Gamelan
Indonesian Gamelan
The TDSB Music Department’s Community Music Gamelan Orchestra program is extremely popular and successful with both teachers and students. Each of the three gamelan orchestras includes beautiful handcrafted gong and percussive instruments from Indonesia through virtual visits with Gamelan Artist David Powell.
For set up and pack up, two teachers or staff members are required due to the size and weight of the instruments. Request support from colleagues or caretaking staff. As well, housing of instruments will require a dedicated space given the size of the boxes and instruments. Please see the images of the instrument sizes below.
The Indonesian Gamelan program is recommended for music teachers of grades 4-12.
David Powell - Indonesian Gamelan
Already keen on gamelan music, David went to Indonesia in 1982 with a Canada Council Short Term Grant to research puppetry. While there he fell in love with the majesty of Javanese music. On his return to Canada he built his own set of instruments from available materials, and started giving workshops in Toronto schools. He joined both the University of Toronto and the Indonesian Consulate gamelan groups when they started up, and became their repairman. He has been the TDSB gamelan instructor since soon after the program started, and is honoured to be able to introduce students to this totally hands-on music making.
