Things to do · Arts and crafts
Play in a gamelan
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
A gamelan is the traditional orchestra of Java and Bali, built mostly from gongs and tuned metal instruments, and each is tuned to itself rather than to a standard pitch. Several groups in the UK and US run beginners' courses that need no musical experience and no ability to read music.
GentleUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
What you are playing
Britannica describes the gamelan as an orchestra of gongs and tuned metal instruments played with mallets: hanging gongs, the bonang (a set of knobbed kettle gongs that sit flat), metallophones and a wooden xylophone, with a flute, a bowed rebab or voices carrying a sustained melody. The drum, the kendang, leads the ensemble.
Each gamelan is tuned to itself rather than to a standard pitch. There are two main scales, slendro with five roughly equal notes to the octave and pelog with seven unevenly spaced ones; a Javanese double gamelan has both. The Southbank Centre's Javanese bronze gamelan, Kyai Lebdhajiwa, is tuned to slendro and pelog.
Beginners do not need to read music. Naga Mas says no specific musical experience is necessary, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's course needs no musical knowledge or training.
Ways in, and what they cost
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Southbank Centre, London (Gamelan Kyai Lebdhajiwa) | Beginners on Wednesday evenings; intermediate and advanced on Thursdays | Not given in the directory listing |
| Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow | Discover 1: Gamelan, one intensive week, 10am to 4pm, 22 to 26 March 2027, then independent practice; 18 and over | £275 (the page also gives £295 elsewhere; check before booking) |
| Naga Mas gamelan group, Glasgow (past course) | Six Thursday evenings for beginners, autumn 2023; the group rehearses on Thursdays, 7 to 9pm | £60 or what you can afford |
| Nusantara Arts, Buffalo, New York | Intro to Javanese Gamelan, six Sunday evenings, autumn 2026 (now finished); 12 and over | Free |
Naga Mas runs introductory classes from time to time and asks people to join its mailing list to hear about the next one; other groups are worth asking the same.
How to start
- Look up gamelan groups near you in the AGI International Directory of Gamelan Ensembles, which you can filter by country and region.
- Ask about the next beginners' course; groups such as Naga Mas run introductory classes from time to time and keep a mailing list.
- Check the style before you go. Javanese gamelans often include singers; most Balinese ones are percussion only.
Where to go
- AGI: International Directory of Gamelan Ensembles
- Gamelan Kyai Lebdhajiwa, Southbank Centre: directory listing with class times (London) UK
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: Discover 1, Gamelan (Glasgow) UK
We opened these links on 14 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Two ways to plan it.
Plan it yourself Free
The links you need to book it, get there, find somewhere to stay and eat, and see what else there is to do nearby. They are searches for you to run; nothing is saved.
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need to read music to play gamelan?
No. Naga Mas says you do not need to read music, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's gamelan course needs no musical training.
What is the difference between Javanese and Balinese gamelan?
Britannica says Javanese gamelans often include singers, while most Balinese gamelans are percussion only.
Where can I play gamelan in London?
The Southbank Centre's gamelan, Kyai Lebdhajiwa, at the Royal Festival Hall has a regular programme with beginners' classes on Wednesday evenings.
How do I find a gamelan group near me?
The AGI International Directory of Gamelan Ensembles lists groups in 28 countries and can be filtered by country and region.
Where this comes from: Britannica, gamelan; AGI, International Directory of Gamelan Ensembles; AGI, Gamelan Kyai Lebdhajiwa; Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Discover 1: Gamelan - IXP; Naga Mas, Join Us; Naga Mas, Gamelan Beginners Classes; Nusantara Arts, Intro to Javanese Gamelan. Opened 14 November 2026.
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