where to study gamelan (karawitan) ?

[alberigo]

Hello,

This is my first time here, hello everybody.
I am thinking of applying for a scholarship in Indonesia, as I am fascinated by the gamelan (karawitan) music. there is an internationally available programme called Darmasiswa that provides a possibility to study karawitan for 1 year in different schools in Indonesia.
Since I have no idea what are the pros and cons of these schools and couldn't really find any comparative information on the net, I thought I would ask on this forum.
there are four schools one can choose from:

Indonesian Art Institute of Padang Panjang (ISI Padang Panjang)
College of the Indonesian Art (STSI) Bandung
Indonesian Art Institute of Yogyakarta (ISI) Yogyakarta
Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Denpasar

I would be really grateful if anyone could advise me which of these would provide the best level of teaching. and also, which of the cities would be the most interesting to stay in.
looking forward to your advice.
regards
albe

[wiwi90]

hi albe,
i think that there are two among four which are prominent and most students enrolled to continue by their studies in art.
Indonesian Art Institute of Yogyakarta (ISI) Yogyakarta
Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Denpasar
but, well it depends on what gamelan you tend to know, java or bali gamelan

both cities are interesting to stay in, no worries for it

[alberigo]

hi wiwi90
thanks for the reply. i guess i like both traditions. what about Bandung, I mean as a place to live in for a year?

[Puspawarna]

STSI is in Solo. There are many, many foreigners in Solo who are avid Javanese gamelan students.

The aesthetic differences between Balinese and Javanese gamelan traditions are profound. If it were me, I'd begin by choosing which one I found most compelling, then​ choosing a school/city.

[alberigo]

thanks for the reply.
I found this school in Solo:
http://www.isi-ska.ac.id/
is there another one called STSI?
in the Darmasiswa scholarship there is a 1-year programme in the above linked ISI in Solo, that's called "Seni Musik Tradisional".
is this seni musik something different than gamelan?

[Puspawarna]

"Seni" is not a form of music - it is just the Indonesian word for "art. So all that "Seni Musik Tradisional" means is "Traditional Musical Arts." I don't know for sure, since I'm not affiliated with ISI, but my guess is that they are referring to gamelan and wayang (shadow puppet theatre, of which gamelan music is an integral part).

[alberigo]

ok, thanks.

[wiwi90]

hi wiwi90
thanks for the reply. i guess i like both traditions. what about Bandung, I mean as a place to live in for a year?

i think the place to live in is the last thing to consider, but first of all, you have to decide which gamelan do you tend to learn based on your interest, is this balinese or javanese songs

[Catver]

Hey, STSI Bandung is great! I've been there before with my american friend. He loves gamelan! I also know one of the lecturers who has a sundanese traditional group (consists of gamelan and karawitan). I think gamelan Bali and Gamelan Jawa are 2 different things. Since I'm living in Bandung, I think Bandung is a really great place to stay. The weather is great, the foods are delicious, the people are friendly and you can try some new adventures around the city (I meant it, adventures) on the weekends. I don't know much about gamelan Bali since I'm learning gamelan sunda at my campus with my music group.

[Puspawarna]

I think gamelan Bali and Gamelan Jawa are 2 different things.

They are.