Gamelan
Workshops for Team-Building
With Gamelan Padhang Moncar
At the New
Zealand School of Music
Workshops with Indonesian
gamelan music have been used for corporate team building in the UK, Australia
and Europe. Now, for the first time, they are available here in Wellington.
What is gamelan? Gamelan is an Indonesian orchestra that uses many different
percussion instruments: bronze xylophones, drums and gongs. The instruments are
easy to play, and with the guidance of the teacher (guru), a group can quickly
learn to play a traditional piece together.
Experience another culture
through music and food
In this workshop, a team can share a
totally new cultural experience together in a fun environment. Gamelan music is
outside most people's experience - even the teaching techniques are different.
An authentic and delicious Indonesian meal can be shared after the workshop.
This workshop is especially suitable for workplaces that wish to encourage
cross-cultural awareness.
Example workshop
The group begin by chanting the patterns in
the music, and then gradually the music is built up instrument by instrument.
This allows participants to see the importance and role of each individual part.
They are then able to change instruments and experience the music from a
different viewpoint. Each instrument on its own may play just a few notes in a
pattern, but the magic of the performance lies in the group of musicians fitting
together and playing as one.
A highlight is to strike the biggest gong
and hear and feel the beauty of the reverberations. A wonderful paradox of the
gong in gamelan is that it is very easy to hit and is not struck very often but
its sound is the most important.
Once the basics of a piece are
mastered, the instructor changes the speed using only signals from the drum -
all have to listen carefully and adjust their playing. No musical notation needs
to be used (although a simple system using numbers can be). Everyone starts at
the same level as the music is brand new to all - most likely none have even
heard it before.
Links to the workplace
Each
person/instrument in the group has a unique but important role.
Key attributes that are highlighted:
Sensitivity to the group
Listening to others
Adjusting your activity to fit with others
Seeing different viewpoints
Working together to create a shared result
Playing gamelan challenges your concentration, your commitment,
and requires a willingness to take risks and lots of enthusiasm. It is also lots
of fun!
Instructor
The instructor is an Indonesian gamelan
musician trained at a top tertiary arts academy in Central Java, assisted by
experienced local gamelan musicians.
Details:
Workshops are 1 - 2 hours long and cater for
a group of 15-20 participants. All participants will have an instrument to play
throughout. This can be followed by an authentic Indonesian meal, either lunch
or dinner.
Venue:
the NZ School of
Music, Kelburn, Wellington
(for an additional fee, we can bring the workshop
to the venue of your choice, space permitting)
Contact:
Jo Hilder Tel. 476-8692
Jack Body Tel. 463-5853 (office); 934-5369 (home); Fax. 463-5157