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Arts & Communication

ARTICLE
Inclusive elementary school musicking

practice for Japanese students with special
needs: A narrative inquiry

Shizuka Sutani*

Department of Education, School of Education, Mukogawa Women’s University, Nishinomiya City,
Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Musicking is an old, yet new concept of music-making. The term, first proposed by
anthropologist Christopher Small, intended to reinterpret music as not merely an act
but also as an object. While musicking, anyone can participate in musical activities,
which include singing, dancing, improvisation, and listening to musicking sessions.
This study examines the use of musicking strategies in a Japanese elementary school
with special needs students. The initial participants comprised 10 students from the
first to sixth grades from a public elementary school in the northern part of Okayama
Prefecture, Japan. Dr. A, the lead researcher of this study, is a violinist–teacher–
researcher with professional orchestra experience in the United States. His career as a
guest music teacher spans more than 20 years. In addition, two homeroom teachers

*Corresponding author: and two university students supported the research project as participant observers.
Shizuka Sutani Based on Dr. A’s related practice in this area, this study explored musicking with a
(sutani_shizuka_x@mukogawa-u. special emphasis on student inclusion. By applying a narrative inquiry and multivocal
ac.jp)
ethnography, this study investigated various events that were experienced in
Citation: Sutani S. Inclusive the musicking practice. Finally, the participants co-constructed a research-based
elementary school musicking narrative, focusing on creating a learning environment enabling all participants to
practice for Japanese students
with special needs: A narrative build a musical community together. By synthesizing the participants’ thoughts,
inquiry. Arts & Communication. providing insights into musicking practice, exploring unexpected events, and
2024;2(4):2747. utilizing the intuitive nature of music, the participants identified an approach for a
doi: 10.36922/ac.2747
comprehensive model for musicking.
Received: January 15, 2024
Accepted: March 15, 2024
Keywords: Musicking; Special needs classroom; Case study; Narrative inquiry
Published Online: September 30,
2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article 1. Introduction
distributed under the terms
of the Creative Commons Musicking is an old, yet new concept of music-making proposed by anthropologist
AttributionNoncommercial License, Christopher Small, which expresses music in its present form and reinterprets music as
permitting all non-commercial use,
1
distribution, and reproduction in any a human action. According to Small, musicking recognizes music as not only an act but
medium, provided the original work also as an object. Musicking considers that anyone can be involved in musical activities
is properly cited. from any standpoint and role. In this regard, Small criticized the Western tradition
1
Publisher’s Note: AccScience of listening to music at concerts and the lack of communication among performers
Publishing remains neutral with and listeners outside the musical world. This view was echoed by Dissanayake, who
1
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional described musicking as a shared sense in local communities, either by singing, dancing,
affiliations. playing instruments, composing, or participating in other artistic endeavors. 2
Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 1 doi: 10.36922/ac.2747