James Hunter Crossley runs the London Handpan Academy in Fulham and a sound healing school where he trains gong practitioners. He also plays handpan at weddings, art galleries and other events.
A detour that became a path
James came to the handpan through a series of events. After a sports injury he stumbled across a hand percussion instrument online, and his energy changed direction: he started learning handpan and other percussion instruments. A retreat with Malte Marten encouraged him to take the next steps.
He busked on the streets of London with a fellow handpan player, the two formed a duo and started playing events together. Later James teamed up with Malte to open the Handpan Academy in London, where lessons take place on YataoPans.
How a good lesson is built
James teaches mostly beginners, on the D Kurd, both at the academy and in his own course, the Core Handpan Method. He recommends the scale because there is so much learning material for it and because it is the best choice if you want to play with others. He describes its sound in three words: clean, sweet, bright.
His beginner course follows a clear order: first touch and how to get a sound out of the handpan, then chords, then rhythms and beats, then melody. At the end the students combine all three elements and play together.
At the start of a class they can't play anything, and by the end all the students are playing together. Seeing that progress is the most rewarding part.
– James Hunter Crossley
The biggest misconception
Many students worry because they have no musical experience. What they discover quickly is a different challenge: a clean sound is not that easy at first. James advises mastering the striking technique before anything else, and bringing patience.
Before you buy
James is honest about the price: it is where most people hesitate, and that is understandable. His advice is to ask yourself whether you really want to dive in and whether you have the motivation to learn. If the answer is yes, it is definitely worth it.
