible both musically and artistically. During lockdown, I began playing the harp, as I was desiring a more harmonic instrument to bring with me to my sound meditations (pianos are not known for portability :) ) . Four years later I now own four harps and a minivan to transport them in! And I’m still just beginning with the instrument in terms of ability. The growth is about daily practice and exploration; A balance of technical exercises and playing through improvisation. As a classical pianist who spent many hours of my life practicing classical repertoire, I find I learn faster these days by allowing more play during my practice time. That is the most essential to me now. Drills and exercises are important, however, it is about balance and I was out of balance with the play element of music for many years. My main obstacle was at one point losing connection with the joy in music making and I’m grateful to have that back! Creating music brings me incredible fulfillment and joy.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I like to say I came out of the womb singing so am definitely a lifelong musician! Creating and performing music with a healing intention is my passion. Recently, I became a featured Sound Meditation Artist with Apple Fitness +/Platoon and produced 15 meditations that are now available on streaming platforms and co-produced an album of original music featuring mantras and songs called LISTEN TO THE TREES, also available on streaming platforms. It’s definitely a moment of sharing my deep heart work through music.
Many years ago, I produced concerts at the Los Angeles Philharmonic working behind the scenes. Through that time, I realized my true love was focusing on the power of music to heal. This prompted me to shift my life around and follow my heart into the work I do now. In 2017, my book You Are Meant to Sing! 10 Steps to Unlock Your Inner Voice was published and I have since worked with many people to help them unlock the true potential of their voice through my transformational voice coaching sessions and Vocal Alchemy Training Program. I also curate sound baths and healing for private events from baby & wedding showers to weddings & funerals, for families and celebrations. My work also brings people together through public events in the Los Angeles area and I also have extensive experience bringing sound therapy sessions to recovery clinics.
As a teacher, I love helping people become the best version of themselves through sound, singing, craniosacral therapy (another healing modality I love and am trained in!) and music. My Sound Healing Trainings have been in session since 2018 and many of my students have gone on to do great things. I also teach an Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship class at the USC Thornton School of Music for graduate students and am grateful to giveback to students in this way with my less than conventional path.
I really love helping people move through transitions and access the core of their pesonal power through music. Currently I offer Transformational Voice Sessions, Private and Public Sound Baths, Curated Events, Sound Therapy for Recovery Centers and Corporations, Sound Healing Trainings (both group and private) and Private Sound Training Sessions.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Yes! One of the things I love so much about sound healing and the freedom it has given me is the ability to improvise music and create on the spot. As a classical pianist and singer by training, I wasn’t given that freedom and the lessons always felt rigid to me. Ever since exploring more with my voice, harp, piano, Native American flutes and various percussion instruments through sound healing, I feel freer and more able to open up the space for myself and anyone I work with to create music from the heart.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Sure, happy to. I spoke before about how I used to work at the LA Phil. During that time I was very entrenched in that career and how I was going to grow from that point in the classical music space. I went through many pivotal changes at that time that prompted me to move more into the music & healing space. It was scary at the time but looking back I am grateful for the push forward to move into a much happier and more fulfilling life for myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sacralsounds.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helanemarieanderson
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelaneMarieAnderson/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjBv9zGISPAOpeJxwJ3VN_g
- Other: SPOTIFY; https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WWFF954Ksn2PF6qzdKK8W
Image Credits
Tanya Nesta, Kelsey Erin Sky, Harriet Emily, Ysabel Chavez