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About me
I am a Vienna-based , internationally active instrument maker, human energetic, instructor and lecturer.
My specialty is creating individualised, hand-made, artistically perfected, superb sounding instruments on-demand, mainly for music therapy, human energetics and for recreational use, also for the early childhood musical education, with an experience of 26 years.
I am specialized on the Tao-scale and its vibroacoustic application, all my Tao-Instruments are optimised for this purpose. I pass on my 21 years of accumulated knowledge on the vibroacoustic Tao in semiaries and workshop for laymen and professionals for over 16 years.
I also develope new instruments on-demand and have my own small soul touch/sound-massage studio in Vienna. You can learn more about me here >>
Testimonies (selection)
The TAO-scale -and instruments
Origins, developement, research and therapeutic applications
"So indeed, with this sequence of Tao-sounds an
„instrument has been given into our hands,
to truely perceive in us the Humanly.""
(Hermann Pfrogner
citing Rudolf Steiner
in his writing: TAO- a Legacy)
This short segment for our english-speaking visitors show you the very essence of our activity: the Tao-Instruments.
The Beginnings:
Going back to a lecture given by Dr. Rudolf Steiner in 1924, two inspired man, Lothar Gärtner and Edmund Pracht made the first four string Tao-Lyre, wich was originally a kind of meditative instrument mainly for eurithmists, shortly later through Dr. Ita Wegman it found its way to the healing pedagogy ("Sonnenhof" Arleshein, CH). A music scientist, Hermann Pfrogner devoted a short but important writing on the Tao-sounds, meanwhile Heinz Heinrich Engel, a medical doctor made a kind of school in Switzerland for working with these special musical scale. After several decades of intern but intense work with this four-note-scale and its diverse derivatives, a student of Maria Schüppel, who was the actual founder of the anthroposophic music therapy school in Berlin, Victoria Ryan, a music therapist and healing pedagogue in Vienna mandated in the nineties the music instrument maker Andreas Lehmann in Germany, to make the first, three octave so called "Tao-Lyre". Robert Benedek in the early 2000s getting contacted with and helped by Lehmann, he then started his own career and fertilized the new Tao-impulse with the specific vibro-acoustic application of the Tao-Lyra. In a several year of intuitive-artistic research periode Robert Benedek developed not only his own method of playing the Tao-Lyra with direct body contact, but he invented new instruments to intensify the Tao-Impact on the human spirit, soul and body (Tao Sound-Bed and Tao Sound-Cabin). Then this method of resonance-based play of him -through tough resistance and opposition- finally found its way in the anthroposophic medicine: in the Filderklinik (Filderstadt, Germany) and in the Ita Wegman Klinik (Arlesheim, Switzerland) the Tao Sound-Bed are became one of the main healing instruments of the music therapy departments with astounding effects. The results were such, that first in the Ita Wegman Klinik a pilot clinical study with very remarkable data was made, an then on the basis of this, a very serious, four-step clinical study was initiated in the Filderklinik (joint with the Ita Wegman Klinik) wich is now in the final stage and is partly already published and will be the content of a dissertation in The University of Tübingen, Germany.
A pilot study with significant results was also made in psychiatric environment in Hungary and a big, serious clinic study in Helsinki with 100 test persons is just right now presented by the initiator Pia Teckenberg Jansson (music therapist).
Spiritual science approach:
Having been speaking on the language of the science today till now, if we speak on the language of spiritual science, we can formulate, that this very unique tone-sequence has a superb and astonishing effect on the whole human constitution: it brings one in to the body, compressing, warming, energizing it, smooths, harmonizes the soul and open up the spirit- we can call it a kind of archetypal therapeutic state.
It looks to have the effect to organize the limbs of the human being -physical body, aetheric body, astral body, I-body, as Dr. R. Steiner systematized it- in an order of original state.
This is quasi some kind of archaic and archetypal peak experience of the individuum, of the person: to come in contact with the very inner being of oneself, having a correcting sight on ones live or just being putted in a state of well being, joy and self acceptance: a kind of paradise-experience.
Because of this universal feature, the Tao-Instruments can be used very widely -and the are used very widely indeed- in very different fields: pain-therapy in the oncology, breath-therapy: being able to breath again, generally, to give the soul the needed "kick" to go on; to center, to come to oneself, to to get contact with the inner being; in the healing -and kindergarten pedagogy and so on.
References (amongst others)
GERMANY: Filderklinik, Filderstadt • Gemeinschaftsklinik Havelhöhe, Berlin • Klinik Öschelbronn • Marienhospital Stuttgart • SWITZERLAND: Arlesheimer Klinik (former Ita Wegman Klinik) • Fondation Perceval (Camphill) • FINNLAND: Universitätsklinik Helsinki ...
Bass Tao-Lyre
(4 octaves, 48 strings, 45x61x6cm
This instrument could be called as a basic one to get connected with the world of the vibroacoustic Tao. Easy to handle and transport, good value for money, it represents the entrance to this special kind of healing method. Very good complementable with the Tao Sound-Bed, it is your first choice.
The main field of use is the classical music therapy praxis, music therapy departments of clinics, facilities of healing pedagogy, in combination with rhythmic massage, but also has its use in the kinesiology and in the humanenergetic.
Video & Audio
1. Short Movie on the Tao instruments (English subtitles, 30min.)
2. Sound sample cherry wood
3. Sound sample maple wood
4. Sakura Kudo in Tokyo, Japan gives a lesson in Tao lyre
5. Pia Teckenberg, Finnish music therapist and researcher, plays a pregnant woman
6. Small composition (author: Robert Benedek)
Gallery
Prices Bass Tao-Lyre
(4 octaves, 48 strings,
tuned to a'=432Hz
dimensions approx.: 45x61 cm,
small L-shaped tuning key included)
Model 'Basic' 650€
Ausführung 'Premium': 1185€
(Blank is out of one single piece of wood, the whole
surface of the corpus is artistically finely-carved.)
Surcharge ash wood: 120€
Surcharge maple wood: 60€
available in maple, -cherry, -ash wood
Tenor Tao-Lyre
(3 octaves, 36 strings, approx. 55 x 38 cm)
Prices Tenor Tao-Lyre
Model 'Basic' 455€
Model 'Premium': 695€
(Blank is out of one single piece of wood,the whole
surface of the corpus is artistically finely-carved.)
Lyre 'Celeste'
The Enchantment Of The Blue Sky
Idea: Mariko Akiyoshi, design and realisation: Robert Benedek.
With kind intermediarion of Mika Shimizu.
Range: fis to fis''', 38 Strings, 3 octaves, ca. 42x54cm
THE BLUE SKY
If you listen to ´Celeste´the sudden association comes up with a blue sky and chubby baroque angels playing around like on paintings of Rafael or Rubens. It is a musical atmosphere of innocence and unconcern, a childlike world of „everything is all right“, “the sky is blue”, “the world is round“.
ORIGINS
This instrument came into existence in 2024 through the cooperation of Mariko Akiyoshi, a well known Japanese lyre-player and teacher from Tokyo and Robert Benedek, musical instrument maker, artisan and craftsmen from Vienna. Important intermediary role played our official Japanese representative, Mika Shimizu.
BIG SISTER 'BIG CELESTE'
In December 2026, I (that´s me, Robert Benedek) created ´Big Celeste´ basically amending, extending ´Celeste´with an additional octave into the „big“ octave range. I am a big fan of those deep tones, meaning the bass octave, since they reach down to the physical body, touching and integrating our whole human being. Here I basically also explained the main difference between 3-octave ´Celeste´and 4-octave ´Big Celeste´.
SOUND CHARACTERISTICS
´Celeste´is a perfect musical friend and companion even for those completely inexperienced playing musical instruments or reading notes: there are no dissonant intervals at all: no matter what strings you play, it always sounds harmonic thank to its pentatonic scale going through three octaves (four octaves respectively with ´Big Celeste´).
OVERTONE-RICH ARRANGEMENT
The scale is enriched in overtones by grouping the tones corally (each tone repeated three times). This arrangement creates a rich, sparkling sound, like a water flow, giving the play a continuous, streaming character. Of course, the single tones of the pentatonic scales can also be played, even musically accompanying songs. (For example, the entire Hungarian folk music is based on the pentatonic scale, also the traditional Japanese music has many pentatonic scales.)
MUSIC THERAPY
Exactly because of her harmonics, ´Celeste´is a perfect instrument for musical therapists: this instrument can be used with clients who have no musical skills, still giving them a therapeutical playground for self expression without constraints -a healing one, without disharmony.
RECREATIONAL/MEDITATIVE USE
Our Japanese clients often use ´Celeste´ for recreation, as an enlightening, inspiring companion at home or even played in the nature.
WOOD TYPES IT CAN BE MADE OF
It can be executed in cherry, -maple or ash wood, each having a distinct look, character, tone color and expression.
