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Here is a cool 83-second video showcasing the Kalimba Electro by Hokema, a game-changer for studio and live musicians. This unique kalimba comes with a piezo pickup and a 6.35mm jack socket, eliminating the need for an external mic and perfect for integrating crystal-clear percussive notes into your tracks.

The video highlights Connor Shafran and Sia Mozaffari (Sia Seeds), demonstrating innovative uses of the Kalimba Electro in live and studio settings, from pitch-shifting in Germany to triggering samples and loops in Oakland. Featured is the B11 Kalimba Melody Electro, tuned to G-Major, alongside its variants in a-minor and C-Major pentatonic scales – all adjustable with Hokema's tuning tool.

Dive into the fusion of traditional African rhythms with modern music production. Hokema's Kalimba Electros, with their built-in pickups, are a seamless fit for live performances and digital setups, offering a warm, gentle sound that complements any musical ensemble. Check them out for a versatile addition to your instrumental arsenal.

Just in time for the holiday season, we're thrilled to unveil the B17 "Mini" Kalimba by Hokema Kalimbas, crafted with smaller hands in mind. This model caters to children, young adults, and anyone with smaller-sized hands, offering a more comfortable playing experience.

The B17-Mini stands out not only for its size but also for its closely mounted metal tines, simplifying the creation of glissandos. This musical technique, involving a smooth slide across notes, is effortlessly achieved on this kalimba, allowing for a seamless blend of sound that's both enchanting and fun to produce.

Matching the musical layout and tuning of its larger counterpart, the B17 Kalimba, the Mini version is constructed from American Cherry wood and spans two-and-a-half octaves in the C-Major diatonic scale. Its unique design facilitates easy chord formation and song accompaniment, making it an ideal instrument for both beginners and seasoned players. Additionally, it includes "chord magnets" for marking desired chords, enhancing the learning and playing process.

Kalimbas, with their rich history originating in southern Africa, have evolved into a diverse range of instruments celebrated worldwide. The B17-Mini, alongside other variants like the Sansula and Kalimba Electro, is available on our site, ready to bring the timeless joy of kalimba music into more hands this holiday season.

Introducing the B15 "Mini" Kalimba from Hokema, designed specifically for smaller hands, this new model promises easier playability for children, young adults, and anyone with smaller-sized hands.

Its unique feature, closely mounted metal tines, simplifies playing glissandos, allowing a fluid transition between notes for a mesmerizing musical effect. Echoing the layout and tuning of its predecessor, the B17, the B15 Mini is crafted from American Cherry wood and spans two-and-a-half octaves in the C-Major diatonic scale. This layout supports easy chord formation and intuitive play, enhanced by "chord magnets" for marking chords, inviting players of all ages to explore its harmonious potential.

With origins rooted in southern Africa, the kalimba's soothing tones are now accessible in this compact, versatile instrument, enriching our diverse collection of kalimbas, including the Sansula and Kalimba Electro, available for discovery and delight.

We're honored to collaborate with the music composers  Matt Levine, who recently incorporated the Hokema Kalimba Sansula Deluxe into his vast collection. Matt has shared a tutorial video on his approach to the Sansula, demonstrating its immediate musicality and likening the playing of its two rows of metal tines to the rhythmic "inhale and exhale" of breathing. His demonstration includes a tango rhythm on the Sansula, tuned to A minor, showcasing how its limited 9 notes form a musical structure that allows for endless melodic and rhythmic exploration.

Matt Levine, based in San Francisco, balances his time between teaching at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and creating sound immersion applications. His diverse work spans composing for video games, films, TV, and more, showcasing his versatility across genres and his innovative technical skills. Founder of Uncle Vector’s Audio Lab LLC and with a history of significant roles in the music industry, including Beatnik Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA), Matt's recent venture is Tone Pool, a sound immersion app for iOS and Android.

Dive into Matt's video to explore the Sansula's potential yourself and share your experience with us!

Discover the enchanting world of Hokema Kalimbas, meticulously crafted in a solar-powered, family-operated factory in Germany, and now available in the American market through WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER. This introduction into the interconnected community of kalimba enthusiasts underscores the instruments' accessibility and appeal to music makers of all levels.

