1) The document describes the author's experience taking a gamelan music co-curriculum course over four semesters of university. They learned various musical concepts and instruments. 2) Activities included weekly classes, assignments on gamelan history and instruments, and creating original melodies. A highlight was performing as part of the gamelan ensemble during university convocations. 3) Challenges included a mandatory camping trip before one convocation that lacked basic facilities, causing a health issue for a fellow student. However, the author felt the experience improved their skills and bonding with other music groups.

1. GAMELAN: MUSIC ALIVE
CO-CURICULUM FOLIO
APRIL 19, 2014
PREPARED BY:
NUR DIANA
PREPARED FOR:
MR. ABD AZIZ BIN TAJUDIN
GAMELAN IV [A]

2. 1
I used to play gamelan since high school. Although it was a short period experience, I
started to love the music of gamelan. I am playing one instrument namely ‘saron peking’ and I
with my high school team enjoy playing gamelan for graduation and cultural night held in our
school. Thus, I choose to continue playing gamelan and made it as my co curriculum course.
For me there are several good reason beside I had basic knowledge and know how to play, I
thought I could release tension from reading the law, which is my degree in the making. In sha
Allah.
It is not as easy as I thought. University level and high school level of playing gamelan
is absolutely different. Previously, we learnt how to play pieces of traditional song in a team
and made some simple arrangement. Here, I know various about instruments, music notes,
music form, reading, improvise, beats, arrangements, melody, harmony, mute, rit (ending) and
more. In every semester of co curriculum, we had to attend 6 classes with one integration.
Speaking about integration, this is one of requirement to pass the course. We had 4 integration
session during 4 semester which include concerts and talk.
During our first semester, we started with basic beat called ‘tempo’ (1 2 3 4 and 1+2
3+4 etc.) and introduced with notes for example: ‘rest’ (r/.), ‘dum’ (d), ‘tak’(t), ‘do’(1), ‘re’(2),
‘mi’(3), ‘so’(5), ‘la’(6), ‘do’(i). We learned the main piece of gamelan: ‘Timang Burung’. This
is a common played song, so we need to be familiar and know how to play this song. I still
remember Mr Aziz compliment our team for good in learning and subsequently succeed to play
many pieces of music in a short time.
In semester two, we have been tested with our reading skill through song written by our
senior, Juliana. Frankly, I think she had good idea of combining various melody from every
group of instrument. But it is difficult for us to catch up, once we lost the notes. Every semester
Mr Aziz will replay some common traditional song to be played. This idea is to help us to
improve our playing skills. While improving our skills, Mr Aziz also improvising the song. For
me this is the most interesting part. We got to play different arrangement which give different
soul to the original song.
Semester three become more challenging. Mr Aziz started to focus on convocation
purpose. We are divided into two group, one for convocation players and another is not. I am
included in convocation team player, and play ‘saron demung’. However, during class we still
got new input. That semester, we were introduced with musical notes in symbol. There are ‘♪’

