Then check out our latest video montage featuring our favorite handcrafted musical instruments ranging from pocket-sized kalimbas to handpans, to Sound Furniture from feeltone, Hokema & Metal Sounds.

See you at the NAMM Show! 

This holiday season, we invite you to consider a gift that gives back.The Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International and We Play Well Together are honored to partner with the Kichwa women of Sarayaku in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador. We're deeply humbled to be supporting this group by importing and selling their beautiful beaded jewelry on our website. We Play Well Together has donated funds to purchase the first round of artwork from the Sarayaku Women in addition to donating website and logistical support to send them to you.All profits from your purchases will directly support the livelihood of the craftswomen, and their advocacy work to protect the forest through Amazon Women Defenders of the Jungle (Mujeres Amazonicas Defensoras).

Percussionist David Naylor's remarkable journey through music began after a severe illness left him with no memory of his past, including his musical talents. Rediscovering a photo of himself surrounded by drums, with a Zenko Drum at the heart of his setup, sparked a reconnection to music and a path to self-reinvention.

In an Instagram Live conversation with We Play Well Together's Joule L'Adara, David shared insights into living fully in the present, embracing the state of wonderment arising from fragmented memory and mindfulness. He expressed appreciation for his memory loss, viewing it as a clean slate that freed him from traumatic past experiences.

David also discussed his neurodivergence, finding a special connection to rhythmic patterns that align with his interest in specific number sequences, particularly a 3-6-9 Afro-Cuban rhythm. This connection to rhythm and the Zenko Drum, which he feels links him to his past while transporting him to other worlds, highlights the healing power of music.

This conversation underscores the profound impact music can have on recovery, mindfulness, and personal growth. David's story is a testament to the therapeutic potential of musical exploration and the Zenko Drum's role in his musical and personal rediscovery. For a deeper understanding of David's journey and the Zenko Drum's significance, watch the edited IG Live interview on YouTube, which includes discussions and demonstrations of David's percussion setup.

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.

Zenko Drums, touted as the "Porsche" of Tongue-Drums, are a testament to high-quality craftsmanship and innovative design, produced by Metal Sounds in the South of France. These metal tongue drums stand out for their intuitive playability and superior sound quality, crafted from two stainless steel shells welded together and precision-tuned to produce melodic tones through laser-cut "tongues." Lightweight and portable, Zenkos come with a protective padded bag complete with a mallet holder, making them perfect for musicians on the go.

What sets Zenko Drums apart in the crowded tongue drum market is their exceptional material quality and the meticulous attention to detail in their creation. The Zenko offers a sonic experience akin to handpans, with pure, uplifting bell-like tones and pitch-perfect tuning that invites meditative exploration and enhances sound meditation and music therapy sessions. Designed for professional use, Zenkos can be mounted on a cymbal stand, integrating seamlessly into drum kits or percussion setups.

Recognizing the Zenko as a premium instrument, Metal Sounds offers a diverse range of tunings, from chromatic scales to unique musical modes, catering to both traditional musicians and adventurous explorers of sound. A special video featuring percussionist Conny Sommar showcases the variety of Zenko tunings, providing a glimpse into the drum's versatility and the meticulous process behind its creation in Toulouse, France. This dedication to quality ensures that Zenko Drums not only meet but exceed the expectations of professional musicians and sound practitioners, offering a sound experience that is as refined and sophisticated as a Porsche.

Peter Hokema, the founder of Hokema Kalimbas, created an enchanting tutorial amidst a snowy German landscape, showcasing the use of chord magnets on the B17 Kalimba. This video, translated and adapted for an English-speaking audience, provides insightful tips on using these magnets to mark chords, enhancing ease of play and chord visualization on the instrument, even in the midst of summer's heat.

The B17 Kalimba, a masterpiece of craftsmanship from Hokema, is made from solid American black cherry wood, polished with natural oils and waxes for a smooth finish. Designed for improvisation and intuitive playing, the B17 is equipped with precisely tuned tines in C-major, making it a versatile instrument for both beginners and seasoned musicians. The addition of colorful magnets aids players in identifying chords quickly, allowing for a seamless musical experience.

Whether you're looking to improvise, play well-known tunes, or explore new scales with the tuning tool, the B17 offers a gateway to a world of musical possibilities, underscored by the serene backdrop of a winter's day.

Metal Sounds:

Handpans Handmade in France

 

SPACEDRUM®, the intuitive handpan, is a metal melodic instrument inspired by the original steel drum (aka the steelpan) and by the Hang® invented by PANArt® in 2000. Metal Sounds' handpans have been designed and handcrafted since 2006, and were the first handpan producer in France.

As requirements, tastes, and desires vary, Metal Sounds offers two different lines of handpans: