On Tuesday 17 January, we were delighted to welcome back Mike Simpson from Inspire Works with his Indonesian ‘gamelan’. Year 7 have been studying gamelan music this term and this opportunity tied in perfectly with their class music lessons. Each pupil had a one-hour workshop which enabled them to see and play a real Gamelan with its large bronze gongs and exquisite decoration. In the short time available, classes of about 20 worked together as a team to make a piece of authentic Gamelan music. They also learned to use the technical terms such as saron, kethuk, bonang, balungen, buka, peking and kenong. Overall, it was a delight to hear the JCS building echoing to the sounds of music from a different continent and culture.

Martin Holford, Assistant Director of Music