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(quaver), ‘♫’ (semi-quaver) and ‘♪+♫’ (tri-pe-let). Later, in semester four another symbol
introduced ‘♫+♫’ (tafa-tefe).
Each symbol represent beats of note. Mr Aziz teaches us to use ‘clapping’ method in
determining the range of beat. One clap for one beat. For example, quaver represent one beat
so called as ‘tam’, hence, clap once. Semi quaver is (half beat) ‘tam tam’ double clap in a time,
Tripelet is (1/3 beat) ‘tam tam tam’ clap for three times and for TafaTefe (1/4 beat) we clapped
four times while emphasizing clap on each ‘T’. But in Gamelan’s music sheets we use
numbering system which we already learn it in semester one. By learning symbol and beats,
we get to know how to play the note either in a fast or piano mode without knowing how the
piece should be played first.
Like I said beforehand, we learn ‘tafatefe’ in our forth semester of co curriculum. This
quite challenging for us because we used to play traditional music song which usually played
in relax or piano mode. Mr Aziz give us a music piece entitled ‘Shanghai Beach’ to practise on
this tafatefe beat. Other than that, we were instructed to change our instrument for first half an
hour class. For our last semester class, Mr Aziz really hope that we had our own skill, able to
play every instrument. Therefore, throughout previous class in semester four, I get to improve
my skill playing ‘bonang’, ‘kenung’, ‘gendang’ and more.
Apart from that, Mr Aziz also assigned us with coursework. As the beginning, we were
assigned to make a research on Gamelan Melayu history. Based on that assignment, I learn
how this tradition come all the way to Tanah Melayu, know who the founder of Gamelan
Melayu is and how this music becomes our tradition from our ancestors. In semester two, we
had to produce a folio on any instrument and research on that instrument making process,
material used and how to play that instrument appropriately. Based on this research, I learn to
appreciate each instrument and play it accordingly.
Of course our assignment became harder by semester. Coming to semester three, we
were assigned to make eighteen bar of notes into different form of melody in a piece of song.
Afterward in semester four, we need to make thirty two bar of notes into different form of
melody in a piece of song too. There are two types of assignment which are individual and
grouping. I made a ‘Bangau oh Bangau’ song for individual task, ‘Rembau Most Wanted’ and
‘Klimaks Wau Bulan’ for group assignment together with teammates. I find that making a piece
of music in a group is more interesting as we may combine our created melody into one piece.

4. 3
Yet, connection and chemistry are important, so that the piece produced is harmony between
each melody. Besides that, we also learn on how to make a good music piece.
I am really glad to share my experience as in a team of gamelan during convocation.
Earlier, students who have been selected to play during convocation do not have to attend a
team building camping. Few changes happen and we are the first batch that require to attend
camping before convocation week. It is a week camping held in Hutan Sintok near National
Service Train Centre. I am expecting to have sweet and unforgettable moments throughout that
camping. Unfortunately, it seem like we are having a camp to join in either PALAPES or
SUKSIS. Some of its activities are too extreme for any layman without tough training.
At midnight, I am very shock because my friend from Angklung sub unit, suddenly had
a short breath taking. She then immediately admitted to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah. It was a
slight infection in her lung due to the air or surrounding condition. At the camp site, before, in
the morning, we are among the earliest people. We keep the camp site clean because we were
notified that the site was used seldom. Even the toilet need to be clean before use and I found
many unpleasant things. However, I guess we should still congratulate efficient university’s
management for action taken. For future benefit, I suggest the organizing committees to pay
more attention on this matter, at least for basic living needs to avoid any inconvenient.
All those sweats and tears are worthwhile. We get to know members of other music
unit such as Caklempong, Angklung, Orchestra, Choir and more either seniors or juniors.
Regardless of those spiteful training or incident, we gain many experience. During
convocation, we learn to be confident to play in front of large scale audience. Watching seniors
taking scrolls, officially ended their students life had boost my spirit to be the best of me for
my convocation soon. My team also play at our best to perform for the first time in convocation.
Basically, our teamwork improved and our bonding tighten through that convocation week.
For the past four semester, I am the Vice President of this club for group A. This
position helps me to test my ability and credibility. While I am in this position, I started to
know my classmates and the other group members, which is not merely knowing their name
but also share stories and ideas. For me, it is a precious relationship besides my fellow law
course mates. As I can spread my networking, I also get to see the world in different view of
different course people. On the last day of our co curriculum day we will having a small
gathering party to celebrate ourselves for finishing our course to the last!

5. 4
A token of appreciation to Mr Aziz for his kind help and teaching. May God bless you
always Sir. Here, some pieces of our memories:
Figure 1 Convocation Day
Figure 2 our instructor: Mr Aziz

6. 5
Figure 3 Practise session
Figure 5 Sound Check Process
Figure 4 behind the scene: Preparation