Opinion: National Music Day builds a more diverse educational ecosystem

By: Danan Murdyantoro

Educational Practitioner, Alumnus of the Ethnomusicology Department at ISI Yogyakarta.

Mother's Word Rosnia- National Music Day on March 9th, in the field of education can be interpreted as building an art education ecosystem to honor sustainable students.

Why is that? Up to now, this potential has been underexplored and overlooked by educators, especially in the field of arts.

In education, the arts taught usually only highlight one culture without introducing other cultures present in Nusantara. Yet, the introduction of artistic potential in education is broad.

In fact, the artistic materials of Indonesia itself will not run out, whether in terms of cultural awareness or its music. A lot of material is available, such as vocal forms, accompaniments, and cultural traditions.

Associated with the youth's soul, which is identical to seeking new things, this should be seized as an opportunity to develop artistic potential.

The simplest example of vocal form. Some areas have specific characteristics that can be the main material in education.

The style of Javanese songs clearly differs from the Madura style. Of course, it is different from the Batak style, and similarly, the vocal style of Sundanese is certainly different from the Nias style, and so on.

Likewise, their cultural traditions, all regions certainly have different characteristics.

A classic reason is due to the limited class hours, which are not proportional to other subjects, so only the surface or theoretical aspects are taught. Yet, the available material is quite abundant.

In terms of material, it requires courage to seek supporting references for the art learning mentioned.

The reluctance of now is no longer the era, especially with the right AI technology that can help. In addition, social media references: YouTube, IG, TikTok, Facebook, and others are already equipped with tutorials.

This is quite helpful, without denying the book reference as the main source.

The main reason is often related to teaching aids, for example, gamelan from Central Java, not all schools have them.

Instead of other traditional musical instruments, such as the Minahasa kolintang, Maluku rebana, Timor's tihar, Toraja's unique keso musical instruments, and others. All these musical instruments are still far from being collected for study in schools.

Reasons for schools, because of prestige and ease of use, schools prefer to use Western musical instruments rather than Indonesian cultural instruments, such as full drum band, guitar, recorder flute, piano and others.

Why don't we prioritize Eastern musical instruments, our traditional musical instruments, Indonesian music? Isn't this worth exploring, introducing, and developing for our students?

Isn't that a concrete form of our personality and the manifestation of Indonesian love.

Our culture will not be claimed by another country if we do not neglect our own culture, and there is already evidence about Reog Ponorogo, when it was claimed by Malaysia, we all actively resisted it.

An education reflection to make us more "culturally aware." We still have a culture worth being proud of, and involving students through education as the vanguard in continuing it.

Creative Guru

The main issue according to the author, teachers still lack exploring the available teaching materials, tending to be limited to the theory only.

It should teach by practicing, so that students are interested in imitating, not the other way around, because of lack of mastery of the practical material, leading students to lose interest in the art subject, thus making the lesson less substantial (meaningful).

A simple traditional song or music, when properly arranged, will actually create a pleasant musical feeling for the students, even making them feel that the class time is too short because they are so engaged in the lesson.

Made of musical instruments mentioned above, such as sarunai, kolintang, rebana, tihar, gamelan, keso-keso, and others.

A full creative demand from the art education teacher, so that art becomes an idol and enlightens the students' minds, because the lessons penetrate their souls more deeply.

This section seems to have received little attention. It's time to create music that delights students, rather than the opposite, with boring materials.

That is done with the hope of making students more fresh, enthusiastic in learning, and can serve as an ice breaker to overcome the monotony of receiving lesson materials, and certainly more feel the diversity. Happy National Music Day. (*)

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