Nestor Kornblum

Sound Therapist · Overtone Singer · Musician 

Module: Overtone Singing "The Essence of Harmony"

Overtone Singing is a vocal technique which enables one to sing two or even more sounds at the same time. This produces a powerful healing effect both in the singer and the listener, as the overtones, or harmonics, are sounds that envelop us, harmonizing our entire organism physically and energetically.

When our energy is distorted or heavy, we are susceptible to illness. Overtone Singing aligns our vibration and frequencies with those of Nature and the Universe. When one sings Harmonics, one Resonates in Harmony with the Mathematics of Creation.

Becoming aware of overtone singing, one begins a journey into the Voices of the Voice and the Sound within the Sound. When you hear or practice overtone singing you will know whether it is good for you or not. You will know on levels much more profound than analytical deduction. You will feel it resonate deep within you, where other primordial human qualities like intuition, instinct, unconditional love, compassion and joy reside.
You will vibrate in harmony with the Creation and feel one with it. You will come home, safe and Sound.

Overtone Singing or Vocal Harmonics, is an ancient shamanic technique originating in Central Asia, Tibet and South Africa, that enables a singer to amplify the colours of the voice. The overtones, which literally sound like a flute playing above the drone of the voice, are controlled by the singer to create melodies directly from the heart. Unlike most Western music, which focuses on harmony, melody and rhythm, overtone singing deals with the timbre of sound, the pure frequencies of which the voice is made. The musical scale that is revealed reflects the natural proportions found within all of Nature and allows us to connect and resonate with the Universal Chord. This is a journey into the Voices of the Voice, and the Sounds within the Sound.

Content of the Overtone Singing “The Essence of Harmony” module with Nestor Kornblum:

This Module offers a thorough grounding in both the Musical and Therapeutic aspects of Overtone Singing

  • Introduction to the Science, Theory and History of Overtones
  • Understanding the Harmonic Series, Pythagoras, the monochord, musical intervals of the harmonic series and harmonic proportions
  • Warm-up and preparation exercises for Overtone singing
  • The Basic techniques of Overtone Singing, in two main styles, on day 1
  • The Therapeutic applications and benefits of Overtone singing: Exercises too
  • Meditation, Focusing, Mindfulness and other applications
  • More advanced exercises for the completion of the 2 main styles, enabling rapid advancement
  • Further revision during the 2 Week period, with more exercises for progressing in the techniques
 

Suggestions and demonstrations of how Overtone singing can be combined with other forms of singing, from the shamanic to more traditional singing, or with changes in the Fundamental pitch of the voice instead of the more common: held- fundamental or drone.

nestor-0
nestor-01
nestor-02

Biography

Co-director and co-founder of both The Association of Sound Therapy and Harmonic Studies (Spain) and the International Association of Sound Therapy, Nestor is an internationally acclaimed Sound Therapist and Overtone Singer. He is Author of the acclaimed guidebook on Overtone Singing with CD “Overtone Chant – The Practical Guide”.

Born and lived in Johannesburg until the age of 20. He comes from a very musical family, from both parents’ side of the family. Yet he never thought that it would be his destiny. After 2 years majoring in Law and English Literature at University, Nestor decided to abandon his law degree and go to Europe. He settled in London, where he worked first in fashion, and then in catering. He soon became a specialist oysterman at the renowned seafood restaurant, Bentley’s of London, and also worked in other prestigious locales catering to the rich and famous. He helped open and run Bentley’s of London in Hong Kong, and then spent 2 years working on the 5-star-plus cruise ship Sagafjord, twice circumnavigating the globe. He later finished his restaurant management training at the Swiss Centre in London.

Shortly after this period, he joined his father’s family in Spain, where he met and very soon married, singer-songwriter Michele Averard.

Aside from a brief encounter with the recorder and harp at the Rudolph Steiner Waldorf school at 6 years of age, and a year singing as a boy soprano in the local synagogue, he had no other musical experience until, at the age of 29, he discovered Overtone Singing. It was through his wife and lifetime partner in Sound, Michele Averard, that he first came into contact with overtones. She had learned a vocal technique at a workshop in the UK, and returned home and sang some overtones for him. He was immediately enchanted and tried it for himself. He heard his own overtones at once and experienced a deep feeling of peace, and it was then he decided to investigate further, into Overtone singing as well as the therapeutic power of sound, together with Michele.

Since 1995, Nestor has explored and practiced the ancient art of overtone singing, also referred to as vocal harmonics, with particular attention to its therapeutic and meditational uses. An experienced teacher, he has now taught thousands of people the techniques of overtone singing and Sound Healing on 5 continents. He was one of the first in the western world to master the “Deep Voice” overtone chanting employed by Tibetan monks and Tuvan and Mongolian singers, which enables him to sing up to four simultaneous notes, with a range of 5 octaves.

Together with his wife and partner in Sound, Michêle Averard, Nestor has facilitated and continues to facilitate one of the longest-running Sound Therapy Training courses in Europe, designed to empower participants to practice as Sound Therapists and incorporate Sound Healing into their other therapeutic modalities. Michêle and Nestor together developed this well-balanced and all-round training in voice and other sound healing tools and instruments.

He is regularly interviewed and has appeared on television many times, radio and in the press in the countries where he presently works, as an expert on Sound Therapy. Nestor is frequently invited to participate in Sound Healing Conferences, both live and online, alongside other leading Sound Healers.

Due to his knowledge and ability to sing audibly the Overtone Series (Harmonic Scale), he has lectured and given Master Classes in many Universities and Music Schools.

Nestor is an eloquent and charismatic speaker and teacher, able to express complex concepts in easily understood terms, with plenty of humour, and is no stranger to large audiences. He is thoroughly versed in the science and practice of Sound as a healing modality.

He plays a variety of instruments including didgeridoo, monochord, tanpura, jaw’s harp, overtone flute, Native American flute, musical mouth-bow and assorted percussion.