An Introduction to Singing Bowls
I am very often asked for instructions on how to play a Tibetan singing bowl properly. In order to achieve the best results, the secret is not to try and rush. Do not be impatient and expect to get a perfect resonance the first time or even the second time you play your singing bowl.
You need to sit down comfortably and rest the singing bowl in the palm of your hand without actually gripping it with your fingers. Just cup it in your hand as any pressure around the bottom of the singing bowl will stop it from vibrating when played, so stopping it from "singing". Hold the stick (or beater as it is also known) 
as you would hold a pen or pencil with your fingers half way down it, stopping at the groves in the stick. Using a wrist action (rather like a stirring motion) gently rub the stick along the very outside rim of the singing bowl. You do not need to hit the singing bowl first, many people do this but this will create a distorted sound. Just gently, with a bit of pressure, move the stick along the outside edge of the bowl. You should soon begin to feel the singing bowl vibrating slightly. This vibration will build up to produce the resonance.
Try and keep the stick at the same angle on the singing bowl as in the photograph. As you become more experienced at playing a singing bowl you will obviously produce a much more refined and clear sound than you will initially. Using the suede side of the stick will produce a deeper, smoother sound than using the wooden end.
It just takes a bit of practice!
