In a Gamelan workshop, participants will explore the sounds and playing techniques of all the different instruments in the ensemble. The group will learn to play a traditional piece of Balinese music and learn about the background cultural context of the music and instruments.

Gamelan workshops come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and one of the strengths of the music is that the same basic format can be adapted to suit the size and ability of any group. A workshop can be squeezed into a 15 minute slot at an open day or extended to a couple of hours depending on circumstance. A typical school workshop usually lasts for a single lesson, and the flexibility of the structure will allow for a more able group to be stretched while a less able group can focus on mastering the simpler musical elements before moving on.