Join our Beginner Javanese Gamelan Class!
Six weeks of fun community oriented gamelan music classes. We will discuss and practice basic Javanese gamelan skills, theories and methods in an inclusive and fun environment. Sessions are led in a Javanese community oriented style and will focus on players learning several instrument types.
Class Topics will include but are not limited to:
Basic introduction to gamelan instruments, form and function.
Cultural contexts of gamelan music genres and related art forms like wayang and dance.
How to hold mallets properly and play several gamelan instruments.
How to listen to gamelan music as a player and listener.
Structure of a gamelan music piece.
How do devise elaborating parts on Peking and Bonang instruments.
Schedule:
Wednesday from 7-9pm
First Class - October 15th
Last Class - November 19th
Class Fees:
Class Fees are sliding scale to ensure people with any economic status may participate.
When choosing your sliding scale rate, please keep in mind that Nusantara Arts depends on the generosity of its community to support high caliber artists and programming.
For participants age 12 and higher. No experience required.
Register!
Teacher: Matt Dunning
Matt Dunning currently Serves as Executive Director of Nusantara Arts. Matt founded the original Buffalo Gamelan Club in 2015 with a set of instruments shipped across the world from Java and a dream to bring the enchanting music of Indonesia to his hometown. Matt started playing gamelan music in 2006 while living in Chicago, and developed a deep understanding of Javanese performance and cultural practices while living on Java from 2011-2013 as the recipient of two Indonesian Government “Darmasiswa” artistic residency scholarships.
Matt has been fortunate to study with some of the best gamelan musicians including Darsono Hadiraharjo, Heri Purwanto, Wawan Sosodoro, Putu Septa, and Gusti Komin. As founder of Nusantara Arts, his personal goal is to bring the beautiful music and culture of Indonesia to a broader audience while being faithful to the living traditions of Indonesian art.
Our Instruments: Bronze Javanese Slendro/Pelog. Our set of bronze Javanese gamelan was purchased in 2020, replacing our iron set for in house classes and performances. It is a beautiful double set of instruments with complete gongs, and kenong. Complete Javanese gamelan sets have two distinct tuning systems that are played independently of each other. The set features various melodic and punctuating instruments that take the shape of bronze gongs or bars. The Javanese gamelan orchestra also features hand drums, bowed and plucked string instruments, flutes, and a wooden xylophone
