Safeguarding a National Treasure

Indonesia’s beloved gamelan needs no introduction. Captivating in its layered rhythms and melodies, this traditional orchestra is a cultural treasure revered for its long history and influence. To this day, gamelan musicians are held in high regard for their skill, discipline, and dedication to keeping one of Indonesia’s most beloved historic art forms alive. 

Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) is proud to be part of this enduring tradition, with our students immersing themselves in the learning and appreciation of gamelan to both honor our host country and help preserve its musical legacy.

Our school’s gamelan journey started in the late 1980s when John Silas Tedjokusumo, our then-International Baccalaureate (IB) Indonesian Studies Teacher, recognized the immense cultural value the orchestra would bring to a school that was rapidly growing and embracing more and more nationalities. At his urging, JIS purchased a complete bronze gamelan set described as a “Steinway of gamelans”.

“It had both the sléndro and pélog scales,” recounts Dr. Kitsie Emerson, a former JIS teacher of nearly 30 years who also spearheaded the student gamelan program at Pattimura (PEL) and Pondok Indah Elementary (PIE). “It was placed in the FAT [Fine Arts Theater] Lobby, and there was a Blue Bird driver’s group that actively rehearsed on it.”

She tells the story of how Barbara Ellis, a long-time music teacher at PIE, organized the purchase of a sléndro-only iron gamelan from Yogyakarta in the 1990s. Over a decade later, Dr. Emerson teamed up with the JIS Parent-Teach Association (PTA) to acquire for the school an iron sléndro and pélog gamelan sets, made by the master of iron gamelan-making Pak Mulyadi in Solo, Central Java. The sléndro set was sent to PIE and the pélog set went to PEL. 

From then on, the gamelan program quickly grew, with formal instruction provided as part of a yearly unit in both campuses’ music classes. An intensive after-school program at PEL for Grades 3-5, taught by Dr. Emerson for 10 years, resulted in an active performance club that entertained audiences all over Jakarta. 

“By learning these instruments, students learn a musical culture that is based on listening, conductor-less, steeped in non-verbal and non-written communication techniques, and demanding in its small motor and large motor requirements,” Dr. Emerson explains.

Teacher professional development sessions were also provided by Wakidi Dwidjomartono, Dr. Emerson’s husband, and visits by a small group of gamelan musicians were funded to jump-start each gamelan unit. Official traditional costumes, wayang (shadow puppet) figures, and a wayang screen were purchased to support the program. Additionally, internationally renowned dalang (wayang puppeteer) Ki Purbo Asmoro and his team were invited every year to conduct workshops and performances, enriching the program's authenticity and depth.

“We started to have routine gamelan performances around school and in the courtyard in the opening week of school and the closing week of school,” Dr. Emerson says.

Today, under the direction of JIS Music Teachers Krissi (Anna) Olsen at PEL and Daniel Kinsman at PIE,  gamelan remains a fully developed program in the JIS Elementary music classrooms. Students display their gamelan skills at assemblies and beloved celebrations such as Uniting Nations (UN) Day and Indonesia Week, where parents are invited to watch their children play, as well as learn about the art form themselves.

Guest musicians are still invited regularly to work with students and teach faculty and staff about the history and fundamentals of gamelan.

“We also host special events to educate and bring this art form to people within and beyond our community,” says Ms. Olsen, referring to inter-school gatherings such as IASAS and the Association of Music in International Schools (AMIS). “Everyone at PEL has become accustomed to hearing the beautiful sounds of our children playing outdoors under the Pattimura tree and in our theater, recognizing that this is a special part of our school identity.”

In her short time at PEL, she adds, the many events our gamelan troupe has been invited to include a National Batik Day event for the Ministry of Industry, the opening of JIS’s collaboration with Harvard CS50x and the Ministry of Education, and the opening of the new JIS Learning Center (JLC), to list just a few.

To continue and expand this rich tradition, our program needs your support. Donations are crucial for repairing and replacing instruments and mallets, the continued training of our music educators, and engagement with professional gamelan musicians. With your help, we can continue to preserve a vital part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of gamelan among our students and community. 

“JIS should be a hub of gamelan learning and performing!” Dr. Emerson says.

Our new Dragon Annual Fund is designed to support, extend, and enhance JIS programs, and the gamelan is a designated recipient for the 2023-2024 campaign. Find out more about how you can support your alma mater to continue to be Best for the World on our Giving website.

Did you play in the gamelan orchestra during your time at JIS? We would love to hear from you and share your memories (alumni@jisedu.or.id).