Welcome to the 5th volume of Pulse. We are delighted to announce that we are now officially hosted by Thaijo (Thai Journals Online), joining a prestigious network of academic publications that promote accessibility and scholarly exchange within the Thai academic community and beyond.

We start off this collection with the composer Scott Wilson who contemplates his over 20 years of experience making music in, around, and with the people of Asia through a collection of anecdotes and reflections. He advocates for the importance of openness—particularly to diverse methods of working, understanding, and learning—and underscores the immense value of collaboration.

Natsarun Tissadikun highlights efforts to preserve the Khaen ensemble of Wat Phothongcharoen in Suphanburi Province. Volunteers from Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University used their skills to support sustainable community development. Survey data showed low engagement in folk music preservation among the youth. To address this, the Ban Kham Laos Culture Club was formed, and a forum was held to encourage community participation in preserving and promoting the Khaen ensemble.

Panthakan Northong and Pusit Suwanmanee’s collaborative research arranges orchestral music inspired by Rong Ngeng, a traditional Thai Muslim art form. By interviewing experts, they explored techniques, pitch range, melody, and history, selecting a lively Rong Ngeng piece in the Yoket rhythm. The result, “Dawn of Kelantan,” uses Western musical theory to preserve Rong Ngeng’s essence. The resulting piece is evaluated on folklore communication, performance authenticity, and orchestration fidelity to the original melody and rhythms.

Nadis Boonrod discusses his exercises and etudes for four mallets, covering techniques such as single independent strokes and double lateral strokes. Each technique is paired with a specific composition: Walk, Split, Groovy, and Bubble. Surveys and interviews with experts revealed that these exercises are well-designed and effective for teaching.

Komsun Dilokkunanant and Sethapong Janyarayachon study the shift to online chamber music education during COVID-19 at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute, identifying challenges like unclear outcomes and inconsistent assessments. They created a new competency framework that improved students’ skills and provided insights for future music education.

Finally, the composer Professor Dieter Mack reflects on how 20th-century advancements in reproduction technology and the rise of streaming platforms have significantly impacted accessibility and sustainability in music cultures and education, with various accompanying side effects.