Bang on a Gong is a community music program that uses the instruments of Oberlin’s Javanese gamelan to provide an accessible, creative, and inclusive musical experience that helps address educational inequities and access to the arts. The project celebrates the power of collective musicking while actively creating new musical expressions and communities.
Designed and directed Bang on a Gong, a community music project, Fall 2017-Spring 2020.
Mission Statement
- Bang on a Gong builds community and increases equitable access to the arts by providing collaborative, creative, and inclusive music-making opportunities for kids using gongs.
Partners
- Fall 2017-Spring 2019 we partnered with the Learning Zone, an afterschool program for K-7th grade at the Salvation Army Lorain Corps.
- Spring 2020: planned to partner with youth program at El Centro, Lorain, but canceled due to pandemic.
Outcomes
- Worked with over 25 kids, K-7th grade over a period of 2 years.
- Kids participated in 5 public performances (2 co-presented with OC gamelan) and 2 for parents.
Student Collaboration
- Since its inception, the program has involved 14 Oberlin College Student Facilitators, who received training either as part of a community-engagement course or as paid student assistants.
Program
- 1hr/week engagement with kids for duration of program: 45 direct hours of engagement
- 2hr/week planning, set-up, reflection with whole team.
- Meetings with community partners (21hrs), administration of program, including planning (@90 hours), travel (20hrs).
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