Our Current Program
One of the prominent features of Balinese traditional education is that children often teach other children. One reason for this is that one of the best ways to really come to know something, or "hold it in one’s belly," as the Balinese put it, is to teach it. Guiding students through the process of preparing and then giving presentations, concerts, and discussions to other children helps those students to clearly articulate, for themselves as well as others, the nature of the art they are learning and teaching. Another reason the Balinese children teach other children is that they can communicate more effectively to them than can adults. Children do not need to develop tactics for holding the attention of other children, they do not need to worry about their syntax, and they do not need to be concerned with being out of touch. Children can communicate their ideas to each other naturally.
With these thoughts in mind the Center for World Music and the Museum School are continuing their partnership by not only continuing the in-depth study of both Indonesian and Japanese music and dance under the instruction of Kaori Okado, Alexander Khalil and various guest artists, but also by having the children become performers and presenters, giving assembly concerts, of their own design and in their own words, on arts from both cultures at elementary and middle schools throughout San Diego county.
The program details are as follows. The students practice together in groups of 20 at a time 2 times a week. On a third day the advanced Gamelan meets. This Gamelan is made up of 18 musicians and dancers who have shown significant talent and interest in this music. Their ensemble was named "Puspa Warsa" by I Nyoman Sumandhi. "Puspa Warsa" means "flower season" or "spring".
During the first trimester the students focus mostly on Balinese Gamelan Angklung and dance, and will also learn some Javanese gamelan, Shakuhachi, and Taiko drumming. The students who are playing the most difficult parts or who have special needs receive additional private lessons once a week as does each student who learns Shakuhachi, the Japanese bamboo flute. As part of their academic study the children will write scripts for their Balinese assembly presentations, practice public speaking and research some of the historical, theoretical, and scientific aspects of the music. Towards the end of the first trimester they will give their first community presentations and assemblies. The presentations will be approximately 45 minutes in length, and will include musical pieces, music and dance pieces, Kecak ("monkey chant," a dramatic form whose only musical accompaniment is done vocally), and instrument making. The students will perform the pieces and offer explanations and insights on their own. They will also share various artifacts, including shadow puppets, textiles, paintings and various bamboo instruments.
During the second trimester the students will continue their Balinese assembly programs and will study Japanese Taiko drums and Japanese dance intensively. Some students will also continue their study Shakuhachi. They will prepare a similar assembly program of Japanese music and dance in which they will introduce Taiko drums, folk dance, Shakuhachi, and several other cultural artifacts.
During the third Trimester the students will continue to expand their abilities in both Indonesian and Japanese performing arts. Several field trips and guest artist visits will be arranged, including trips to California Institute of the Arts, in order to visit its gamelan groups and teachers, a trip to the Indonesian Consulate in LA, and trips to observe Japanese performing arts and artists. Guest artists will include Marco Lienhard, one of the world’s most renowned Taiko drummers and Shakuhachi players and a member of Ondekoza for 14 years; Nyoman Wenten, Balinese music and dance teacher at California Institute of the Arts; Djoko Walujo, Javanese music and dance teacher at California institute of the Arts; and Masayo Ishigure, Japanese Music teacher at Weselayn University.
In this program the students have an unlimited potential for artistic and cultural growth and can apply the lessons they learn to other aspects of their lives as well.
This fully complementary partnership between the Museum School and the Center for World Music has the opportunity to take arts education to new heights and give children tools and skills that will be available to them throughout their lives.
Recently we have decided to put plans in place to send Gamelan Puspa Warsa to Bali, to be the first non-Indonesian Gamelan made up entirely of children.
