Last May, we were thrilled to participate in the inaugural US-based Women's Handpan Gathering, Super Bloom, nestled in New York's Catskill Mountains. Celebrating this unique assembly, we crafted a 9-minute highlight reel showcasing the joy and connections formed at this empowering event.
Super Bloom welcomes all who identify as women, offering a space for learning, rejuvenation, and music-making, with a special invitation for others to witness this unity through our video.
This year, we're excited to return, offering amazing prizes and an array of We Play Well Together instruments for participants to explore. Super Bloom stands as a testament to the strength and creativity of women united by music, set against a backdrop of nature, with a program designed for relaxation, exploration, and shared musical experiences.
If you're navigating the challenges of harmonizing with family and friends this holiday season, our Earth-Fire and Air-Water Elemental Jam Sets might just be the solution you need to PLAY WELL TOGETHER. The holiday season, while joyful, can also amplify stress, especially when navigating conversations across differing beliefs. Music, however, offers a unique bridge, enabling a form of communication that transcends words, fostering resonance, harmony, and understanding among participants.
Heartfelt stories from our community have illustrated how intuitive music-making has become a medium through which individuals with divergent views can connect, offering a path back to joy and mutual respect. This inspired us to create our Soundscape Jam Sets, designed for anyone to join in, regardless of musical skill. These sets harmonize with the 432 Hz-tuned 4-Element Koshi Chimes, accompanied by matching Hokema Kalimbas and Zenko Tongue-Drums from Metal Sounds, ensuring an immersive soundscape that anyone, from children to grandparents, can enjoy together.
As we introduce these sets, consider them not just as instruments, but as invitations to shared experiences and healing moments. Each set—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—features instruments that complement each other, creating rich, layered soundscapes reflective of their elemental inspiration. These sets also serve as thoughtful gifts, offering the chance for communal music-making that strengthens bonds.
Immerse yourself in the concept through our 4-minute video, and feel which element calls to you. Whether it’s the grounding vibes of Earth, the lightness of Air, the flow of Water, or the energy of Fire, find your element and discover a new way to connect this holiday season.
A heartwarming 4-minute video from Estes Park, Colorado, captures a brother-sister duo enchanting Mary's Lake with a Spacedrum handpan duet, proving that making beautiful music isn't reserved for the seasoned player. Joule L'Adara and Mike Moss, despite being new to the handpan, demonstrate that with a few simple patterns and a bit of practice, anyone can create mesmerizing soundscapes.
This performance not only showcased their newfound harmony but also captivated a family of hikers, highlighting the handpan's ability to soothe and mesmerize listeners of all ages. Highlighting the community spirit, the story shares insights from WPWT friends who incorporate the Spacedrum into their daily lives, emphasizing the instrument's wide appeal. For those inspired to start their own handpan journey, a reminder: Spacedrums are in demand, so early ordering is advised, with payment plans available to make your musical dreams accessible.
Discover the exquisite line of Metal Sounds' steel percussion instruments, skillfully crafted in Southern France and now available in the American market through WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER. This includes the Zenko Drum, a top-tier tongue drum likened to the "Porsche" of tongue-drums for its refined sound and elegant design, and the Spacedrum, available in both Evolution and Nitro versions, offering unique sounds suited to various musical and therapeutic applications.
The Zenko Drum, with its variety of tunings, and the Spacedrum, with its chromatic range and responsive qualities, exemplify innovation in musical instrument design. Metal Sounds, established from a collaboration between Philip Maignaut and the Djoliba Music Store, prides itself on quality and integrity, handcrafting instruments that resonate with musicians, therapists, and enthusiasts alike.
As the exclusive North American distributor for Metal Sounds, WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER ensures a seamless experience for customers, from expert advice to after-service support. This partnership not only brings these unique instruments closer to the American handpan community but also fosters a global network of players united by the joy of music.
SPACEDRUM®, the intuitive handpan, is a metal melodic instrument inspired by the original steel drum (aka the steelpan) and by the Hang® invented by PANArt® in 2000. Metal Sounds' handpans have been designed and handcrafted since 2006, and were the first handpan producer in France.
As requirements, tastes, and desires vary, Metal Sounds offers two different lines of handpans:
The tones of this chime are beautiful. I have it hanging where I can walk by and play it often.
The items arrived in a timely fashion. Thanks for a smooth transaction!
the craftsmanship, (and craftswomanship) is incredible, and her sound. so resonant and otherworldly. I'm so happy with my new Monolina in G. I can't wait to play her for my community. Thank you Gabriele for your outstanding customer service.
This has such a lovely sound! I can’t wait to start learning how to play!
A few years ago I became casually interested in the Kalimba because of its simplicity of design and playability. Without experience or a good point of reference I needed to taste a lot of flavors to sort out the choices. For a while, my discards kept the local Goodwill store supplied with inventory.
The feeding frenzy stopped when I discovered Hokema. Build and material quality is professional grade. The tines are not stiff, so you can play at any intensity without stressing a thumb nails. Resonance from the solid wood base and the resulting sustain are simply stunning. Even the high notes sing, unlike the flat 'tapping an aluminum pan' sound from my discards.
I first purchased the B-17, and later the smaller B-17 Mini. Comments above apply to both. There is no problem holding, playing, or carrying around either instrument. The Mini's smaller footprint might be more comfortable for small hands. I just like the smaller package. Because the B-17's wood block is wider, it has more space between the tines. Both instruments appear to use the same tine assembly materials, but the Mini has a shorter cross bar. The Mini's tine spacing is grouped, but they can be adjusted to make the spacing more uniform like the B-17. In that mode, even with the smaller block the tine spacing is noticeably wider than some other Kalimbas I've tried. My thumbs are average width for a 5'8" person and my nails are normally rounded (not pointed), and I have no trouble playing individual notes.
Tablature is available around the net for 17-key Kalimbas (RiffSpot has a nice ebook), so you can play tunes without reading music on both the B-17 and B-17 Mini.
