Sounds of Wisdom:
Unveiling the Hidden Pedagogical Power of Musical Instruments of World Music Ensembles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37134/mjm.vol12.1.4.2023Keywords:
Javanese Gamelan, mṛdaṅgam , music education, performance pedagogy, world music ensemblesAbstract
This article explores the transformative power of musical instruments on pedagogical strategies within music ensembles, with a focus on world music ensembles at the tertiary level. Drawing from my unique perspective as an international graduate student in the U.S. and having had no prior exposure to world music ensembles, I share my experiences with the saron metallophone from the Javanese gamelan and the mṛdaṅgam, the principal rhythmic instrument of South Indian Karṇāṭak music ensemble. I argue that the interaction of sound between instruments and learners offers a deeply enriching, immersive educational journey. Recognizing this sonic interaction broadens our understanding of world music education and suggests that instruments inherently carry pedagogical value. By embracing this notion, educators can cultivate a more holistic teaching methodology, enhancing the pedagogical landscape within and beyond world music ensembles.
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