Welcome Rhythm Unites
Michelle of Rhythm Unites at their new location, Stall 155 in SO:ME Space
Rhythm Unites recently opened a new stall in the SO:ME space, after a series of shorter-term pop-up positions at the Market which received positive response from the community.
The stall is one branch of the Rhythm Unites tree, which encompasses school incursions, parties and events, lessons, sound baths and pop ups. The bedrock of these activities is a curation of global instruments, and their connective and therapeutic effects. Jess and Simone are the business owners (and couple) who have moved organically towards sharing music with the world in correspondence with life events. Their collaboration was set in motion after they met in a djembe drumming class in Melbourne. Jess is a qualified school teacher who understands youth needs and knows how music can contribute practically to these. Simone has played drums from a young age and his skills are put towards those you will see in the stall. These are all ethically sourced, constructed from natural materials, and later are individually hand-wound by him here in Melbourne.
Jess’s sister Michelle has been with Rhythm Unites for the past year and works regularly at their new stall in SO:ME Space. Michelle spoke with us about the power of music through terms which traversed therapy, science, education, spirituality and multiculturalism. We discussed the relationship that sound frequencies have to bodies’ water molecules, the value that the numbered steel drums have for young children’s numeracy and the layered geographic histories of the different instruments.
We encourage you to visit because the best way to learn about the products is to play with them. The stall set-up invites interaction and Michelle’s approachability immediately puts one at ease - we are assured that no prior skills are needed to enjoy or benefit from the instruments. Michelle illustrates this, she has no formal background in music but her demonstrations sound delightful and resonate with an indescribable warmth which supports her later comment that “music transcends language”.
Michelle shows us a variety of their items: steel drums, ankle shakers, rain sticks, percussion pieces, djembe drums and crystal bowls. These are each attractive in their own right and beckon experimentation with their tactile materials and shapes, including a percussion piece shaped as a frog, its grooved spine forming the channel for sound. The crystal bowls are made of quartz and are especially alluring, they come in colourful gradients and correspond to distinct emotions and chakras. These are commonly known as healing bowls and have been used by Tibetan and Buddhist cultures for thousands of years. After a tragic life event, Jess practiced with the bowls and found significant healing in sound therapy. It is not a surprise that they are often used in professional yoga and meditation studios. They look beautiful and precious, but we are told that all of the instruments can last a lifetime if cared for properly.
We ask who some of the most typical customers are. Children and teachers are two groups who commonly find value in the pieces. The instruments are suited to all abilities and in some cases are covered by NDIS due to their efficacy in sensory play. We come to realise however that this question somewhat contradicts the Rhythm Unites outlook. The offering does not seek to define people, but to unite and harmonise them through music - regardless of background, and in response to a broad range of needs.
Find Rhythm Unites in the Market's small business incubator precinct, SO:ME Space, open every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am.