EXECUTION VARIANTS
Choosing standard or premium models you get a fine-carved, artistically enlivened instrument, and- as we are convinced, also an energetically-humanly charged, refined one.
If your budget is smaller or you prefer a smooth, honed surface, choose the 'basic' model.
WE HELP YOU IN YOUR DECISIONS
We gladly help you with all your questions and in your decision making process finding the best suitable configuration for you regarding model, variants, wood type and accessories and playing technique.
AUDIO AND VIDEO SAMPLES
Don´t miss to watch and listen to the samples in the multimedia section.
Model 'Basic' 495€
Model 'Premium': 755€
(Blank is out of one single piece of wood,the whole
surface of the corpus is artistically finely-carved.)
Simple soft bag (fitted): 43€
Lyre 'Big Celeste'
The Blue Sky Touches the Earth.
Derived from 'Celeste' by Robert Benedek.
Range: FIS to fis''', 50 Strings, 4 octaves, ca. 49x58cm
Model 'Basic' 714€
Model 'Premium': 1294€
(Blank is out of one single piece of wood,the whole
surface of the corpus is artistically finely-carved.)
Simple soft bag (fitted): 50€
Accessories
(Starting the videos on android: swift alternating tipping with two fingers)
ORDERING FROM US:
Here you will find all relevant information on the ordering process:
CONTACT
I always glad to get in touch with you personally and I'm happy to provide you all details and answer all your questions by phone.
If you call me and can't reach me immediately on the phone, please leave a message, I'll call you back as soon as possible.
If you use the contact form and I don't answer within 48 hours (very rare spam or technical issues), please call me or send me a text message (see the mobile number down below). I will call you back or, alternatively, text you as you prefer.
THE ORDERING PROCESS
I work on order basis (rarely from stock), your instrument is custom made for you. Individualizations, such as burning in name, logo, motifs, prnaments are available upon request. I always look forward to contacting you personally.
We clarify everything in advance (via email or by phone), I will help you with your open questions. You make your choice of wood, type of execution, optional accessories, trtraining individualisation of your instrument, etc. I also inform you of the estimated delivery in the given time period.
You then place your order by email and provide us the details of the desired/required invoice data and your delivery address.
In a reply email I will summarize your order with all prices indicated and send it to you for final approval. After your greenlighting it and providing me the invoice and delivery address data I will send you the invoice of prepaymentayment in advance in pdf-format with all account details need for the money transfer.
We offer several methods of payment, using your own currency and lokal banking system is also possible through the very reliable multi-currency platform we use (WISE).
Promptly after your payment, you will receive a written confirmation fof receipt of your payment and I also inform you about the estimated delivery time.
PAYMENT MODALITY
Payment modality is payment in advance.
In individual cases, payment in installments -after a short consultation by phone- can also be accepted (a minimum deposit (1st payment) of 50% is a requirement, the remaining amount playable in maximum 3 installments. A modest processing fee my apply.
DELIVERY TIME
The orders join the order list according to the date of receipt of payment. From this moment on, your order is binding.
On average, delivery time for cherry is up to approx. 8 weeks, for maple and ash wood it is approx. 10 weeks, calculated from receipt of payment until parcel sent from Vienna.
For shipping we use the Austrian Postal Services (Österreichische Post), your shipment is insured, you don't have to worry about lost orders.
The shipment and customs process takes an additional 1 to 2 weeks of time.
OUR PACKAGING: YOUR PEACE OF MIND
Your instrument is shipped already played-in (properly fine-tuned), carefully and expertly packaged ( padded and protected) so that it is guaranteed to arrive intact. Through the expert packaging we also save you money by keeping the shipping cost as low as possible for you (no extra surcharge for 'fragile' needed).
GOODWILL PRINCIPLE: YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON US
Whatever questions or problems you have, we are eager to help, be it difficulties with tuning, a broken string, help with the playing technique or other issues. Just contact us and we will look for swift solutions.
WE TAKE ORDERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
We have satisfied customers all over the world; so far, we have shipped or are shipping to the following countries on a more or less regular basis:
Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Poland, Latvia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Philippines, Australia, USA
Contact us
you can send us a message via the contact form below.
> you are welcome to visit us in Vienna. (on appointment):
-make a short trial with our instruments
-enjoy a soul touch/sound massage session
Address:
Meiselstraße 65./13
1140 Vienna, Austria
Please fill in all fields marked with * and write us a short message.
We get in touch with you as soon as possible.
Shouldn't you get an answer from us within 48 hours (rare cases of filter issues) please call us or send us a text message.
Latest update: 21th February 2026