Strengthening Cooperative Values through Karawitan Extracurricular in Secondary Schools

Abstract

Karawitan, as a traditional Javanese musical art, plays a vital role in character education by fostering cooperative values among secondary school students. This study emerges from the educational need to integrate cultural arts as a contextual medium for character formation aligned with the principles of Pancasila. The research aims to examine how karawitan extracurricular activities contribute to strengthening solidarity, collaboration, and mutual support among students. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation involving student participants, supervising teachers, and school leaders. Thematic analysis was conducted through data reduction, categorization, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that karawitan practice requires synchronization, interdependence, and non-verbal communication, providing students with authentic experiences of cooperative behavior. Project-based models in the creation and performance of traditional music further enhance students’ character development through collaboration, reflection, and shared responsibility. The implications suggest that karawitan serves as a strategic medium for sustainable character education while simultaneously preserving local cultural heritage relevant to contemporary educational needs in secondary schools.