News

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, feeltone is renowned for its high-quality wooden instruments, expertly crafted in Northern Germany. These instruments, including the versatile Monolina and Monolini monochords, are beloved by sound therapists and musicians worldwide for their ability to induce deep relaxation through harmonious vibrations. Founded by Ingo Böhme, feeltone's mission is to make intuitive music-making accessible to all, transcending traditional musical barriers.

Feeltone's unique offerings, such as Sound Furniture, enhance therapeutic practices by allowing direct physical interaction with sound. Collaborations, with Martina Gläser, have led to specialized Monochord trainings that deepen the understanding and application of sound massage.

Through a partnership with We Play Well Together, led by Gabriele Schwibach, feeltone has significantly impacted the North American music therapy and sound healing scenes. As we honor feeltone's legacy, we also celebrate the community and connections forged through the universal language of sound.

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.

Sound meditation facilitator Joule L'Adara will guide your through a live sound ceremony honoring this moment of seasonal change with the Autumn Equinox. On this evening, we take the time to pause, find our grounding, and come into balance through vocal sounding. Joule will play her collection of eight feeltone monochords along with other therapeutic instruments including tongue drums, handpan and kalimba while guiding you through a vocal activation and release ritual. This is an opportunity for deep listening, intention setting, and to learn about participatory vocal sound practices to bring about internal states of balance, flow, and Well-Being.

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.

The power of overtones & natural acoustic vibration for Sound Meditation, Sound Baths, Sound Massage, and Vocal Toning

with USA Feeltone Trainer Joule L’Adara, MFA in Music 

This hands-on intimate intensive workshop will give you the opportunity to play, experience, and learn more about the feeltone Monochords including the Monolini and Monolina Body Therapy Monochords plus the larger Concert and Meditation Monochords.