Suropati park music club gets MURI award

The Jakarta Post | Sun, 05/09/2010 10:48 AM

Jaya Suprana from the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) on Saturday presented a certificate to the Taman Suropati Chamber, a music community with a special focus on Indonesian national and folk songs, for being “the first park-music community in Indonesia”.

“Musicians playing music at parks are common throughout the world. But I’ve never seen a community emerging and growing in a park like this,” Jaya said during a ceremony in the park that was attended by Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.

Ages Dwi Harso, head of the Taman Suropati Chamber, said he hoped the award would stimulate all members to develop their creativity.

“This award also proves that our efforts are good and need to be expanded further,” he said, referring to the activities of his group, which was established in 2007.

Ages added that the group’s consistency in playing Indonesian national and folk songs was aimed at reviving activities in schools that used to be common in the past.

“These songs can contribute to character building among the youth. Today, however, many children don’t know these songs,” he said.

Ages hoped his chamber could be a pilot project for similar music communities in other parks throughout the city.

The group currently has around 120 members, with 50 to 60 active members rehearsing every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the park. The members come from various backgrounds, with children and teenagers making up 80 percent of the group.

Kirana Michiko Irwanda, a third grader at Az-Zahra Islamic Elementary School in West Jakarta said that learning music in the park was fun. “I also love playing music here because the park is cool,” said Michiko, who joined the chamber in July last year.

“It has a special atmosphere, different from the ambience at other music schools,” said Michiko’s mother, Yenny Setianza, who, along with Setiadara Don, Michiko’s grandmother, is also a member.

Yenny added the long rehearsals and informal atmosphere enabled members to interact intensively.

“We feel a kindred spirit with fellow members,” she said.

Yenny said members paid Rp 150,000 per month, which she said was much cheaper than monthly fees at other music schools. (lnd)