You are invited to join our Javanese Community Gamelan!
Twice weekly Javanese gamelan classes for intermediate, advanced, and adventurous beginner players.
Nusantara Arts' twice weekly latihan ("practice" in Javanese) we teach and practice basic to advanced Javanese gamelan percussion music skills and methods in an inclusive and fun environment! This is a class appropriate for intermediate and advanced gamelan musicians as well as adventurous beginners. The sessions are led in a Javanese latihan community style, with a less rigid class structure than our 10 week introductory class.
We focus on playing a variety of Javanese gamelan compositions in both tuning systems and practice for upcoming performances. You don't need to be a performer to join this class. Beginner musicians will be helped along the way, but the learning is slightly more passive in nature than the Beginner 6 week class. People who want to learn in this traditional environment should have some kind of prior musical background, but it is not a requirement for joining for the more adventurous. For those new to music we generally recommend taking the 6 week Beginner course before joining our community group.
Cost:
Our Class fees are based on a quarterly (3 month) class schedule with Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions.
Sessions are sliding scale. You may also choose to pay on a monthly or yearly basis. Or if you want to come to just one class choose the one time option:
Quarterly Sliding Scale:
Generosity Registration: $500
Standard Registration: $250
Accessible Registration: $150
Subsidized Registration: $90
Schedule:
Rehearsals
Every Sunday from 6:30-9
Wednesday 7-9:30
Winter Quarter: January-March
Spring Quarter: April-June
Summer Quarter: July-September
Fall Quarter: October-December
Class Fees:
Class Fees are sliding scale to ensure people with any economic status may participate.
For participants age 12 and higher. Beginner Javanese Gamelan class or other prior musical experience required.
Teacher: Matt Dunning
Founder and Executive Director of Nusantara Arts, Matt started playing gamelan music in 2006 while living in Chicago and developed a deep understanding of Javanese performance and cultural practices while living in Solo, Central Java from 2011-2013. Matt has been fortunate to study with some of the best gamelan musicians in Java and the US including Darsono Hadiraharjo, Heri Purwanto, Hartono, and Wakidi Dwidjomartono. Matt just returned from two months in Indonesia where is was able to continue his studies of Javanese gamelan as well as visit Bali for the first time in preparation for the launch of Nusantara Arts new Balinese gamelan music ensemble.
Performing - Community gamelan is the gateway to performing with our performance troupe. Nusantara Arts performs many small and medium sized performances a year in Western New York, and even further! It's really fun being involved in ensemble music making, and practicing for performances at interesting venues and often items with incredible guest artists. Performing is optional, not all people who participate in community gamelan perform, it's your choice!
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
