Singing with Nature in International Forest Therapy Days
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Afterword
I am a descendant of folk singers and fiddlers, and music rooted itself in my life early on. By the time I turned 10, singing had become the most important key to self-expression for me. Like many young people today, I often felt like an outsider. Even among friends, I didn’t always feel like I…
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An August Evening in Helsinki, and Thank You
A snapshot and photo collage capturing the atmosphere of Monday evening in Helsinki and at the Hakasalmi Villa.
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Avainlippu – A step forward for Mustikkarinne & me
Earlier this week, my farm, Mustikkarinne’s, floral products were awarded the Avainlippu, a recognition of Finnish production. This certification affirms our commitment to Finnish-grown flowers, sustainable craftsmanship, and seasonal work. More about what this means for my little farm Mustikkarinne and maybe also for Finnish floristry in the note.
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Echoes from the Hills – Nature’s Acoustics Inspire Singing
When was the last time you heard the echo of your own voice?Based on the survey I conducted for this book, in a country like Finland, more than one in ten respondents had never heard their own voice echo. In urban environments, we rarely encounter echo anymore.Trees in parks are few and far between, and…
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First Steps with Virtual Nature in Performance Training
Singing with VR. There are still very few studies on the long-term effects of virtual reality, but what has been found in the field of health care seems to support our experience of the benefits of using VR in our performance training.
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Forest Sound Walk
Sound walks have gradually emerged through collaboration with clients. My inspiration came from the Japanese practice of forest bathing, shinrin-yoku, which I initially practiced on my own. Shinrin-yoku refers to walking in the forest for well-being, where one can intuitively use all their senses. Over time, I noticed that I would hum while walking, and…
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Foreword
I’ve learned to answer the question “What do you do for a living?” simply:I bring people into nature to sing. This often sparks two immediate reactions:“Oh how wonderful!”And right after: “I don’t have a singing voice at all,” or“If only I were musical!” I once counted how many countries and how many cultures the singers…
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Guest Vocalist at Oulu Music Festival 2026
Mikko Innanen and the Oulu All Star Big Band feat. Sanni Orasmaa at Oulu Music Festival on March 22.
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Instead of Practicing I Absorb
Singing and voice training have traditionally been associated with ideal sound concepts. We often approach singing through hearing, and we receive feedback about our voice based on how it sounds, not based on the emotions it evokes. Yet, behind all hearing, there is a feeling: when I hear a familiar melody, it awakens a memory,…
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Lullaby for the Birdland
Tuu, tuu tupakkarulla, mistäs tiesit tänne tulla… In nature, you can sing everything that fits into human life. We approach singing through sensory and emotional experiences; the song reflects topics and things as we feel and experience them, here and now, at the moment the song is born. Through song, we can also be close…
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Nature Singing Throughout the Seasons
Finnish nature offers activities year-round. In winter, we enjoy ice walks and river singing, in the spring we solo along with the streams, and when summer comes, we push the boats into the water and head to the lake to sing. In nature, one can sing in any season, the forest sings year-round. Ice Song…
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Open Studio
I host open studio sessions featuring voice and piano every Thursday at 19:00, accessible in person or online. The 45-minute program is part of my artistic practice, with no ticket sales or reservations required.
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Orpingalik
Netsilik Inuit shaman and poet Orpingalik talks about the creation of song.
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Our Singing Nature – The Tradition of Singing with Nature in Finland
Finland sings. Our nature is an acoustic treasure trove where natural sounds, cultural sounds, and our own voices come together in a whole that anyone can experience — and that all of us can nurture and respect. Even if our wilderness might appear from the outside as uninhabited and lonely, these places may have been…
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Our Voices Belong
We know natural sounds such as the bird song, or the wind in the trees, and the human made mechanical sounds such as a motor saw, but rarely do we remember that nature has also always included cultural sounds.
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Silence – Our National Treasure
Quiet places are a national treasure we should celebrate, protect and preserve.
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Singing with Nature & Wilderness Guides
Beautiful day in Nuuksio bringing SoundByNature and Luontolaulu to yet another wilderness guide generation.
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Singing with Nature in Greenland
Photos and clips from a “forest” sound walk in Sisimiut, Greenland.
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Singing with Nature in International Forest Therapy Days
Photos and clip from a Forest Sound Walk at the International Forest Therapy Days.
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SoundByNature Practice Room – Singing practice in a virtual reality environment
The SoundByNature VR application was launched at the Turku ICT Showroom.
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Sources
Adevi, A. 2012: Supportive Nature – and Stress. Wellbeing in connection to our inner and outer landscape. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Doctoral Thesis.Ala-Ruona, E. 2018: Luentomuistiinpanot, Musiikkiterapian perusopinnot. Helsinki: Helsingin kesäyliopisto.Ala-Ruona, E. 2018: Vibroakustinen terapia. Vibrac.Alderman, L. 2016: Breathe. Exhale. Repeat: The Benefits of Controlled Breathing. New York Times 15/11, D4.Alvarsson, J., Wiens, S., Nilsson, M. 2010: Stress Recovery…
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Starting here
Read along as you watch and listen to the first edition of my video blog. Video, transcript, and closed captions included.
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Studio guests
Enji Erkheem, Paul Brändle & River Adomeit in Mustikkarinne.
