Quentin Kayser: The Soul of the Handpan at His Fingertips

Have you recently discovered the talented musician Quentin Kayser? You may have noticed that he mainly plays a curious, flying-saucer-shaped percussion instrument called a handpan. How did this artist discover it and eventually master it? What has Quentin Kayser’s artistic journey been like?

Since discovering his track “Healing” more than seven years ago, I’ve been keeping up with his latest releases and news. In this short article, I’ll give you a quick overview of Quentin Kayser’s musical journey, with a special focus on how he learned the Hang drum.

So, as you read these few lines, you will discover:

• How Quentin Kayser first picked up the handpan
• The best tracks released by this French percussionist

This will give you a good idea of the journey Quentin Kayser has taken to become the internationally renowned artist he is today, and it may even inspire you to learn how to play this musical instrument, if you haven’t already.

Let’s take a closer look at how Quentin Kayser entered the world of the Hang.

How did Quentin Kayser discover the handpan?

Quentin Kayser is a French instrumentalist who was introduced to music at a very young age. His first encounter with an instrument happened when he was 3 years old: a piano left at his disposal in a vacation house near Toulouse, France, that his mother rented for the holidays. After spending days playing it, he says that hardly a day goes by without him making music. Learning different instruments became a big part of his childhood, including, of course, piano, as well as guitar, percussion, the bansuri flute, and finally singing.

It wasn’t until 2011 that Quentin Kayser discovered the handpan, a turning point in his musical path, as he would go on to devote himself primarily to learning it. At the time, very few musicians were familiar with this sound sculpture, so Quentin had to learn on his own, exploring rhythms and melodies that were completely new. He started by performing in the street and, little by little, began playing at festivals across France, Europe, and around the world. Along the way, he traveled to many countries, sharing his music across multiple continents.

In 2017, Quentin Kayser turned professional with the release of the 9-track album “Hexagon,” followed in 2019 by “Healing” and “Evolve,” the former of which was successfully funded by a Ulule crowdfunding campaign in late 2018. In 2020, he composed the soundtrack for the documentary film “Alaska-Patagonie, La Grande Traversée,” directed by Sophie Planque. In 2022, he released the album “Intentions,” and in 2023, the album “Listen.”

Alongside his work as an artist, since 2021 he has also been offering introductory and discovery courses in handpan. These courses take place both in his native village of Saint-Martin-de-Londres in France and in the hamlet of L’Étoile, an estate located 30 minutes from Montpellier in France, where courses and events are organized by various facilitators. These courses last two days over a weekend, and he offers one about once a month on average. They cost a little over $200, and one unique feature is that you can try out 16 handpans from the same range, all made by different artisans. You can find out more on Quentin Kayser’s Facebook page.

What are this musician's most famous Hang drum songs?

Quentin Kayser’s best-known creation, which has reached several thousand views on his YouTube channel, is the track Healing from the album of the same name. The album is available to buy on CD and in digital format on the artist’s official website. The melodies “Sudan” and “October’s Sun” have also been popular. You can listen to “Healing” in the video below:

Try the handpan experience with a high-quality musical instrument

Quentin Kayser is one of the French musicians who has had a major influence on what the handpan has become over the years, inspiring many young artists and musicians eager to learn this innovative musical instrument. After reading this informative article, you’ll have a much clearer picture of Quentin Kayser’s impressive career.

If you’re thinking about diving into the handpan, it’s best to buy from a trusted specialist. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Instruments du Monde, which offers dozens of high-quality models, including this black handpan tuned to a D minor scale, a beautiful choice that’s ideal for beginners.

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View the 9-note handpan

Now that you know more about French artist Quentin Kayser, discover another Japanese handpan player, Yuki Koshimoto. She made a name for herself by posting a YouTube video titled New Moon, establishing herself as one of the best handpan players in the world.