Liputan Koran Radar - 31 Oktober 2012 "Pendidikan Musik Sekolah Umum Dinilai Salah Arah"

Michael Gunadi Widjaja:

"PENDIDIKAN MUSIK SEKOLAH UMUM

DINILAI SALAH ARAH"

Liputan Koran Radar, Jawa Tengah - 31 Oktober 2012

 

Arah pendidikan musik di sekolah umum, baik Sekolah Dasar (SD), Sekolah Menengah Pertama (SMP),  Sekolah Menegah Atas (SMA), menurut praktisi musik Kota Tegal, Michael Gunadi Widjaja, dinilai salah arah. Seharusnya yang ditampilkan pada tiap siswa bentuk apresiasi, bukan ketrampilan seni bermain.

"Siswa dipersilahkan menyaksikan bentuk musik bermutu. Tidak sebaliknya, diajarkan ketrampilan seni bermain. Pendidikan musik semacam ini berlaku di semua tingkatan di sekolah umum", tandasnya. "Di sisi guru yang diberi tugas mengajar musik, boleh jadi belum tahu apakah itu ansambel musik, tentang harmoni, serta teknik bermain instrumen baik dan benar."

Namun Gunadi menyadari jumlah guru yang mumpuni bidang seni musik jumlahnya sangat sedikit. "Keterbatasan itu sebenarnya dapat diatasi dengan mengadakan seminar, pesertanya guru yang mengampu bidang studi seni musik. Sehingga akan bertambah pengetahuannya." Sebelum itu pernah diadakan seminar tentang musik, mengundang master musik dari Jakarta, imbuhnya.

Soal kemajuan teknologi yang memungkinkan anak-anak mudah mengakses bermacam jenis musik, ucap seniman musik yang selama ini kerap tampil dalam berbagai event, seharusnya teknologi dapat mendukung pembelajaran seni musik. Selain itu, teknologi merupakan sarana atau wadah pengungkapan ekspresi.

Ketika ditanyakan tentang sedikitnya siswa mempelajari musik di sekolah, dia pun mengungkapkan, hal tersebut karena terjadi kesalahan cara pandang pendidikan selama ini. "Kalau ingin jadi orang sukses, pelajaran matematika dan bahasa Inggris nilainya harus bagus. Untuk pendidikan humaniora seperti pendidikan musik dan seni lain dianggap tidak penting. Penanaman semacam itu berakibat kurangnya minat pada bidang lain.", paparnya.

Sementara masing-masing anak memiliki bakat dan kemampuan berbeda. Namun yang terjadi justru penyeragaman cara pandang. Hal ini terjadi hampir di semua aspek kehidupan. Sedang pendidikan humaniora yang mengasah kepekaan anak, sehingga menjadi pribadi mandiri, seakan terabaikan.

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Liputan Koran Radar, 31 Oktober 2012 "Shining Stars - Prestasi Internasional Berhasil Terukir"

SHINING STAR ENRICHMENT CENTRE

"PRESTASI INTERNASIONAL 

BERHASIL TERUKIR"

Liputan Koran Radar, 31 Oktober 2012 (hal. 20)

Di minggu terakhir Oktober 2012, prestasi dalam lingkup internasional berhasil diraih siswa-siswi Shining Star Tegal. Mereka berhasil mengikuti sebuah konser berskala internasional dan dinyatakan lulus ujian berskala internasional. Sebagai sebuah lembaga pengembangan diri, Shining Star Tegal telah mampu berbicara pada tingkat pergaulan antarbangsa.

Humas Shining Star Tegal - Vina Ika Haspriani mengatakan, prestasi internasional tersebut merupakan wujud nyata kiprah Shining Star Tegal dalam memajukan pendidikan dan pengembangan pribadi di Tegal. Dalam hal ini melalui jalur musik, yakni Musik Klasik, dengan pusat perhatian pada pendidikan musik piano.

Ujian internasional yang diikuti siswa-siswi Shining Star Tegal adalah Piano Grade Examination yang diselenggarakan Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (ABRSM), London, Inggris.

