Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Exploring the Pedagogical Potential of Schenkerian Analysis in Japan: A Case Study on Teaching with Schenkerian Graphs

Peng Zixuan

Asian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences · pp. 44–54 · Published 15 Jun 2024

10.9734/arjass/2024/v22i6543

Abstract

Despite Schenkerian analysis's widespread use in music theory education in many countries, this analytical approach has not been comprehensively introduced or widely applied in Japan. This study explores the application of Schenkerian analysis to deepen the understanding of musical structure among non-music major students in Japan. Utilizing foreground graphs, the study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching Schenkerian techniques to individuals without extensive theoretical backgrounds. Five participants from Kyushu University engaged in a structured learning process involving listening, analysis, and comparison of musical scores and Schenkerian graphs. Qualitative data were collected through a combination of multiple-choice questions and open-ended responses. Results indicate that foreground graphs significantly enhance participants' comprehension of musical structure, though understanding the theoretical principles of Schenkerian analysis varied among participants. Feedback suggests that while the method is effective, additional instructional strategies are needed to address the complexity of Schenkerian concepts. Future research will focus on increasing participant numbers, incorporating practical activities, using diverse musical examples, and adopting qualitative methods to further explore the educational potential of Schenkerian analysis.

Schenkerian analysis Schenkerian graphs foreground musical structure music theory education in Japan qualitative research

References (8)

  1. 1 The Cambridge History of Western Music Theory [DOI]
  2. 2 Structural Hearing; Tonal Coherence in Music [DOI]
  3. 3 Beethoven's Ninth Symphony [DOI]
  4. 4 Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis [DOI]
  5. 5 Analysis of Tonal Music: A Schenkerian Approach [DOI]
  6. 6 SchenkerGUIDE: A Brief Handbook and Website for Schenkerian Analysis
  7. 7 Advanced Schenkerian Analysis: Perspectives on Phrase Rhythm, Motive, and Form
  8. 8 Computer music and computer-based musicology [DOI]

Cited by 0

No indexed citations yet.

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

0

Page views

0

PDF downloads

0

Outbound clicks

0

Citations

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

No views recorded yet.

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

No traffic recorded yet.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.