Implementing the Mixed Instrumental Ensemble Practice in Japan

Abstract

This chapter investigates the cases of implementing the mixed instrumental ensemble practice in the field of music education in Japan; it rests on the believe that considering music as social phenomenon and human practice with interaction. This study sets two specific aims as follows: to blend various different kinds of musical instruments in ensemble settings. Particularly, in the process of implementing the practice, researcher designed Instructional Template (Gordon, 2015) was applied as a tool to foster and organize classroom interaction among learners and teachers. This study also explores the possibility to assess the affective component of music learning in practice. Custodero's (1998, 2005) Flow Indicators in Musical Activities was cited to examine learners' flow experiences. Implementation of the mixed instrumental ensemble practice fostered interaction among learners; thus, students experienced flow in more varietical ways in their social/musical context.