The School of Music has a long standing commitment to world music. Students of all backgrounds receive a more well rounded education and gain unique experiences from studying and playing music from all over the world.

The School of Music has a long standing commitment to world music. Students of all backgrounds receive a more well rounded education and gain unique experiences from studying and playing music from all over the world. 

Under the direction of Thai music specialist, Chamni Sripraram, Thai music ensemble is the newest addition to the NIU World Music Program. Members of the Thai music ensemble study assorted Thai music styles, including the classical court and the northeastern folkloric styles, including music and instruments of the Piphat, Mahori, and Khrueang sai ensembles and the Mor Lam.

The Chinese Music Ensemble was one of the first college Chinese music groups in the U.S. and currently is the only one in Illinois. Established by Professor Emeritus Kuo-Huang Han in the 1970s, it gave several national and international concert performances between 1976 and 1978. Members of the ensemble learn to play assorted authentic Chinese instruments.

Individual lessons and group rehearsals make up the major part of the curriculum, and Chinese musical instruments are available for short-term loan on a semester basis. In addition, members of the ensemble will also be introduced to basic Chinese music theory, the standard repertoire of Chinese instrumental and chamber music, and knowledge about performance practice along with the aesthetic values and symbolism of Chinese traditional music.

Gamelan is a percussion-dominated ensemble from Indonesia. It is the most popular Asian ensemble in the world, having 120 sets in the United States. The NIU School of Music teaches the Central Javanese and Balinese gamelans and gives regular concerts and demonstrations. Many composers, including students and faculty at NIU, also write new compositions for the gamelan.