We Play Well Together with Sansulas tuned to to work in harmony with all our feeltone Monochords, and they can be played together in surprising ways... Sound Artist and We Play Well Together's Creative and Community Director Joule L'Adara recently made a cool new...
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.
Christine Stevens, renowned music therapist, author, and speaker, shares her journey from believing she had no rhythm to embracing drumming as a transformative medium. Introduced to drum circles, Stevens found her calling, blending magic, fun, and healing through rhythmic expression. She encountered the Hokema Sansula at a music therapy conference, immediately recognizing its calming and mystical qualities. Stevens utilizes the Sansula in diverse healing drum groups, ranging from seniors to cancer patients, highlighting its serene impact.
Holding master's degrees in social work and music therapy, Stevens has facilitated drum circles globally, appearing on major TV networks and contributing to significant projects and publications. She emphasizes the drum's healing power, extending her expertise to include the flute as a medium for peace and personal transformation in her latest course on the Shift Network. Through her work, Stevens demonstrates the profound effect of rhythmic and musical expression on healing and mindfulness.
I purchased a Zaphir chime a few years ago and it pairs perfectly with my Zenko. I saw the Koshis on sale and decided to take a leap a buy several. Huge disappointment for me when I compare them to the Zahpir. The Koshi feels hollow and lifeless to me compared to the Zaphir. Because it's lightweight, it can be easier to travel with, but that's also its downside for me. The cord, outer shell all feel more like a 'toy' than a durable, lasting, resonance holder. I may try to add some type of weight to help ground these chimes, not sure, but if I'd know how different this feels compared to a Zaphir I wouldn't have made this purchase. I don't think it's a 'bad' product, I think it's just not aligning with what I've experienced in another brand.
I’m sorry to hear that you’re not entirely happy with the Koshi chimes and that you prefer the Zaphir chimes instead. I want to make sure you’re satisfied with your purchase.
If you’d like, I’d be happy to exchange the set of 3 Koshi chimes you bought for a set of 3 Zaphir chimes so you can complete your Zaphir collection. Please let me know if this works for you, and we can arrange the exchange right away.
I recently purchased a D Monolina. Meditative and meditative; a full immersion sound experience that simply wraps you in a beautiful feeling and sound. What an incredible instrument this is! I highly recommend purchasing one, or more, for meditation, relaxation, or sound baths.
