All activities / Music at the Source / Ubud
Music at the Source in UbudID
Bali's creative and cultural heart, set among rice terraces and river gorges inland from the coast — the primary base for photography expeditions, yoga immersions, and cooking schools.
Why here
Gamelan is Bali's communal music — every village has an ensemble, and in Ubud, the cultural capital, the tradition is most accessible to outsiders. ARMA (Agung Rai Museum of Art) runs gamelan workshops in a setting of rice terraces and temple architecture. Performances at Puri Saren (the Royal Palace) and various temples are frequent, and the distinction between performer and audience is deliberately thin.
Best months
April through October is the dry season and most comfortable for outdoor performances and workshop settings. Nyepi (Balinese New Year, March) is a day of complete silence — a unique and moving experience, though the city shuts down. The wet season (November–March) is hot and humid with afternoon rain, but indoor workshops continue uninterrupted. Temple ceremonies and gamelan performances occur year-round on the Balinese calendar.
Getting there & around
Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar receives direct flights from major Asian hubs and Australia. Ubud is 1.5 hours north by car or hired driver — no public transport link. Within Ubud, walking is sufficient for most destinations. Accommodation ranges from budget homestays (often including breakfast and cultural programming) to luxury private villas.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate
Schools & guides (2)
ARMA – Agung Rai Museum of Art
SchoolThe Agung Rai Museum of Art is Ubud's most important cultural institution, set across four rice-terrace pavilions. ARMA's two-hour gamelan workshops introduce visitors to the history of the instrument ensemble, the role of gamelan in village ceremony and temple ritual, and hands-on playing of a short traditional piece under the guidance of master musicians. Also offers Balinese dance and painting workshops.
Ubud Music Workshop
SchoolA community-based music workshop in Ubud offering small-group instruction in traditional Balinese gamelan and kebyar percussion for visitors with no prior experience. Sessions are taught by local musicians in a village compound setting, providing access to the social context of gamelan — its role in temple ceremonies, community events, and the ceremonial calendar — alongside the playing itself.