World-renowned jazz violinist Gwen Laster adds a captivating touch to her live performances by incorporating the Sansula, an intuitive instrument from Hokema Kalimbas, sold by We Play Well Together.
In a highlight video from her performance at the Beacon Bonfire Arts Festival, Gwen and her ensemble create mesmerizing interludes using the Sansula, adding a sense of space and expanded time to their set.
The Sansula, a variation of the kalimba, is easy to play and introduces extra creativity to any musical act.
Gwen's innovative use of this instrument, along with her poignant violin playing, showcases why she has performed with some of the world's most influential artists. Explore the various Sansulas and their accessories to enhance your own musical repertoire.
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...
This past summer, We Play Well Together's Creative Community Director Joule L'Adara traveled to Germany to work directly with our instrument builder the feeltone Company, helping to create a series of videos for our new Elemental Soundscapes instrument collections.
Since 2020, Sound Artist Joule L'Adara has been the Creative and Community Director at WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER, bringing her unique vision to the Elemental Soundscapes Water Collection.
This series showcases a harmonious selection of musical instruments, inspired by natural elements and designed for intuitive play. In the inaugural 10-minute video, Joule introduces the WATER Collection instruments, all tuned to a D-minor scale, demonstrating how they complement each other in sound meditations, therapy, or artistic settings.
The video features instruments like the Monolina D Monochord and Tinka Tong Aqua from feeltone, various Kalimbas by Hokema Kalimbas, and Zenko Element Aqua by Metal Sounds, among others, including a Quartz Crystal Singing Bowl to illustrate the synergy between these instruments.
A second, sound-only video provides a 4-minute demonstration on layering these instruments for solo sound artistry, highlighting the Monolina D and suggesting vocal additions.
The final 8-minute video offers an in-depth look at the Elemental Soundscapes concept, detailing the collections' intended audience, usage, and tuning specifics, encouraging viewers to explore the Water Collection further.
In the "Creating Joy with Conscious Soundscapes" feature on the We Play Well Together blog, we dive into how thoughtfully crafted sound environments can be a source of joy and wellness in our lives.
A carefully chosen soundscape can have on transformative experience in our personal spaces and create relaxation and creativity.
Instruments like the Koshi Chimes and Monolina Monochords are spotlighted for their ability to create these immersive, soothing auditory experiences.
The article is packed with expert insights and actionable advice, guiding us on how to weave our own soundscapes filled with mindfulness and positive vibes. It really brings home the idea that sound has a profound ability to enrich our daily experiences, echoing the site's dedication to fostering a sense of harmony and well-being through music.
In March, coinciding with the Spring Equinox, Susan Maule, a seasoned practitioner and friend of WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER, led the Monochord Monday Meetup.
She showcased the MonChair by feeltone, integrating it with instruments like the C# Hokema Sansula, Crystal Singing Bowls, and a Native American-style flute to create harmonious soundscapes. Susan demonstrated the MonChair's use in group settings, allowing participants to experience the enveloping sounds while seated in the chair, surrounded by others in a ceremonial rotation. She combined the MonChair's vibrations with the Zaphir "Sunray" Chime in C#, a C# tuned Sansula, and other selected instruments, offering a layered auditory experience.
This session exemplified the collaborative spirit of "We Play Well Together," highlighting the possibility of custom tunings for kalimbas and Sansulas to harmonize with existing instruments. Susan's broad expertise in the healing arts, alongside her unique approach to sound therapy, enriches the Monochord Monday Meetup community. Her contributions, along with over 60 other videos, are accessible in the group's video library for those who join the Monochord Monday Group on Zoom.
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.
Brandon Blake, a multifaceted individual juggling roles as a preschool teacher, brain injury support group leader, musician, animal rights activist, and volunteer, shares his daily life and his profound connection with the Kalimba Sansula in an interview with Annalena Horl for Hokema, Germany. His routine begins with caring for his cats, followed by preparing breakfast and spending eight hours at school focusing on the social and emotional development of young children. Post-work, he finds solace and creativity in playing the Sansula or bass, highlighting his commitment to self-care and artistic expression.
Brandon’s job satisfaction stems from nurturing positive behaviors like kindness, empathy, and respect among preschool children, aiming to cultivate a future generation free of xenophobia, racism, and aggression. He was drawn to the Sansula as a means to disconnect from the digital world and engage in a more tactile, musical form of expression. Since discovering the Sansula in 2015, it has become an integral part of his life, offering him solace, therapeutic benefits, and a medium for musical creativity.
He utilizes the Sansula across various aspects of his life, from calming preschool children and entertaining nursing home residents to providing healing in brain injury communities. Brandon praises the Sansula for its ease of use, therapeutic potential, and adaptability, including his innovative use of magnets to alter its notes for performance flexibility. He regards the Sansula as a serious musical instrument, validated by his performances with renowned musicians like Victor Wooten, where his unique playing techniques were celebrated.
Brandon’s favorite Hokema instrument is the Sansula Renaissance for its durability and sound quality, making it suitable for both young children and therapeutic applications. His journey with the Sansula began after a life-altering accident that left him with severe injuries and a traumatic brain injury, from which he has been recovering with resilience and positivity. Now leading a group for young patients with brain injuries, Brandon views every moment as "bonus time," a second chance at life enriched by his experiences, relationships, and music.
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 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.
