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The Institute is engaged in collecting and analyzing information related to percussion instruments used around the world, as well as continuously pursuing new areas of research concerning percussion instruments.
The Institute of Percussion Instrument of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music is engaged in research aimed at promoting the appeal of percussion instruments and their importance as the origin of mankind’s relationship with music by carrying out such activities as collecting a wide range of documents pertaining to various percussion instruments found in Japan and abroad; disseminating information to organizations around the world concerned with percussion instruments; and analyzing compositions for percussion instruments, as well as documents for musical instruments and music scores. Furthermore, the Institute provides a place where students of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music can carry out their research and studies, while also undertaking such functions as serving as “a living information source” by managing associations and handling the loaning out of various documents and materials. Of particular note is the Institute’s collection of approximately 1,000 music score documents for percussion instrument ensembles, which are a valuable research resource for the studies of the students. Additional roles of the Institute include developing various approaches regarding percussion instruments, such as efforts to carry out a historical analysis of the marimba, development of new percussion instruments, collection and administration of documents related to ethnic percussion instruments, and research and analysis of rhythm and music that can be enjoyed by people who wear cochlear implants. As the Japanese chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, which is an international academic body devoted to percussion music (headquarters is in the state of Indiana in the United States), the Institute performs the function of collecting and providing information throughout Japan and abroad.
Edit records and documents related to percussion instrument performances; survey and collect documents related to published music scores of percussion compositions; study and establish international standards regarding music score notations used when playing percussion instrument music; draw up configuration of percussion instruments for orchestral compositions; survey and research the history of the marimba in Japan; survey documents of various countries related to percussion instruments and create Japanese translations of such documents.
“Research into Improving Reception of Music by Cochlear Implant Users,” which involves research on the ability of cochlear implant users to hear music, began in 2001. This research was designated eligible for a grant from the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools in Japan for the 2005 academic year, and was selected again to receive a grant for 2007. The Office for Music Receptivity Research was established in the 2007 academic year as a unit dedicated to this research project.
Publication of research literature related to the structure of percussion instruments; publication of research literature related to the history of percussion instruments; writing and publication of music scores for percussion instrument ensembles; editing and publication of new compositions for percussion solos and ensembles.
Collaborating on or sponsoring presentations of research findings by students majoring in percussion instruments; collaborating on or sponsoring percussion instrument concerts; carrying out research related to cochlear implants and percussion instrument performances; providing assistance for the “Concert Planning, Playing and Management” course.
Studies of percussion instruments used by ethnic groups in various parts of the world; production and study of percussion instruments made from recycled materials; survey of percussion instruments produced by musical instrument manufacturing companies.
Management of the Japan Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS).
Creation and administration of website.
The Ethnic Percussion Instruments Archive, which opened its doors in September 2001, is a part of the research activities carried out by the Institute of Percussion Instrument of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. The Archive has a collection of ethnic percussion instruments from regions and countries all over the world, including Africa, India, East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle and Near East, America, and Europe. The collection, totalling more than 100 items, is on display with explanations provided for each item. Furthermore, visitors to the Archive are allowed to take up any of the instruments on display and play them on the spot, with the aim of utilizing percussion instruments to make a wider range of music more approachable to more people. It is our hope that everyone is able to enjoy the allure and charm of ethnic percussion instruments, which have been an inseparable part of the instincts of mankind since primitive times and have been integrally interwoven into our lifestyles.
