In Grade 7 Music, the students have been learning about Gamelan orchestras of Southeast Asia. These traditional groupings have been used for centuries during important markers in community life. But the style of playing and the textures of sound are different from Western and Arabian tonalities. Over this unit the students have been exploring the pentatonic scale, A-B-A Form, and how textures of sound can change the piece of music. For the next few weeks, the students will be composing and arranging their own “gamelan” orchestras using xylophones and percussion instruments. Stay tuned for their summative performances!
