Nina Sultan

MUSIC

I first experienced Balinese Gamelan when I was in college. I attended Lawrence University up in Appleton Wisconsin which is known for it’s conservatory school for music. I was incredibly priviledged to attend that school because the musical culture there was extremely diverse and creative as they offered opportunities to learn world music as well. I was a classical clarinetist at the time and burnt out with the classical and rigid westernized method of learning and playing music. In addition, I really struggled with practicing by myself and often did not feel the warmth of the musical community that I craved in practicing in isolation. I was also realizing that I learned and experienced music the best through repeated listening and play backs. My clarinet professor at the time recommended that I join the school’s Balinese Gamelan ensemble, Gamelan Cahaya Asri. I remember after going to my first rehearsal, I was hooked. My teacher was warm, welcoming, and very patient as well as were my fellow Gamelan mates. I felt that I finally found a community of people who enjoyed the same type of learning and experiencing music in the way that I did. When I graduated from college, I was really sad to have lost that part of my life and overjoyed when a friend of mine referred me to Dharma Swara and now after a 5 year Gamlean haitus, I am back in the game. 

Outside of Gamelan, I am a Creative Arts Therapist and work with both cis and lgbtqia+ adults and teens in my virtual private practice in Brooklyn, Playful Pigment Psychotherapy.