The Changing Landscape of the Malay Gamelan and its Implications on Music Education in Malaysia

Abstract

Globalisation and information technology have posed challenges to cultural systems whereby new ways are taking over old ways that are indigenous to a particular culture. Traditional modes of cultural expression are being restructured where changes in musical practices and sound systems are affecting composers to remain vital. New music for the Malay gamelan using new modes of expression require schools to act as agents for change and innovation to occur. This study examines the direction gamelan music is taking in Malaysia and its implications on music education in Malaysia in order for the gamelan to remain relevant.

Keywords: Malay gamelan; teaching; learning; approaches

eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2021.. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI5.2939