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  • 😌World Drum Club: People are loving Kalani & Brandon together
    June 29, 2023

    😌World Drum Club: People are loving Kalani & Brandon together

    The World Drum Club at We Play Well Together features the collaboration of Kalani and Brandon, both know for their percussion sessions.
    Their work combines various rhythms and engaging presentation. The duo's approach has  been noted for offering both entertainment and educational insights, reflecting We Play Well Together's focus on musical innovation and community engagement.
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  • feeltone KoTaMo: Concert Monochord Meditation with Annette Abraminko
    April 17, 2023

    feeltone KoTaMo: Concert Monochord Meditation with Annette Abraminko

    For our April 2023 Monochord Monday Meetup, Annette Abraminko from Chesham, UK, shared a deeply moving and educational presentation on the feeltone KoTaMo Concert Monochord, a versatile instrument combining a monochord, Kotamo, and Tanpura.
    Through a video made specifically for the webinar, Annette, living with MS and a terminal prognosis, opened up about her journey of self-healing and care through sound therapy in her "Sound Sanctum" space. She also discussed adaptive techniques for players with disabilities, fostering an inclusive approach to music.
    Participants were then invited to engage in a collective play session, further enriching the community experience. Annette's story, along with over 65 other informative videos, can be explored in our Monochord Monday Meetup library, accessible for free to group members.
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  • ASMR Monolina Journey Morning Meditation
    January 17, 2023

    ASMR Monolina Journey Morning Meditation

     

    Let's start the day with a soothing Monolina Meditation. Join Chelsea Caroline for an 11-minute ASMR journey, exploring the serene sounds of the Monolina D tuned to 432 Hz.

    The monochord, including our 34-string Monolina and 21-string Monilini models from feeltone, showcases its versatility and the wide range of creative expressions it enables. Despite its simplicity, the instrument offers a mesmerizing experience, especially when its dreamy drones are combined with hypnotic rhythms and melody accent notes, as Chelsea beautifully demonstrates.

    Dive into this tranquil session with Chelsea, who not only introduces us to the Monolina Monochord's rich harmonic possibilities but also immerses us in a rhythmic exploration. Whether you choose to watch the visual journey or simply close your eyes and listen, this video is a perfect way to gently awaken and find peace.

    Discover more from Chelsea Caroline by following her music on her YouTube Channel. It's time to embrace the day with harmony! 🌞

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  • Klangfarben Tubular Chimes with Lydia Hwang
    July 17, 2022

    Klangfarben Tubular Chimes with Lydia Hwang

    San Francisco-based sound practitioner Lydia Hwang recently graced our Monochord Monday Meetup Zoom group with an exceptional demonstration, integrating Monolina Monochords with Klangfarben Hanging Chimes. Following her autoimmune disease diagnosis, Lydia embarked on a profound journey into sound therapy, studying under the guidance of Fabien Maman at the Tama-Do Academy and later collaborating with master chime builder Wolfgang Dienert to perfect her craft. In 2016, she expanded her expertise as a certified Aura-Soma practitioner, blending sound and color therapies into her unique "Color Soul" intuitive readings. Lydia’s work spans private sessions, workshops, retreats, and musical performances with Savasana Sound.

    Klangfarben, founded by Wolfgang Deinert in 1989, specializes in meticulously handcrafted Bell chimes and tubular gongs, known for their precise tuning and quality brass construction. WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER proudly distributes Klangfarben in North America, offering a selection of pre-tuned chime sets and custom creations tailored to individual preferences.
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  • All about feeltone
    May 27, 2022

    All about feeltone

    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.
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  • Music Therapists on utilizing our instruments for Music Therapy
    October 8, 2021

    Music Therapists on utilizing our instruments for Music Therapy

    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.
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  • Sounding the Equinox: Live Meditation Concert with Monochords
    September 20, 2021

    Sounding the Equinox: Live Meditation Concert with Monochords

    Join us as we come into Balance

    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.

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  • Bonus Time Music: Live-Looping with Brandon Blake!
    April 22, 2021

    Bonus Time Music: Live-Looping with Brandon Blake!

    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.
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  • We Play Well Together at the NAMM Show 2021
    January 22, 2021

    We Play Well Together at the NAMM Show 2021

    We Play Well Together is proud to have been presented in a virtual booth at the NAMM Show 2021 "Believe in Music" Week in January! 
    We've been attending NAMM in Los Angeles every year for the past few conferences. Due to the ongoing pandemic, The 2021 NAMM Show was all online. Our team got to work building a virtual exhibitor booth and we put together a ton of great video content highlighting our instrument makers and latest products! We'll be highlighting these videos in blog posts and newsletters to our We Play Well Together community in the weeks and months ahead. 
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