"Ujian ABRSM adalah salah satu yang diakui dan dipakai sebagai acuan pendidikan musik di seluruh dunia", tandas Vina."Siswa-siswi yang lulus ujian tahun ini adalah Eka Yuni Laheza, Kimberly Lvina, Agatha Calysta Jasmine, Michael Herijanto, dan Sakinah 'Tasya' Mazidah. Ujian berlangsung di Hotel Intercontinental, Jakarta, yang meliputi teori musik dan praktik." lanjutnya.

Secara intensif mereka dibimbing oleh Jelia Megawati Heru M.Mus.Edu, seorang music educator, alumnus Jerman. Pengumuman ujian beberapa hari yang lalu, menyebutkan bahwa siswa-siswi tersebut telah lulus dengan hasil Distinction dan Merit. Sebuah hasil yang patut dibanggakan.

KONSER INTERNASIONAL

Setelah ujian berlangsung dan sembari menunggu hari-hari pengumuman, siswa-siswi Shining Star Tegal mengikuti konser bertaraf internasional. Konser "Pianolicious Moment", directed by Jelia Megawati Heru, M.Mus.Edu.

Konser berlangsung di ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA, yakni pusat kebudayaan Italia di kawasan Menteng, Jakarta. Lebih lanjut Vina menjelaskan, Walikota Tegal - Ikmal Jaya, SE. Ak. juga mengemukakan rasa bangganya terhadap keikutsertaan anak-anak Tegal dalam sebuah konser berskala internasional, juga penghargaan terhadap upaya Jelia Megawati Heru dalam mengembangkan pendidikan musik bagi anak-anak di Tegal. Pak Ikmal Jaya juga mengatakan bahwa konser ini sekaligus sebagai 'anjangsana budaya' antara Tegal dan pusat kebudayaan Italia.

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UKRAINIAN BELL CAROL for two pianos, eight hands

"UKRAINIAN BELL CAROL"
(for 2 pianos 8 hands)
Rearr. Jelia Megawati Heru

Listen "Ukrainian Bell Carol" for 2 pianos, 8 hands HERE
 

Listen "Ukrainian Bell Carol" in youtube

BRIEF HISTORY

Ukrainian Bell Carol is written based on Ukrainian folk song, 

The melody was created for choir in 1916 by Ukrainian composer 

Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921) and titled "Shchedryk", means "bountiful."
adapted by Peter J. Wilhousky as a "Carol of the Bells" 

Based on an old Ukrainian folk song, 

the original lyrics describes the swallow flying 

into a household to proclaim the plentiful year that the family will have. 

The swallow is a herald of spring coming, possibly of pre-Christian origins. 

The folk melody was sung in many Ukrainian villages 

on Jan. 13 – New Year's Eve on the Julian calendar 

– usually by adolescent girls going house to house in celebration of the new year.

The title chosen by him "Carol of the Bells" 

was harmonious with the old Slavic legend 

that at midnight the evening Jesus was born 

all the bells on earth started to sound of their own accord in his honor. 

Since then the song has become a popular Christmas tune 

especially in the US and Canada where it is also known as "Ukrainian Carol"

PIECE ANALYSIS

Leontovych originally created the piece as an assignment for a harmony course.

He was taking by correspondence to demonstrate the use of a four-note known as ostinato. The ostinato motif, a repeated four-note pattern within the range of a minor third, is thought to be of prehistoric origins. a New Year's chant known in Ukrainian as "Shchedryk" [the Generous One]. 

The original traditional Ukrainian text used a device, known as hemiola, in the rhythm (alternating the accents within each measure from 3/4 to 6/8 and back again). 

This device however is lost in the English translations and rarely is used in non-Ukrainian or instrumental performances.The original work was intended to be sung a cappella by mixed four-voice choir. 

Two other settings of the composition were also created by Leontovych: one for women's choir (unaccompanied) and another for children's choir with piano accompaniment. These are rarely performed or recorded. 

The choral work Shchedryk was first performed by students at Kiev University in December 1916. When American choir director and arranger Peter Wilhousky (1902-1978) heard Leontovich's choral work, it reminded him of bells; so he wrote new lyrics to convey that imagery for his choir. 

