Javanese Dance and Gamelan Traditional Music Workshop in Yogyakarta

This was such an amazing experience on beginning to learn gamelan. I had the opportunity to try 5 different instruments and some multiple times with more difficult beats. The team was very helpful and friendly in explaining what to do when I had many questions. They also took photos and videos whilst I was playing that had me laughing when I looked at them after. A great activity for those looking to learn more about the cultural side of Indonesia/Jogja. Would love to do it again!

It was a gamelan music workshop where I had a very rich time. The gamelan master does not speak English, but a wonderful translator and the master's daughter make up for it. I was exposed to all the instruments and learned the basic patterns of four songs. It was a very fun time. There are no problems with the workshop, but there are some problems with the application site. First, I applied for the gamelan music workshop, but the only response I received was from the dance workshop. Also, the bookable calendar is not accurate. The venue was also unclear. I believe they will overcome these challenges and continue to provide better workshops. thank you

I joint the gamelan class with Pak Pardiman as well as the Javanese dancing class with mbak Sasta. The gamelan class was one of the most beautiful experiences I ever had in Indonesia. It was a deep dive into the culture of Java. Pak Pardiman is a master of gamelan! He explained the characteristics of this traditional music to me and let me play every single instrument. It was an honor to be taught by him. After an hour there was a gamelan class with children who already played the instrument for 1-3 years. For me they were already little professionals. Playing amongst them was just so much fun! After the class I felt very inspired and humbled by the beauty of the music, the sound of the instrument and by the whole atmosphere created by Pak Pardiman and his community. The day after I joined the dancing class together with a friend of mine. We were warmly welcomed by mbak Sasta, who by the way is a famous dancer at the Kraton in Yogyakarta. She taught us very patiently the different movements of one of the traditional dances she performs at Kraton Palace. My friend and I had so much fun diving into this special way of meditative movement. It was a deep honor for us being taught by a famous dancer like mbak Sasta! These two classes are two experiences I will never forget. I want to express my deep gratitude for Resti, who organizes these extraordinary insights in Javanese culture! Thank you, Resti, Pak Pardiman and mbak Sasta 🙏🏽

A truly fascinating experience. I highly recommend that anyone visiting Yogyakarta set aside an extra half-day for this. The gamelan master's daughter speaks excellent English, and the entire lesson was very detailed. We got to try five or six different instruments, and you don't need any musical background to have a great time. Gamelan is an ancient musical form, often using a pentatonic scale, that features an ensemble of various percussion instruments like gongs, metallophones, and drums. It frequently accompanies Javanese religious ceremonies, shadow puppet plays, or dance performances. Debussy was heavily influenced by gamelan, and you can even hear K.K. Slider play a version of it in Animal Crossing. The playing experience is very enjoyable, almost meditative, due to its relatively simple rhythms and abundant repetition. The teacher mentioned that a Chinese band called 'Wo Qi' (which means 'I'm angry') came to learn for a day last week, which was quite amusing. We looked it up and realized it was 'Frog Pond' (Wa Chi)... We'll definitely try to catch their performance if we get the chance when we go back.

Fantastic workshop by Pak Padriman & interpreter Gaudiya! Various gamelan elements are explained in great detail and Pak gently guides you through playing the different pieces of music. The location is also gorgeous (view of the rice fields) and is used for cultural education for children as well. During my session, some local children joined in to play a 15-piece gamelan score together. Some musical knowledge or experience is convenient, but not required. I highly recommend checking out this workshop!

Very special experience to dive in traditional local music and feel the culture. The teacher taught in a easy-to-follow way, the translator is very helpful. We tried 5 different instruments and played basic melodies together.

This was my first percussion class, and I loved it! It is a unique cultural experience with much fun. The Master briefly introduced the history and features of Javanese Gamelan. Then, the learners started to hit gamelans according to the Master's instruction. The teaching assistant provided consecutive interpretation and guided the learners. I fully recommend this music workshop! Those who wish to join this workshop should refer to Google Maps as the location on the Grab map could be inaccurate.

It's really an amazing experience of learning gamelan!!!

A unique and unforgettable experience! We really enjoyed our Gamelan experience at Omah Cangkem. There was also a translator to help us translate to English, and she was very helpful to take photos and videos of us. We got to try the different instruments and learned the notes of the simple songs. The workshop lasted for about 2.5 hours.

Great experience. Note that if you take a grab you should tell the driver to use google maps as grab maps takes you to the wrong street. The experience of learning a traditional dance was very fun and definitely one to remember. Learning the dance gave more perspective to the symbols and understanding of the dance itself. it helps if you go to or have been to a Javanese dance for reference of what the dance should look like. Wear pants and bring your own sarong if you want to look the part while dancing.