Angklung A Solution To Prevent Violence In Children

This essay was made in 2010 and has not revised. I made it in order to join GOI Peace competition. I hope this essay inform you well about one of my beloved country heritage in art and culture.

Violence in children now becomes a universal problem in the world. Child abuse and neglect affect children of all ages, races, and incomes. The World Health Organization estimates that 40 million children below the age of 15 suffer from abuse, neglect, require health and social care. The problem occurs in any country such as Indonesia which has 2.81 million cases in 2006 and it’s assumes increase up to 25 million cases. These situations also occur in United States. A 1995 survey in the United States showed that five percent of parents asked admitted to disciplining their children through hitting with an object, kicking, beating, and threatening the child with a knife or gun. …..

The above cases can happen due to exposure from un-educated program in cyberspace and television show that could give negative impact in children’s attitude when they grow up. There are several alternatives to prevent, such as maintaining communication in family, community, and supporting children programs. The last option can be recommended, such as sport and music. A study from Schlaug found that there is a strong correlation between musical exposures with brain. Some music not only influenced brain, but also makes involvement between tune, communication, and team work.  Angklung music could be the choice.

 What is Angklung?

Angklung is an origin Indonesian music instruments made from bamboo. Each instrument consists of three parts. First, the voice tubes that produce intonation. Second, the frame which supports the voice tubes to stand inside the hollow space. Last, the base which supports the frame and the voice tubes.

In the past, angklung were performed as a medium to invite the rice goddess. There are four types of traditional angklung named Baduy, Buncis, Gubrak and Bungko Angklung. They were tritonik or three tones, tetratonic or four tones and pentatonic or five tones angklung. The modern one named Padaeng Angklung was found in 1938. Daeng, the founder, modified the pentatonic into diatonic pitch to reach wider range of melody, so the angklung can  play universal songs such as folklore, country and classical songs.

 How to play?

Angklung can be played without training or rehearsal. With a sheet of musical score displayed in front of the players, the conductor can direct all beginners to play.  Each instrument is designed only for one tone. Therefore, to perform a song, a group of player is needed. One player can hold until four instruments.  By holding the frame and base parts, when the instrument is shaken tone by tone continuously following the musical score, a beautiful song is produced. The soft, pure and natural sounds of the bamboo tubes give a beautiful melody and harmony which creates a peaceful sensation and atmosphere. The rhymes of joyful songs can spontaneously conduct people for dancing.

How angklung give positive impact to human’s character?

Since angklung can only be performed by a group of player in variety of age of players, concentration and teamwork are absolutely needed. There are some meaningful values during playing angklung, such as interaction between players as well as with the conductor, care each other and altogether responsible feeling.

For children, angklung is a good way to build the positive character They are introduced to get in a team in a peace nuance, joyful, sense of art, responsibility and respect each other. These benefits are packs of magical advantage with only play one kind instrument. In the future, when they become parent, it is expected that they will have good character and attitude to maintain relation with other people especially children. At last, this solution will decrease number of violence in children in the world.

Central Cultural Saung Udjo

One best place that introduces angklung is Central Cultural Saung Udjo, located at Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. This is a well known place, where angklung is performed daily by a group of people which mostly children from Saung Udjo’s Angklung team.  Any visitors can directly join with group, playing music or dancing..

Joyful and harmony nuance appears when the visitors and Saung Udjo’s team play angklung together. All of children and guest has a nice and sweet bond while angklung Is performed and it becomes memorable experience. Thereof experience will make guest more care for children and so do them. That is why Saung Udjo can be a good reference as a central cultural that should be visited. With promoting this place by uploading it in internet and joining paper competition it will introduce angklung to the world as a solution to prevent violence in children.