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Vivaldi "Rain of Tears" for Guitar Piano Duo

 Vivaldi's "RAIN OF TEARS"

Arrangement for Guitar Piano Duo

by Michael Gunadi Widjaja & Jelia Megawati Heru

RAIN OF TEARS

Standing in the rain,
standing all afraid,
who knows how to cure all my pain?

I drop these tears because I fear,
even though this rain is trying to make me clear,
for this moment is silent and now I hear,
the pain that managed to last all this year.

You were not there to see my pain.
I will never see love quite the same.
The rain drops to the ground,
like tears from my heart falling without a sound.

My eyes still shine bright,
but I still have this will to fight,
even to this great height.

My Love...
If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again 

"RAIN of TEARS" 

Sento in seno ch'in pioggia di lagrime 

(I feel within a rain of tears)
from: Tieteberga and Il Giustino
by Antonio Vivaldi
Rearr. by Jelia Megawati Heru & Michael Gunadi Widjaja

 Hear Vivaldi "Rain of Tears" HERE 

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"Kemben" - The Exotic Indonesian Piano Composition

"KEMBEN" 

THE EXOTIC INDONESIAN PIANO COMPOSITION

by: Michael Gunadi Widjaja

Kemben becomes the central theme of this composition. 

In other words, it is about the sensuality of woman. 

The sensual part, but always covered. 

As a matter of composition, this composition develops an affection of women sexual charm.

The composition consists of three parts:
• Opening
• Keroncong romance
• Dangdut hot

The opening used the pentatonic. The concept is a “Manunggaling Kawula Gusti” or “Mandala” - from a small universe evolved into a more complex conception of the valuable (adiluhung). Theme of primo 1 is repeated with varied rhythmic, that enriched by secondo 1, primo 2, and secondo 2. Octave parallels are intended to give the impression of a theatrical, that: this is a veil of life - women, with their charm of sexual.

The second part - Keroncong Romance, is about the nature of women. Timid creatures, spoiled, soft, and gentle. The impression is woman who wears kemben, walking apace, squinting eyes, a faint smile, and her hair is slightly damp.

The third part - Hot Dang Dut, describes woman as timid creatures, spoiled, soft, smooth, but in the sublime way it can be wild in lust and sexual dreams. That is why in this section is used a "deconstructive" landscape. Because when she is in lust and wild sexually, there’s no more norm, no more rules - only a single and static harmony to indicate a state of "trance" in crisis lust. 

In Javanese tradition music composition, there’s typical this kind of harmony in DOLALAK of Banyumas, Sintren of Tegal, and Jathilan of Solo. Impressions in this section are: woman with kemben, seated, with her hands holding the hair, exposing a hairy armpit as a reflection of the wild lust. Then the women were swaying in a trance state, covered with fragrant sandalwood, while the kemben sags.

Hear "KEMBEN" HERE
 

Get the score HERE

"KEMBEN"

(for two pianos, eight hands)

by: Michael Gunadi Widjaja

Performed by: Golden Fingers Piano Ensemble

Pianolicious Moment @ Istituto Italiano, October 7th, 2012

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Medley Indonesian Folk Songs for Piano Ensembles

Medley Indonesian Folk Songs
"Soleram - Warung Podjok - Yamko Rambe Yamko"
(for two pianos, eight hands)
Arr. Michael Gunadi Widjaja

This Medley is arranged for Golden Fingers Piano Ensembles

in soft opening Taman Budaya Tegal, Central Java

ABOUT GOLDEN FINGERS PIANO ENSEMBLES

Golden Fingers Piano Ensembles is directed by Jelia Megawati Heru.

She created event that showcased the young teachers 

that she developed to participate in her music program. 

The Golden Fingers is not just a usual piano ensembles group, 

but a pilot project to implement the concept of “Music from Passion”. 

Jelia believes that the piano ensemble is not only about playing piano together, 

but it is an actual effort to liven up the music.  

