Submitted by Michiko Kato Dressen

Language: Japanese Unit Cultural Theme or Academic Content Area: Cross-Culture Comparisons Target Audience: Traditional High School Year of Instruction: 3 Proficiency Level: Intermediate Low

Standards: Communication:    1.1, 1.2, 1.3 Cultures:    2.1, 2.2 Connections:    3.1, 3.2 Comparisons:    4.1, 4.2 Communities:    5.1

Unit Timeframe:

Eight to ten 50-minute class sessions

Unit Overview:

The first lesson of this unit is an introduction level of the thematic unit on music. The second, third and fourth lessons are exploration of Japanese traditional music, ancient court music integrated in healing music. As their final project, they will present their own favorite music in Japanese. Students can re-visit this theme in the next grade level with different focus and more complex topic along with students' higher language proficiency level and cognitive development.

Context:

Students have learned and practiced new words, sentences and some short passages in Japanese by reading and writing in Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji as well as listening and speaking when they are in JPN I and JPN II. Now they will use their skills to explore a unit called "Appreciation of Music" not only by listening to Japanese music but also researching, reading internet articles and essays and discussing music and music cultures.

General Unit References and Resources:

Koizumi, F. (2001). Things lie on the foundation of music. Tokyo: Heibonsha

Culture. Traditional music (Hogaku) (1998). In The kodansha bilingual encyclopedia of Japan (pp.654-657). Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd.

Gagaku (1998). In The kodansha bilingual encyclopedia of Japan (pp.656-661). Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd.

Music, traditional (Hogaku) (1993). In Japan, An illustrated encyclopedia (pp. 1023-1024). Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

Gagaku (1993). In Japan, An illustrated encyclopedia (pp. 1023-1024). Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.

YAMAHA: Musical Instruments of Orchestra
http://www.yamaha.co.jp/edu/student/museum/orchestra/index.html

Japan Information Network: Japan of Today, Culture
http://web-jpn.org/index.html

Japan Information Network: Music
http://web-jpn.org/webjapan/search/Culture_Music00.html

Links or files for unit content:     A new window will open for each lesson.

Lesson 01:  What kind of music do you usually listen to?
Lesson 02 : Have you ever listened to Shamisen music?
Lesson 03: Japanese Ancient Music, Gagaku & Healing; Iyashi-kei Music
Lesson 04: What type of root music do you hear?
Unit Assessment