MUSICAL youngsters in Oxfordshire are being invited to try out a new style of orchestra all the way from South Asia.

Headington resident Isabelle Carré is calling on more people to join in Gamelan after setting classes throughout Oxford.

Gamelan is a bronze percussion orchestra of gongs and metallophones originally created on the island of Java in Indonesia.

Ms Carré, who has taught the music in Oxford for more than 10 years, first discovered Gamelan when she studied music at the University of York during the eighties.

The freelance flute player said: "What appeals to people immediately when they first start out as beginners is the team work element because you are playing all the different elements together.

"For the sessions, I will play the music so the children can copy and work out what is going on with the melody. The instruments can build up an incredible resonance."

The music is played through keyed instruments which create the main melody, as well as gongs and chimes that punctuate important notes of the music.

For more than a decade, the 53-year-old has been running sessions at St Andrew's Primary School in Headington - the only school in the county to have its own Gamelan set.

About 20 pupils attend lunchtime clubs each week, while earlier this month the group were selected to perform at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham.

As part of their performance they played two Javanese pieces, and one they composed themselves called Elephants.

The group also put on a show for pupils, teachers and parents at the school's annual concert.

Ms Carré said: "It was a lovely day.

"At St Andrew's there is quite a big group and I have got about half the year four class signed up for it.

"If people want to get involved the best way is to visit the website. There are many different groups for both children and adults."

When Ms Carré started out playing Gamelan the set of instruments in York was just one of two in the country - the other was kept in the Indonesian Embassy in London.

Nowadays though there are believed to be more than 200 sets across the country.

Because the instruments are heavy and hard to move, players often have to travel far for classes - with students from as far afield as Cornwall and South Wales travelling to Oxford to play.

On Tuesday Ms Carré held an open session in Headington for children just starting their summer holidays, and is planning to run similar sessions in September.

For more information on Gamelan and to find your nearest class go to gamelanoxford.co.uk.