The Kalimba, with origins in sub-Saharan Africa, offers a warm, soft sound that encourages relaxation and integrates well with other instruments. The Sansula, a unique development by Hokema, amplifies the kalimba's vibrations through a drum head, producing a prolonged, overtone-rich sound. For the more technologically inclined, the "Elektro" Kalimba features a built-in pickup for easy amplification, ideal for live performances and digital streaming.

Founded by Peter Hokema, who was captivated by traditional African plucked instruments, Hokema has evolved under the leadership of his son Hugo, maintaining its commitment to quality and sustainability. Their instruments are crafted from American cherry wood, avoiding tropical woods, and the factory runs on renewable energy.

Hokema's dedication to craftsmanship and innovation has made its kalimbas beloved by a diverse array of users, from professional musicians to wellness practitioners. As the exclusive North American distributor, WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER, led by Gabriele Schwibach, supports this tradition, offering a platform for these beautiful instruments to resonate within a global community.

The We Play Well Together collective, featuring instruments like monochords, tongue drums, handpans, kalimbas, and hanging chimes, has found a significant place in music therapy across various settings and conditions. Music Therapist Katie Down has outlined the instruments' clinical uses, which range from hospice care bedside support to assisting individuals with special needs, and from facilitating early childhood development to enhancing therapeutic group work. These instruments are instrumental in techniques such as clinical improvisation, songwriting, and self-soothing methods, supporting vocal exploration, breath work, and more.

A special highlight video has been crafted to offer music therapists a glimpse into the potential applications of these instruments, showcasing creations by Hokema Kalimbas, feeltone, and Metal Sounds. Notably, feeltone instruments can be treated for disinfection, aligning with current health protocols, ensuring they remain a safe choice for therapeutic environments.

Further resources for music therapists interested in integrating these instruments into their practice are available, including profiles and methods by professionals like Christine Stevens and Joanne Loewy from the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine. These resources demonstrate the broad spectrum of therapeutic possibilities these instruments can offer.

For an opportunity to explore these instruments and their uses in music therapy further, We Play Well Together will be present at the American Music Therapy Association 2021 Conference from October 14th to 17th, inviting professionals to connect and learn more about these transformative tools.

Peter Hokema, the founder of Hokema Kalimbas, created an enchanting tutorial amidst a snowy German landscape, showcasing the use of chord magnets on the B17 Kalimba. This video, translated and adapted for an English-speaking audience, provides insightful tips on using these magnets to mark chords, enhancing ease of play and chord visualization on the instrument, even in the midst of summer's heat.

The B17 Kalimba, a masterpiece of craftsmanship from Hokema, is made from solid American black cherry wood, polished with natural oils and waxes for a smooth finish. Designed for improvisation and intuitive playing, the B17 is equipped with precisely tuned tines in C-major, making it a versatile instrument for both beginners and seasoned musicians. The addition of colorful magnets aids players in identifying chords quickly, allowing for a seamless musical experience.

Whether you're looking to improvise, play well-known tunes, or explore new scales with the tuning tool, the B17 offers a gateway to a world of musical possibilities, underscored by the serene backdrop of a winter's day.

Brandon Blake, a musician, educator, and animal rights activist, showcased a unique musical showcase on Facebook Live during the NAMM 2021 "Believe in Music" week. He demonstrated his versatility with a variety of instruments from the We Play Well Together collection, including Hokema Kalimbas, Metal Sounds Tongue Drums, feeltone Monochords, and Tinka Tongs, alongside his electric bass and live looping techniques. Brandon's approach is innovative, especially his technique with the Hokema Kalimba Sansula, where he simultaneously taps the drumhead and manipulates the metal tines with precision, even retuning on the fly with tiny magnets for instantaneous scale changes.

His live looping sessions create immersive soundscapes that merge the dulcet tones of kalimba, the rhythmic beats of tongue-drums, and the ethereal drone of monochords with deep bass grooves, crafting richly textured musical experiences that resonate on multiple levels. Beyond his musical talents, Brandon's energetic positivity and playful spirit serve as a reminder of the joy and spontaneity of embracing life's "bonus time"—the precious moments we're afforded to live with purpose and passion.

Brandon extends his musical explorations through weekly Facebook Live sessions and by hosting "The Kalimba Campfire" on Clubhouse, inviting all to join and share in the communal joy of music-making. For those interested in connecting with Brandon's work or joining his musical gatherings on Clubhouse, more information is available at his website, www.bonustimemusic.com, showcasing his innovative music and inviting others to explore their own creative expressions within the vibrant community he fosters.