Bimusicality and Beyond

Abstract

The chapter examines roles for gamelan in music pedagogy outside ethnomusicology. First, the pedagogical benefits of teaching gamelan are compared to those of teaching African drum ensembles and steel pan, two other non-Western classical percussion traditions that are commonly taught in American colleges. Then, the benefits of teaching gamelan within percussion education, composition, and music education programs are considered as teachers who employ gamelan in their classroom discuss how they use the instruments. Pedagogical benefits for students include improving motor coordination, physical technique, focus, and cognition; improving their listening skills; and expanding their concepts of artistic collaboration or group social skills, in addition to instilling real possibilities for cross-cultural professional artistic collaboration.