MAKING MUSIC FOR COMMUNITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY: REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES AND PARTICIPATION FRAMEWORKS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Abstract

This article examines participatory community music practices across Southeast Asia, highlighting how culturally embedded musical initiatives build bridges between diverse communities, generations, and identities. Drawing on a qualitative, practitioner-informed comparative case study of twelve initiatives across all ten ASEAN countries, this article situates contemporary community music practices within a 21st-century Southeast Asian socio-cultural landscape. Grounded in the authorís dual role as a scholar-practitioner, the study integrates perspectives from ethnomusicology, music education, and community development. A series of in-depth case studies, from creative placemaking in urban Bangkok to peacebuilding programmes in Thailandís conflict-affected southern provinces, and youth-led projects spanning Myanmar to Brunei, demonstrates how participatory music-making enriches intercultural dialogue, psychosocial healing, and social cohesion. Local pedagogies rooted in oral traditions and regional musical practices support adaptive learning and cultural continuity, positioning music as both a tool for heritage preservation and a catalyst for social innovation. A cross-case thematic analysis reveals shared principles and recurring challenges, offering insights into inclusive and sustainable community music models. Ultimately, the findings highlight the contribution to theorising a Southeast Asian framework of participatory music grounded in relationality, cultural continuity, and collective resilience.