Golden Fingers Piano Ensembles was invited by 

the Tegal Council of Arts on March 4th, 2012 at Taman Budaya Tegal, Central Java 

– as the soft opening for the most representative cultural arena theater of the city 

with capacity of 1000 seats, professional lighting, and stage. 

Read Golden Fingers Piano Ensembles Reportage

on KAWAI Newsletter No. 29, 2012 (distributed all over the world):

http://piano-ensembles.blogspot.com/2012/06/golden-fingers-kawai-newsletter-no-29.html

Listen "Medley Indonesian Folk Songs" HERE 

Get the score HERE

MEDLEY INDONESIAN FOLK SONGS

"Soleram - Warung Podjok - Ramko Rambe Yamko"
(for 2 pianos, 8 hands)

Arr. Michael Gunadi Widjaja

Pianolicious Moment @ Istituto Italiano, October 7th, 2012

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Jelia's Twinkle - Twinkle Little Stars ala Indonesia

  "JELIA's TWINKLE"
(for two pianos, eight hands)
by Michael Gunadi Widjaja

The TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR

is one of the most famous songs for many decades.

Its origin is a lullaby. A Nursery song with the lyric of old English poem, 

that created by Jane Taylor.

COMPOSITORICAL NOTES

(from Mr. Michael Gunadi Widjaja)

The melody of this piece is stepping in common interval. 

So children can relatively easy to sing out this piece. 

The harmony structure seems like giving some kind of “open space” to being explored. 

This may be one cause of why the twinkles composed in many different forms of music, include as a lesson song.

Jelia asked me to make an attractive and unique arrangement 

for this twinkle that contains love, passion, 

and true friendship among her Suzuki colleagues. 

So I choose a popular music format for theme structure with kind of dissonant chordal. 

It expresses the meaning that friendship is not always going to be smooth.

In the second movement, 

I used one of the early Jazz form “RAGTIME” 

as a manifestation of dynamic relation.

In Jazz someone can share the musical passion 

to each other in jam session, just like friendship.

In the third movement, there is Dang Dut. 

Focused on the fact that it may contain many tradition elements. 

As if to remind that friendship never be loose from its cultural root. 

In the other side, Dang Dut is sexy, erotic, and passionate. 

In other words, this is Jelia’s Twinkle, 

 that has a lot of side – 

still has the virtuosity in true friendship, 

but also very passionate and exciting.

I call it a composition, even the theme is not mine.

Format: Piano Ensembles - 2 pianos, 8 hands 

Listen "Jelia's Twinkle" HERE  
 

Get the music score HERE

"JELIA's TWINKLE"

(for 2 pianos, 8 hands)

by Michael Gunadi Widjaja

Pianolicious Moment @ Istituto Italiano, October 6th, 2012

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ANGRY BIRDS Theme for piano four hands

ANGRY BIRDS THEME

(for one piano four hands)

Arr. by Michael Gunadi Widjaja

The re-arrangement of Angry Birds Theme. It's a cut off.

Because the theme only appears on phrases, 
that's essential and represents character of the piece.

There's some funny technique, 
like damper the piano strings and plucking the piano strings.

This work is for Jelia's Pianolicious Moment Concert on October 7th, 2012.

Something new for what she did to create attractive and innovative piano moments. 

Listen "Angry Birds Theme" for 1 piano 4 hands HERE
 

ANGRY BIRDS THEME

for one piano, four hands

Rearr. Michael Gunadi Widjaja 

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ANGRY BIRDS Origami - Paper Craft

ANGRY BIRDS 

Origami - Paper Craft

For The Angry Birds Fans,

Here's some Angry Birds Paper Craft.

You just have to print it, cut it, fold it, and stick it with glue!

Enjoy & Happy origami! Loving is sharing...

 

by: Little Plastic Man

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Liputan Reportase Konser Pianolicious Moment

LIPUTAN REPORTASE 

KONSER PIANOLICIOUS MOMENT

Oleh: Michael Gunadi Widjaja

 Photo by: Julian Abraham Marantika

Konser PIANOLICIOUS MOMENT telah berlangsung pada hari Minggu, 7 oktober di ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA, pusat kebudayaan Italia, Menteng, Jakarta.

