Life & Work with Dr. Arin Levy of Centennial, CO

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Arin Levy (they/them).

Hi Dr. Arin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story has not always been easy, and was faced with a lot of unexpected turns, some huge upswings, and some debilitating low points.

At almost 37 years old, I’ve been a percussionist, musician, and artist for more than 3 decades. Throughout my younger years, I knew music would carry me through my life, but it had a much different outlook then. I went through 3 college degrees in about 10 years, earning a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in percussion and music theory. I taught privately, and in some of the most successful music programs in the country. I was convinced that I would be a professional performer and college professor.

During my final years of school, the comfort of academia disappeared. The education I fell in love with became second to the red tape of higher education and institutionalized, mandated teachings. I found myself asking more introspective questions, examining my journey, and ultimately losing trust in the system to care for its population in a way that made a difference to its individuals.

On my journey to separating from academia, I moved to a new city in 2018, continuing the pursuit of all I knew, teaching music within institutionalized, mandated systems. I watched these systems tear me down and strip me of all passion. Unfortunately, during this time, and until the end of 2019, I fell victim to a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. By the start of 2020, I had left teaching and moved back to my hometown in Ohio, with no passion for music, education, or faith in relationships. A short few months later, the world changed.

During the first 6 months of COVID, I deepened my yoga practice, which I began around 2010 or so. I found myself creating music for myself and no one else, in a meditative way that felt separate from what I created when I was involved with academia. I realized that I had been creating sound baths for years, though with experimental percussion instruments, rather than the more traditional gongs or singing bowls. In August (2020), I moved to Denver, and literally on the drive from Ohio, made stops along the way to sell off old percussion gear, so I could stop in Lincoln, Nebraska, and buy my first gong.

Fast-forward to today, I own 17… 18?

By March of 2021, I was offering public sound baths with gongs, singing bowls, and more, carving a little space for community here in Denver. I enrolled in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program at Karma Yoga Center, fell in love with the community there, and knew I was on a path that felt right. Community is at the core of everything I do. I remember growing this pipe-dream of an idea, that I’d love to have some kind of hybrid space… one where people can attend sound baths, or yoga classes, or drum circles… and buy instruments… and have workshops… or just BE in community over a cup of tea or conversation. A space that centers community and connection, through sound and healing. But a space like this isn’t cheap for one person to figure out. So I focused on playing sound baths in Colorado and all around the country.

In March of 2024, I was laid off from my corporate job, and spent the better part of that year unemployed. In December (’24), I visited Denver Percussion with resume in hand, hoping for the best. I met the owner Pete, and general manager, Josh, and we began talking about what it might look like to host sound baths in the drum shop. They showed me a room that it could happen in, and mentioned breaking into the sound healing side of instrument sales. After a few conversations, it became apparent that we were on to something truly special, and they hired me to make it happen.

In March of 2025 we began planning and construction on the 1000 square foot room, that is now known as the Resonance Room @ Denver Percussion. Over 6 months, we totally renovated the space to be a state of the art sound healing facility unlike any other in the country. We celebrated with a grand opening in September with free drum circles, sound baths, a food truck, great deals, and even better community.

Within our space, we offer multiple sound baths every week, workshops, certification trainings, instrument repairs and cleanings, and house a selection of sound healing instruments larger than any other. I recognized that as a sound practitioner, it was exceptionally difficult to hear instruments before purchasing them, and I wanted to create that opportunity for others, in a part of the country where tons of people are doing this work.

As the Resonance Room continues to grow and take root, community remains the most important fixture of this endeavor. It’s exciting to be a resource for the community, and to be a place where people can depend on sound and healing experiences.

I feel incredibly grateful that my life has led me in this direction, and I can’t wait to watch this thing grow.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I long to read a response where someone might say “Yep, totally smooth sailing every step of the way.”

I could mention TONS of struggles along the road of life from where I thought my life would go to where I am now. It has not been a smooth road by any means. But to me, that’s what it makes it a perfect path. I try as hard as I can to embrace these challenges as part of the process and path through life.

Sure, losing faith in academia was tough, being in an abusive relationship was less than ideal, being unable to teach during COVID, or losing my job in 2024… these were all things that made life pretty unbearable at the time. But I also believe these challenges are what propelled me into the next phases of life that brought me here. And for that, I’m grateful.

I’ve been lucky to always have a person or two in my corner, and even when the worst gets unbearable, I think those people cheering you on make it worth it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a musician/percussionist/sound practitioner/sound healer/etc. Essentially, I work to create sonic atmospheres that allow listeners to experience moments of relaxation. Many in my field use singing bowls, gongs, or other instruments to create these experiences, as do I. My work differs in that it is primarily gongs, and typically more than a dozen. The sounds of the gongs are so powerful, and my connection with them is profound. My background stems from that of western music education, where most in the sound healing world came from yogic backgrounds first – not better or worse, just different.

Outside of my work in the Resonance Room as a resource for others, I create music under the moniker Enso Sounds, and have released a number of albums of atmospheric percussion. While some of this music is more akin to traditional sound healing, some is a bit more experimental. However, all of this music occupies the same meditative space in my mind.

On one hand, I’ve separated myself quite far from academia, but on the other hand, it’s what I’m most proud of, that sets me apart from others. I love how experiences from my ‘prior musical life’ inform experiences within my current life.

I don’t aim to be different than others, I think my path of unique life experiences have accomplished that for me.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Community – my most and least favorite aspect of the greater Denver area.

I’ve noticed over the years, that many people here “on the grind” or the “self growth hustle” lifestyle, often tend so much to their own needs, that they neglect that of community. We’ve all been on both sides of this, and I certainly don’t fault anyone for it. I see so many struggle to feel welcome in community environments, because so many people have their head down working only on themselves.

There’s an individualistic nature that I think is very present in Denver.

That said, I think there is a lot of value in doing that self work and focusing inward, so that you can then focus outward as well, and give back to community in the same ways we give back to ourselves.

I see lots of hope and great examples of amazing community.

More than a few times, I’ve witnessed community come together for me or my loved ones, and it can move me to tears. I believe in the saying that “it takes a village.” I love what can happen when people come together and support each other towards shared success.

As a sound practitioner, I desire to feel connected to others in my field. This is something I hope the Resonance Room can do for people and become a community hub, connected through sound and vibration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.denverpercussion.com/resonance-room.htm
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resonanceroomdenver/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/resonanceroomdenver
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/resonance-room-at-denver-percussion-centennial
• Other: https://ensosounds.bandcamp.com/music

Image Credits
Carly Cowen @ Lunar Loom Media