Playing music offers significant benefits for children's development. It supports brain growth, builds character and self-confidence, introduces new concepts, enhances creativity, trains focus, and boosts emotional intelligence. Understanding one's intelligence helps to refine skills, choose a major, select a suitable job, and assist others in finding their path.

Howard Gardner, a psychology expert, identified nine types of intelligence, including:

1.   Logical-Mathematical Intelligence: The ability to analyze situations systematically and argue with reason.

2.   Linguistic Language Intelligence: The ability to process words to write, read, speak, and explain something well.

3.   Visual Spatial Intelligence: The ability to think abstractly, interpret images, design patterns, and describe something.

4.   Kinesthetic Intelligence: Abilities related to physical activity, motoric, physical, and body coordination.

5.   Musical Intelligence: The ability to relate to voice, pitch, rhythm, singing, and mastery of musical instruments.

6.   Interpersonal Intelligence: The ability to interact, understand, and move others.

7.   Intrapersonal Intelligence: The ability to manage oneself, motivate oneself, analyze, and plan well.

8.   Naturalist Intelligence: The ability to interact with nature and the environment, and survive.

9.   Existential Intelligence: Interest and curiosity about life, death, and the meaning of life, including psychological aspects."

At Kebun Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta in Gunungkidul, musical skills are nurtured through activities using the angklung. Trustha guides children in practicing angklung to enhance their musical intelligence, motor coordination, concentration, emotional refinement, social skills, and discipline.

Children here learn that angklung, a traditional bamboo musical instrument, has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity since 2010. Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta and its students showcased the angklung at the International Youth Camp in Wittenberg, Germany, in 2017. Playing the angklung involves more than just theory—it requires hands-on practice. This practice starts with learning the song’s notation, rhythm, and intonation. Next, participants learn how to properly hold and shake the angklung in time with the rhythm. The final step is to synchronize the angklung sounds so that the transitions between notes are smooth and seamless. Although challenging, participants displayed a strong willingness to practice and support each other.

From their angklung practice, the group performed at various events, including the Pepanthan Bendungan GKJ Wonosari New Year celebration, the anniversary and Christmas celebration of SD BOPKRI Wonosari 2, and the Christmas celebration for Christian teachers and employees of educational institutions in the Wonosari district and its surroundings.

This angklung musical breakthrough sparked interest in expanding angklung activities, from children's groups to mixed-age groups collaborating with adults. There may be other parties interested in providing angklung instruments, enabling more participants to join and ensuring the sustainability of angklung traditions. Are you interested in participating? ***

Stube HEMAT Indonesia students performed angklung at International Youth Camp in Wittenberg, Germany (2017)