News

WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER sponsored Joule L'Adara and Mike Moss to join the Steel Mountain handpan gathering in Estes Park, Colorado, last August. Capturing the essence of the event, we've created a 12-minute video montage showcasing the highlights, inviting viewers to experience the joy of handpanning in the Rockies. Steel Mountain, established in 2017, offers an enriching blend of music, workshops, and outdoor activities, set against the backdrop of the majestic Rocky Mountains. The gathering is a celebration of community, featuring concerts, handpan jams, and more, scheduled to reconvene August 24th-28th, 2023. This event highlights the vibrant handpan community and the enchanting music of instruments like the Spacedrum by Metal Sounds.

On International Drone Day this past June, Katie Down and friends showcased the mesmerizing power of drone music in Marlborough, New York, with a live performance featuring instruments from WE PLAY WELL TOGETHER, including the feeltone Monolina Monochord and Metal Sounds Spacedrum Evolution Handpan. This event highlighted the diverse sounds of drone music, incorporating a mix of classical, sound therapy, and experimental instruments. Drone Day, conceived by MCLF of Weird Canada, celebrates drone music's communal and experimental spirit every third Saturday of May, inviting participants to explore droning in various spaces. This day emphasizes the unifying and creative essence of drone music, encouraging gatherings to experience its unique vibrational impact.

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.

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.

Here is a cool 83-second video showcasing the Kalimba Electro by Hokema, a game-changer for studio and live musicians. This unique kalimba comes with a piezo pickup and a 6.35mm jack socket, eliminating the need for an external mic and perfect for integrating crystal-clear percussive notes into your tracks.

The video highlights Connor Shafran and Sia Mozaffari (Sia Seeds), demonstrating innovative uses of the Kalimba Electro in live and studio settings, from pitch-shifting in Germany to triggering samples and loops in Oakland. Featured is the B11 Kalimba Melody Electro, tuned to G-Major, alongside its variants in a-minor and C-Major pentatonic scales – all adjustable with Hokema's tuning tool.

Dive into the fusion of traditional African rhythms with modern music production. Hokema's Kalimba Electros, with their built-in pickups, are a seamless fit for live performances and digital setups, offering a warm, gentle sound that complements any musical ensemble. Check them out for a versatile addition to your instrumental arsenal.

Minna Sivola, founder of Harmoniaalto, brings a unique perspective to sound healing, drawing from her Finnish heritage and a successful career in the corporate world. With 17 years at Nokia facing the pressures of high-stakes deadlines and personal health challenges, Minna turned to meditation, yoga, and sound vibration as pathways to wellness. Her journey from stress to serenity led her to become a certified sound practitioner and teacher, dedicated to helping others find harmony and peace through sound.

Minna's approach to sound healing is rooted in the belief that sound waves can bridge the heart and brain, fostering a state of relaxation and presence beyond stress and pain. Offering private sessions, sound baths, and sound healing classes in San Rafael, California, and internationally, Minna shares her expertise to cultivate well-being and balance. Her upcoming online Training and Mentoring for Sound Healing Practitioners, starting February 28th, extends her reach, allowing more people to explore the transformative power of sound. For a glimpse into her practice and philosophy, Minna invites you to watch a free 40-minute intro video available on her website, Harmoniaalto.

We're excited to announce a new Livestream series for 2023, featuring our friend Kalani Das from the WORLD DRUM CLUB on YouTube. Kickstarting this series, a recent livestream showcased Kalani playing our instruments alongside a live looper. This collaboration is set to continue with a monthly livestream event, offering our audience and customers unique interactive opportunities.

The first session in this series, happening on Sunday, January 29th, will see Kalani joined by We Play Well Together's Joule L'Adara. They'll dive into the instruments played in the initial video, provide live demonstrations, and host a Q&A segment for any questions about playing intuitive instruments.

Mark your calendars for the last Sunday of each month to catch these special livestreams on our YouTube Channel and Facebook Page. This initiative is part of our ongoing collaboration with Kalani, aimed at enhancing our connection with the community and sharing the joy of music. Whether you're interested in Koshi Chimes, Zenko Drums, Tinka Tongs, Kalimbas, feeltone Monochords, or more, these sessions promise a wealth of musical exploration.

If you can't join live, no worries—the recordings will be available on our YouTube Channel and Facebook Page. We're looking forward to playing well together with you in 2023!