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MUSEUMS are often associated with quiet spaces and collections of objects meant only for viewing. However, the World Music Museum at Jatim Park 3 in Batu City, East Java, offers a different concept. Here, visitors do not merely view collections of musical instruments from Indonesia and around the world; they also have the opportunity to interact directly with a number of instruments.
Jatim Park 3 has become a favorite destination for both domestic and international tourists. This family-oriented educational theme park offers a variety of attractions, ranging from a dinosaur-themed area to a world-class music museum. The World Music Museum is a standout attraction, showcasing a global collection of musical instruments through an interactive concept.
At the museum, visitors can view instrument collections from Indonesia and various other countries while also having the chance to interact directly with several instruments. The World Music Museum houses a special collection: a drum set belonging to Terry Bozzio, an American drummer. This drum set is the only one of its kind in Indonesia and the second in Asia; visitors can view and take photos with it.
The interactive concept is continuously developed to bring the museum closer to the public, especially children and the younger generation. The ground floor features *gamelan* and traditional instruments from around the world, which visitors can interact with and play.
The World Music Museum spans three floors, housing instrument collections from various countries and eras. The ground floor displays traditional instruments from Indonesia, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and other regions.
The second floor focuses on music genres, musicians, and memorabilia. Visitors can find collections related to The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Freddie Mercury, as well as wax figures of V (from BTS) and PSY in the K-Pop zone. The Dangdut zone offers a free karaoke experience. A “Vinyl Experience” concept allows visitors to enjoy music using turntables and original vinyl records from the 1940s to the 1960s, offering a taste of the analog listening experience that predated the streaming era.
The third floor showcases a collection of classical and vintage musical instruments from various eras. A French-made Polyphon from 1857 stands out as one of the oldest items in the collection, marking a significant milestone in the history of music playback devices. Visitors can still play some of the classic instruments, such as the piano. The area also houses dozens of vintage radios spanning the 1920s to the 1990s.
With its interactive concept, the World Music Museum serves as an excellent choice for a family-friendly educational outing within the Jatim Park 3 complex. Visitors can introduce children to various genres of music while gaining hands-on experience playing the available instruments. This interactive approach aligns with shifting tourist preferences—particularly among the younger generation, who tend to seek immersive experiences rather than just sightseeing destinations.
Visitors can explore the differences in shape, materials, playing techniques, and sonic characteristics across various instruments, with many available for hands-on play. These interactive features offer a more comprehensive experience, allowing visitors to engage with music not merely through visual observation and information, but also through sound, rhythm, and direct practice.
Alongside its global music collection, the museum is actively expanding its holdings of music from the Indonesian archipelago, striving to better showcase the nation’s rich musical heritage. There remain many traditional Indonesian instruments—including those from East Java—that have yet to be acquired or documented for the collection. There is still much of Indonesia left to explore. A prime example from East Java is the gamelan music of Malang, which possesses a unique character and forms part of the region’s cultural wealth.
The effort to gather traditional musical instruments goes beyond merely expanding a collection; it is also an act of cultural preservation and documentation, ensuring these instruments remain known to future generations. The same applies to instruments from other countries; many remain difficult to locate and have yet to be acquired for the collection.
The current collection is estimated to represent only about 70–80% of the intended scope of global musical heritage the museum aims to showcase. In addition to the items currently on display, the museum holds another 300–400 pieces in storage that have not yet been exhibited.
The museum serves as a learning space. The World Music Museum’s collection has been assembled gradually through purchases and searches across various regions. This process is not always easy, as certain traditional instruments are becoming increasingly scarce in their places of origin.
Some instruments also face the risk of disappearing as the traditions surrounding their performance fall out of practice. Consequently, the museum functions not merely as a repository, but also as a space for cultural documentation. [traveltext.id]
