Gamelan

Gamelan is a musical ensemble featuring bronze gongs, cymbals, other metallophones and drums.

The Horniman has the only Balinese Gamelan angklung in London. Create interlocking melodic and rhythmic patterns as a class to produce a uniquely rich sound. These sessions encourage classes to work together as each pupil produces part of the whole sound.

No previous musical experience is necessary. Ideal for classes of 15 to 30 pupils.

Sessions are with Andy Channing, the founder and artistic director of the professional Gamelan group Lila Cita.

The Horniman is an Arts Award Supporter and Artsmark Partner.

Our Gamelan sessions can be put towards part A of your group’s Discover award, parts A and C of their Explore award, or part A of their Bronze award.

Find out more about Arts Award and Artsmark 

The Gamelan session was great for kinesthetic learners, also for students’ teamwork and for listening to each other. Year 6 Teacher

Please note that our Natural History Gallery  is now closed as part of a major 2 year redevelopment, Nature + Love. The rest of our Galleries, displays and Gardens will be open as usual, with plenty across the site to support your topic (including our Music and World Galleries). Our schools workshops are unaffected.

We will be opening a new, free temporary exhibition about the natural world, animals and their habitats, in September 2024.

Resources

Workshop information

How to book

Booking a taught session includes a welcome briefing on arrival, timed access to a lunch space, cloakroom facilities and access to toilets for the exclusive use of school groups.

Contact us to make a booking:
schools@horniman.ac.uk
020 8291 8686

When you contact us please have ready:

– the name of the taught session you would like to book or topic you are studying,

-1st/2nd/3rd choice of date and preferred session time,

– the number of pupils and adults attending.

Costs

Entrance to the Horniman Museum and Gardens is free of charge. Taught sessions and access to some exhibitions are charged for. We invoice after your visit.

The following charges apply:

£127 ex VAT (£152.40 inc. VAT) for up to 30 pupils

We offer a bursary scheme for schools that meet a set criteria.

Planning your visit

See the School Trips page for other essential information including our risk assessment.

We are open from 10am-5.30pm, 7 days a week. Entrance to the Museum and Gardens is free of charge but must be booked in advance by emailing schools@horniman.ac.uk.

We offer reduced educational rates for our Aquarium, Butterfly House, and Temporary exhibition. See the School Trips page for further information.

Charges apply to all children aged 3 years and over, and all accompanying teachers and adults, unless they are specific 1:1 carers.