Malay Gamelan: Approaches of music learning through Community Music

Abstract

This paper looked into the role of Rhythm in Bronze (RiB), a local music group in Malaysia, in community music work practices that uses Malay gamelan as the medium. The research delved into the different aspects of the approaches used to enhance music learning through community music; particularly the activities used and how they relate to Vygotsky’s theory of socialization in learning. Community music gathers people from different backgrounds. Experiences and knowledge shared helps the community through the development in terms of personal growth, self- esteem and self-confidence. These terms are just some of the aspects that community music promotes, apart from music making. Along the process of community music, creativity and expression are important in music making, as this will further develop creative thinking skills among musicians. Qualitative approaches such as observation, interview, and group’s past work were used in this research to gather information and data on how music has been taught to children through community music. Social interaction has certainly shown a big role in developing children thinking and perceptions through the activities implemented. In the other hand, Zoltan Kodaly, Carl Orff, and Emile Jaques-Dalcroze approaches identified through data analysis as it has helped the children to have more fun and always looking forward to the sessions. This documented writing will certainly help people to understand between the whole concepts of community music in the context of Rhythm in Bronze.