To demonstrate the educational possibilities of folkloric performing arts through intensive research specifically -relating to the music being used "Hayasu""Hayasareru"-

2007 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 17330191
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Education on school subjects and activities
• Research Institution: Tokyo Gakugei University
• Principal Investigator: SAWASAKI Masahiko Tokyo Gakugei University, Department of Education, Professor (70014785)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAGI Shouichi Saitama University, Department of Education, Professor (70117026) ; TANABE Takashi Ehime University, Department of Education, Professor (80155192) ; HIRANO Tomohisa Tokyo Gakugei University, Department of Education, Professor (40128773) ; ISHIZUKA Masako Ehime University, Department of Education, Professor (70348431)
• Project Period (FY): 2005 – 2007
• Keywords: Hayasu / Hayasareru / folkloric performing arts / educational potential / Japanese Taiko Drumus / material development

Research Abstract

In 2002, in accordance with the revisions of The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology-Japan guidelines, the inclusion of Japanese musical instruments into the intermediate and high school musical curriculum have become compulsory. However, in actual classroom situations, many problems arise.
Some of the main concerns were not knowing what teaching materials or teaching methods to adopt in addition to not being able to secure the necessary instructors and musical instruments. Additionally, it's clearly apparent that the educational contents and methods of study, in regards to the importance of the sound and music of traditional performing arts, are not being utilized to its full potential.
This research attempts to pursue the significant value of educating students in the theme mentioned above as well as studying and examining the significance of the teaching of Japan's traditional performing arts. Keeping in mind to consider the relationship of using music "Haya su" or "Hayasareru", as well as adopting japanese traditional performing arts, continuously doing investigative studies of the strengths of teaching traditional performing arts as part of the curriculum. Furthermore, we propose to study the relationship between the various performing arts that's inherent with "Hayasu" or "Hayasareru", with three specific viewpoints ; people to people, people to sound, and finally, sound to sound.
It can also be thought that the lack of organizations, built around the research and theories as well as continuing practice of the relationship between the inherent strengths of teaching traditional performing arts and the music being used to "Hayasu" or "Hayasareru", shows a clear picture of the present situation.
Through this research, the Japanese Drums, used at festivals and performances in local areas, which remains in the hearts of Japanese consciousness, has been adopted as a teaching material as well as a top priority in Japanese music. Furthermore, we have intensively studied the inherent strengths of teaching through using the Japanese Drums as a primary tool in this research, especially using the drums as a background to music. Through this research, the role of music exists as a "musical accompaniment" or using it "to accompany", and holds an important relationship with "sound to sound", "sound to people" and "people to people", making this an important factor in confirming the strengths of this teaching method.