About the Approach — This Is Benny Oyama

1. Musicianship

I guide participants to develop the musical foundations of rhythm, harmony, melody, and prayer through a simple, intuitive approach that makes music accessible and slowly reveals its depths. Technique is essential - for it sets the foundation and prepares the container of authentic expression and prayer through song.

I guide participants to work with their nervous systems, instead of struggling against it. This work is about transforming fear, perfectionism, and overwhelm into curiosity and presence, and only in this way can our practice become a place of safety, confidence, and sustainable growth.

Musical study is a powerful form of meditative practice and provides yet another opportunity to encounter ourselves and our minds. This path includes engaging in deep listening, prayer, presence, repetition, analysis, and mindful attention. Slowly the practice can evolve into a path of awareness and self-inquiry with benefits that go beyond the music itself. In this sense, music is both the fruit to be enjoyed and the method and path to be practiced of what is essentially a contemplative path.

Studying music is full of challenges - it takes a lot to become a skilled musician - and every challenge is an opportunity to cultivate patience, resilience, discipline, humility, and self-trust. The instrument is a mirror, companion, and teacher that aids in personal transformation.

I believe that to be a musician is a great responsibility, and in that sense cultivating skills and sharing them becomes a service to your community and to the world.

As an artist and a teaching artist I draw inspiration from many sources: Buddhist and yogic philosophy and practice, Indigenous traditions, contemporary psychology, and modern music pedagogy and science. Rather than adopting any single worldview, I am interested in weaving together timeless principles from all traditions that support both musical growth and human flourishing.