Examining NHK’s Music Programs for Primary Schools by Analyzing Music Pieces and Directions

Fue wa Utau [singing recorders] and Yukai na Konsāto [joyful concert]

Abstract

This study examines two music　program series of NHK’s school broadcast, Fue wa Utau [singing recorders] (for primary school third graders) and Yukai na Konsāto [joyful concert] (for fourth graders) by analyzing their content broadcast in the 1987 and 1993 academic years, focusing on the music pieces and directions. The paper is co-authored by a researcher from the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute and a university researcher as a study utilizing NHK Archives’ Research Resources for Academics (collaborative study).

Fue wa Utau focused on expressive activities through playing the recorder and was structured to develop children’s performing skills and foster their affinity for music. On the other hand, Yukai na Konsāto aimed to cultivate children’s sensibility through the appreciation of classical music and let them experience the vast universe of music by introducing to them diverse musical instruments and performance styles. While complying with the Course of Study (curriculum guidelines issued by the government), both series utilized music pieces featured in school music textbooks and NHK’s educational programs to substantially contributed to the development of musical repertoire.

In particular, Fue wa Utau often featured music used in other educational programs such as Minna no Uta (Songs for Everyone) and Okaasan to Issho (With Mother), which suggests that boundaries between educational programs were low. In terms of directions, the series promoted the proactive learning of children through the portrayal of the program hosts’ and children’s improvement in their performance and visual elaborations, such as moving sheet music, animation, and color expressions. Meanwhile, Yukai na Konsāto was distinctive for its free selection of music and the use of non-Western music, which were progressively introduced in response to the 1992 revision of the Course of Study. Both programs were directed in accordance with children’s developmental stages and played a significant role in music education scenes at school.