"Bettine is essential listening for percussionists and anyone interested in solo free-oriented music." - The Improvisor

"Sinking into Bettine's sound world is fascinating and inspiring."

1. -MODERN DRUMMER
   

“Bettine has a unique vision that sets him apart from the hoards.”

- DRUM!

Michael Bettine has been playing percussion for most of his life. He can't really remember a time when rhythm didn't fascinate him. While he has spent many years play rock/pop/jazz drums, he has always been drawn more to the fringe of things. While at University he discovered John Cage, European free jazz, African & Asian music, and was always the student who asked the weirdest questions, like: "What about sheet metal? Do you know anything about using sheet metal as percussion?" After apparently thinking beyond the realm of such a staunch jazz tradition school, he pursued experimental ideas on his own. This lead to the discovery of Gongs and other ringing metal percussion. The die was cast and there was no turning back…

Jump to the present and Michael still exhibits the same restless urge for discovery that he did as a youth. He concentrates most of his energy on performances and compositions for Gongs & other metal percussion. In 2000 he developed GONGTOPIA as a means of expressing these ideas and has toured & recorded extensively since. He also presents Gong Workshops and Sound Healing sessions. In concert he plays on 50 or more Gongs, as well as cymbals, bells, Sounding Plates, and Tibetan Singing Bowls. In 2009 he joined forces with 2 other extraordinary musicians to form the Vibrational Sound Trio. The discovery continues…

As a writer Michael has contributed over 200 articles to such magazines as MODERN DRUMMER, DownBeat, AVANT, RHYTHM, and many others. Among his books are, WHEN IN DOUBT, ROLL! (with Bill Bruford), PERCUSSION PROFILES (with Trevor Taylor), and THE THINKING DRUMMER series of instruction books.

Michael also teaches extensively, corrupting the innocent minds of youth with his radical ideas on percussion and rhythm. But he insists that percussionists need to push the boundaries beyond the accepted norms of rhythm. As the late, great composer, John Cage wrote, "The spirit of percussion opens everything, even what was so to speak, completely closed."

Michael is pleased to endorse and work with the fine people at:

    * PAISTE cymbals/sounds/gongs

    * Mike Balter Mallets

    * King Kace

    * Tangereens specialty sticks

    * He also plays some fantastic hand-made Gongs by Michael Paiste, Steve Hubback, & Zeke Dauner.

Enlightenment is not a one time event. We must each seek to become enlightened everyday.    xx~ Singal Rinpoche

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Photo: Michael at the Memphis Gong Chamber - © Tim Shahady