(Photograph) - A gamelan is a large Indonesian percussion system, consisting mainly of giant tuned gongs and metallophones. I took eight Year 10 music students, with autism and other special needs, to a gamelan music-making workshop at UCE Birmingham Conservatoire. It was designed to help them learn about a different style of music and broaden their knowledge of other cultures.
A musician taught us about the gamelan and Indonesian culture. The pupils then took turns playing simple sequences on the different instruments.
It was a terrific experience - like being inside a gigantic music box. The children loved it. I will definitely be taking a Year 10 group next year.
Stephen Panter
The Corley Centre, Warwickshire
