Cellist/Sound Artist

I’m a concert and recording cellist who in the early years did all the appropriate things to do.  That is to say, I got scholarships to the Aspen School of Music, Tanglewood, won a Coleman Chamber Music award, and a full scholarship to the Eastman School of Music (which I declined as I wanted to stay on the West coast).  

There have been some wonderful teachers in my life who have contributed so much to my understanding of music.  Among them was the late, great, Pablo Casals, with whom I had the opportunity to study with in Berkeley.  Playing Bach with the Brandenburg Players under the direction of Milton Thomas was another enjoyable, and very satisfying experience.

Perhaps most pleasurable  have been the theater and dance productions for which I created the music and certainly the free-improvisational group,” Ishtar”.  I’ve played many a new music concert, and of course, solo with orchestra, sonata recitals with some awesome pianists, chamber music and world fusion concerts, as well as motion picture, television and music recordings.  For four years I served on the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).

What has greatly enriched my perspective in music has been the opportunity of exploring other mediums, such as writing, painting, sculpture, design, and world philosophy.  I love teaching, as each student presents the possibility of developing a different approach that works best according to that individual’s dreams. Teaching adult beginners is particularly rewarding. I have given chamber music and sound demonstrations  throughout the Southland- some of which were on behalf of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the Center for the Healing Arts in Westwood and the La Jolla Museum of Art.  Very important also has been the experiences with animals, both exotic  and domestic, from whom naturalness and connectedness can be learned so well- no matter what the medium of expression may be.

It is largely through these experiences that the focus on sound healing and sound meditation developed, as it became apparent that beneath the world of music existed the world of sound, as the direct creative stimulus and carrier of energy.  From this, the path has led into sound meditation and sound healing.

Artist

Though music has been my main pathway, I’ve enjoyed sculpture, painting, design, jewelry making, production and writing as well. 

I was fortunate to participate in a lot of art shows in the 1980's. Galleries in Florida, Palm Springs, Riverside, and Los Angeles featured my work. I had little to no training in art mediums in contrast to the many years of training in music. This was an eye-opener for me. I realized that the sense of play experienced with art had been lost in the music due to the many years of seeking technical perfection. I saw that everything is design, whether it be painting, sculpture, writing, philosophy, or one's life style. With this realization I was able to find freedom of expression and my own voice.

For additional information regarding the Inner Touch of Sound™Meditation Seminar contact:

Maria@innertouchofsound.com

CelloPath © 2007 Maria Royce

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Inner Touch of Sound™

The Inner Touch of Sound™ meditation Seminar is a creation that started many years ago with a spontaneous shift in perception and wended it’s way through experiences with meditation, sound healing, and the workshops and seminars given over the past twelve years.  It is not a traditional type of meditation, in fact, it is rather unusual. As a friend put it: ..........................................................................  “On first hearing, I find this fascinating, and more than meets any expectation one might have about "meditation.”  This seminar makes it’s way, track by track, through seemingly dissimilar spaces, as if descending a staircase  through different galleries of pictures.  Then all of a sudden there you are-finding yourself in your deepest, most peaceful center.”

Even though images and music from both East and West are blended within the Inner Touch of Sound™ meditation, it’s form is quite original.  The way to realize the full depth of this sound experience is to set aside an hour, in order to listen to this in its entirety, without distractions of any kind.  In this way, each of the tracks will bring you closer to the pleasure of sound as feeling. This is the nature of one’s original state of being.

Sound Corridors provides foundational notes, rich in harmonics and overtones, for the purpose of tuning, toning, and resonating with. It is included in the Inner Touch of Sound™ Meditation CD and also in a longer form as a seperate CD. This was developed for balancing and healing.

Raga Natai is an extraordinary recording that is also included with the Inner Touch of Sound™ meditation CD. By the very nature of this beautiful performance and Carnatic musical style, it engages the body/mind in a serene and deep inward journey.

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