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The sounds gently touch the emotions.
There are sounds that don't ring out loudly, but can easily transport the listener to another world of tranquility. "Hang drum" is the term Long and his community of students use for this metal instrument with a soft, emotionally resonant tone. In the world of music, the technical name for this instrument is "handpan."
"Hang" is a trademark registered by PANArt (Switzerland), while "handpan" is a term used to refer to instruments of the same type. Long Percussion (Mac Thang Long - founder of Hang Drum Vietnam) chose the term "hang drum" for easier understanding for newcomers, but always clearly explains that the instrument he plays belongs to the handpan group. For Long, just one experience of that sound is enough to open up a long journey of intuitive vibrations, unlocking layers of emotions that are difficult to put into words.
Long Percussion, founder of Hang Drum Vietnam
Born and raised in a professional musical environment, and trained at a conservatory from a young age, Long was deeply involved with traditional drums for many years. “I majored in drums, so initially I only thought about learning a new instrument. Back then, I never considered pursuing this instrument,” he recalls. But when he encountered the hang drum, its soft sound and unique “touch” immediately drew him into a world of emotions guided by feeling, rather than complex techniques.
Initially, Long came to drumming simply out of a very instinctive passion. But community demand led him down a path he never expected: "I was already a drum teacher. People heard me play and asked to learn, so I started teaching. It wasn't my intention from the beginning, but rather fate brought us together."
The sound of the handpan quickly brings one to a state of relaxation. It's soft, it's gentle, and it touches the emotions.
Within the drumming community that Long built – a group he chose to call himself to suit Vietnamese learners – he independently researched and developed a unique teaching method: approachable, slow-paced, and suited to the psychology of East Asian learners. This perseverance has helped him connect with hundreds of students, a stark contrast to his former quiet demeanor. He never imagined that music would open the door to the world for him.
Hang drum - The sound of relaxation and connection
Without requiring any music theory background or difficult techniques, the handpan quickly became an instrument that "anyone can play." Long explained: "I always wanted people who don't know music to be able to play. This instrument is very unique; you can learn it even without music theory. That simple fact makes it accessible to everyone."
And students of all ages and backgrounds have come to him for a wide variety of reasons. Some are curious about the unusual sounds, others are drawn to the gentleness of the instruments. But over 70% of his students come seeking healing.
When sound passes through too many filters of life, the handpan returns as a primal instrument, touching emotions before reaching the ear.
“The sound of the handpan brings people to a state of relaxation very quickly. It’s soft, it’s gentle, and it touches the emotions,” he said. When playing soft pieces, the sound is like a small stream flowing into the listener’s mind; when playing freestyle, the timbre opens up to complete freedom, the player doesn’t need to think about complex techniques, just focus on listening to themselves.
The "healing" that many people experience isn't mystical. It's simply that when playing, the mind is brought into absolute concentration. "When learning this instrument, you don't have time to think about anything else. If you think about other things, you'll forget the piece immediately. People transfer work stress into the 'pleasant stress' of focusing on the soothing sounds," Long said with a smile.
This instrument also has its own unique stories. For example, the case of a student who had received psychological treatment at a psychiatric hospital: “He wasn’t seriously ill, but he had to be hospitalized. A teacher from the hang drum community came to teach him there. Surprisingly, the day he graduated from the course was also the day he was discharged from the hospital and returned to normal life.” That period of 2-3 months is the most vivid proof of the mental support that the handpan can provide.
For his student community, the handpan is also a place to meet "people on the same wavelength": "They come to class, talk to each other as if they've known each other for a long time. The mood is lighter, and they feel more connected. This instrument has helped me – someone who doesn't socialize much – to open up and connect more."
432 Hz - The gentle frequency of the body
One of the factors that makes the hang drum an instrument associated with positive energy is that it is often tuned to frequencies that have a relaxing effect on the body. The frequency that Mr. Long chose is 432 Hz, instead of the standard 440 Hz commonly used in modern instruments.
“I always ask questions and listen to my own feelings,” Long said. “When I listen to 432 Hz, I find it soft and gentle. Meditators often use this frequency because it’s relatively natural and enhances the body’s self-healing abilities.”
Long doesn't consider 432 Hz to be "better" than other frequencies; it's a frequency he feels suits the style and emotions he wants to convey. Many listeners also share that this sound provides a pleasant feeling, like a vibrational background that helps them quickly enter a state of relaxation.
A frequency of 432 Hz helps lower heart rate and supports emotional balance in certain groups of people.
Technically, frequency is measured by machine, with most hand-recorded tracks produced at 440Hz or 432Hz. Additionally, during video or music production, sound producers can adjust frequencies to 1111Hz, 852Hz, etc., using post-production techniques.
This aligns with internationally published studies: a frequency of 432 Hz helps reduce heart rate and support emotional balance in certain groups of people. It's not a "miracle cure," but a pleasant vibration suitable for meditation, yoga, sound therapy, or simply to help listeners breathe deeper.
Learn to rediscover yourself and connect with others.
From 2019 to the present, Long's biggest change hasn't been in his playing technique, but in his teaching style and how he understands his students. Initially, he taught completely freestyle, allowing students to be independent. But the more he researched and developed, the clearer he saw the needs of today's learners: they want systematic instruction and to understand "why they do this."
He has developed his own curriculum: with and without lyrics, suitable for all levels. “I’ve been working on the lyrical version of the curriculum for about two years now. Before, there weren’t any cover songs, but now I’ve created a well-structured curriculum. The most important thing is that I teach what I like, what I truly believe in.”
"The greatest thing this instrument has given me is the opportunity to meet many people. Unlike the person I used to be, this instrument has opened up a different world for me"...
When sound passes through so many filters of life, the handpan returns as a primal instrument, touching emotions before reaching the ear. Perhaps that's why the handpan heals not only the listener, but also the player. “The greatest thing this instrument has given me is the opportunity to meet many people. Unlike my past self, this instrument has opened up a different world for me.”
Without embellishment or glorification, Mr. Long still emphasized: "It's just an easy-to-listen-to, easy-to-play instrument. But when you focus on that gentle sound, all tension naturally decreases. Happy sounds are contagious, sad sounds are contagious, but this sound brings you back to a state of tranquility."
And perhaps that's the greatest strength of the handpan: no need to understand music theory, no need to try to interpret it, just listen to yourself and let the drums "tell" the rest.
In the modern world where mental therapy has become a necessity, handpan is not a "cure," nor is it something mystical. It is simply a sound, but a sound of gentleness, of subtle vibrations that the body easily resonates with.
In the tranquil space, the drumbeat resonates like a gentle wave, touching the listener with a peaceful energy. For the artist Long Percussion, it's not just a profession or a passion, but a journey of connection between people, between emotions and sound, between stillness and the dynamic life around them.
