ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to identify students’ reactions to experimental counter rhythmic and melodic methods for the introduction of music arrangements in angklung ensembles at the Binatama Health Vocational Schools in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The study uses a qualitative research method to describe the students’ reactions. The subjects involved a teacher and tenth grade students at Binatama Health Vocational School. It was found that the introduction of counter rhythmic and counter melodic methods could make it easier for the students to understand music arrangements. The theories learnt after using the counter rhythmic and counter melodic methods include understanding the arrangement itself, elements of the arrangement such as the main melody or the main rhythm, the adherent melody or rhythm, dynamics of sound including expression and tempo, and even the meaning of the songs. Students also like to play angklung without consciously playing parts of the music arrangement.
