Andy Gleadhill takes a detailed look at the Indonesian Gamelan – Budget – 15 Player Class Pack – Budget Buddies. This entry level 15 player Indonesian Gamelan pack is perfect for small class groups, lunchtime or after school groups of pupils from age 6 upwards and for community groups of any age. It’s excellent value for money and contains everything you need to get your own Gamelan ensemble off of the ground: playing, performing and composing.
The pack includes 5 large instruments (a 40cm Gong, a Balinese drum and 3 metallophones) and 10 sets of Ceng Ceng (Balinese cymbals), giving you a wide range of authentic Gamelan sounds and making it easy to split the group into buddy threes, each with one big and two smaller instruments.
The three sizes of metallophone (each of which are decorated in traditional red, blue and gold with metal keys suspended from bamboo poles over individual sound chambers), give a range of 3 octaves and these and all our Gamelan instruments are made in Bali, Indonesia. The metallophones in this budget set use recycled metal for the keys and have low cost wooden casings but they have the same Pelog Selisir tunings as the more expensive Standard and Premium models and are just as authentic. The Balinese drum is of solid jackfruit wood construction with two cow skin heads and tuning knots and the Gong has a bronze centre for improved resonance.
Full details of the pack: https://www.drumsforschools.com/product/indonesian-gamelan-budget-15-player-class-pack-budget-buddies-2/
The instruments have been specially modified for use in the classroom: the sturdy metal Gong stand can be dis-assembled into sections if you need to move it around, the metallophone casings are smooth and have rubber bases to protect the floor surface.
Also included are two teaching guides by world music expert Andy Gleadhill: Indonesian Gamelan and Percussion Buddies. Both are written for Class teachers and no prior music training is assumed.
Access to online audio and video support is included.
The Indonesian Gamelan book will take you from basics through to your first performance in just 10 lessons and there’s plenty of repertoire for a year or more of playing with ten pieces, suggestions on teaching delivery and a blank resource to photocopy to assist with planning composition work. The Percussion Buddies book will show you how to develop percussion accompaniments for almost any piece, whether Gamelan, drumming, choral, ukulele or any ensemble.