Konser tersebut sangat berbeda dengan konser piano kebanyakan. Pianolicious Moment adalah konser yang sekaligus proyek edukasi dari Jelia Megawati Heru, M.Mus.Edu - seorang music educator alumnus Jerman.

Konser ini menampilkan siswa beginner, intermediate, advanced, dan bahkan guru piano professional. Semuanya dibawah educational guidance dari Jelia.

Banyak semburat permenungan yang sangat menarik dari konser ini. Permenungan untuk memaknai kembali dan bahkan me-redefinisi musik Klasik dan musik piano. Sekaligus tentu memetik hikmah bagi kehidupan kita. Repertoire yang dipilih Jelia untuk siswanya tergolong unik. Berdasarkan realita pada lingkup pendidikan, tidak semua siswa pas diberi asupan musik piano yang klasik baku. Banyak siswa yang karena latar belakang kultural keluarganya menjadi sangat teralienasi dengan musik piano klasik baku. Ataupun juga siswa-siswa yang "berkebutuhan khusus" tentu akan sangat menderita jika di-build dengan asupan musik piano yang sangat classical.

Dengan reputasi dan kepiawaiannya sebagai pianis dan music educator, Jelia mengatasi realita dengan konsep yang patut diacungi jempol. Jelia memilih repertoire dari genre yang sangat beragam dan juga format PIANO ENSEMBLES. Tampillah karya seperti "Balloon Pop Polka" dari Ruth Ellinger yang membuat siswa dan audience sangat enjoy dan fun karena secara interaktif menyertakan 12 balon yang adalah icon bagi keceriaan dunia anak. Juga ensemble untuk karya Martha Mier "Agent 003", bahkan sampai lagu "Payphone" dari Maroon 5. 

Kevin Olson "Out...Standing" (for 1 piano 6 hands)

 performed by: Jelia Megawati Heru, Mery Kasiman & Yoseph Sitompul

Nampaknya Jelia melakukan re-definisi musik Klasik dan musik piano. Musik Klasik piano tidak lagi tampil secara aristokrat dan kaku, melainkan diserap intisarinya yakni sebagai budaya literer. Lagunya boleh menyesuaikan kebutuhan siswa namun intisari klasik, yakni budaya literer tetap dipertahankan oleh Jelia.

Bagi siswa yg sudah berprofesi sebagai guru, Jelia membuat konser ini sebagai ajang aktualisasi diri mereka sekaligus enrichment skill and musicality. Ada The Golden Fingers Piano Ensembles yang adalah proyek edukatif Jelia. Mereka membawakan Pop, Keroncong dan bahkan Dang dut dalam format musik piano. 

 Golden Fingers Piano Ensemble

"Medley Indonesian Folk Songs"

Soleram - Warung Podjok - Yamko Rambe Yamko
(for 2 pianos, 8 hands)

Juga penampilan Jazz piano ensemble dari Mery Kasiman dan Yoseph Sitompul - yang meskipun Jazz tetap mempertahankan budaya literer dan high level technique dari inspirasi musik Klasik. Musik kontemporer dan aransemen musik baru dari Michael Gunadi pun tak luput dieksplorasi. 

Yoseph Sitompul & Jelia Megawati Heru

Mike Cornick "Blue Piano Duets" 
(for 1 piano, 4 hands) 

Bahkan ada penampilan Jelia bersama para guru dari Suzuki Piano School yang membawakan angin baru bagi The Suzuki essence material yakni Twinkle Twinkle Little Star yang sudah diolah oleh Michael Gunadi menjadi "Jelia's Twinkle" dalam genre traditional, Ragtime, dan Dang Dut.

Michael Gunadi Widjaja

"Jelia's Twinkle" (for 2 pianos, 8 hands)

Pianolicious Moment setidaknya sudah meletakkan dasar pemahaman bahwa musik piano ternyata sangat beragam dan apapun ragamnya sejauh dalam koridor teknik dan musikalitas yang pas akan sangat passionate, sebagaimana kehidupan itu sendiri.

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