Kim Rockell | Komazawa University (original) (raw)

Papers by Kim Rockell

CMU Journal of Science, 2024

This paper examines Filipino and Japanese participants’ perceptions of a publicly available... more This paper examines Filipino and Japanese participants’ perceptions of a publicly available, pre-recorded performance of the Nohplay, Takasago. These perceptions are made from the point of view of aural, visual, kinesthetic, and linguistic elements of performance, referred to as semiotic clusters (SC). Comparative data drawn from both the Philippines and Japan, which reveal connective threads and commonalities are presented. Self-reflexive observations by Filipinos on their own performing arts traditions are also shared in the paper.
Findings are based on a reduced research framework of the project Linking Japan to the World through the Performing Arts: Collaborative Ethnography and Intercultural Exchange (JSPS 20K01193), which commenced just before the outbreak of COVID-19. This originally intended breadth of research is outlined, andthe paper addresses the disruption because of the pandemic,reporting on those tangible achievements that could be madegiven the circumstances.

Nanying History, Society and Culture: VI: Art and Material Culture in the Tainan Area, 2022

The rich diversity of Taiwan’s society is reflected in the wide range of musical performance styl... more The rich diversity of Taiwan’s society is reflected in the wide range of musical performance styles and genres practised on the island. To the local voices that have long collaborated, contested, or coexisted, new sounds have begun to emerge from what Wang (2004) recognized more than a decade ago as a complex multiculturalism problematized by notions of "cultural hybridity" and "multiple identities." What is the contribution of migrant Filipino musicians to the complex Tainan soundscape? What does musical localization in Tainan reveal about musical activity, performance spaces, intercultural interaction, and mutual processes of influence in musical performance? Reporting on preliminary research, conducted online during the COVID-19 pandemic, this contribution draws on two case studies of migrant Filipino musicians in Tainan as a preliminary step towards answering these questions, and helps shed light on a liminal space which contains considerable musical activity.

Performance in Education Review 2020, 2022

This paper reports on the cooperative creation of an English language educational Noh play, which... more This paper reports on the cooperative creation of an English language educational Noh play, which was performed during a workshop at the Performance in Education conference at Nanzan University in 2019. The paper shares the background to the collaboration and considers the way extant or current elements are built on during the creative process. Participants powerful subjective experiences of this event suggest that is an avenue worth pursuing in ongoing future research. Written retrospectively during the global COVID-19 crisis, necessary adjustments to the play in the case of hypothetical digital delivery, and how they might preserve the magic of theater are also considered.

Performance Education Review 2020, 2022

This article narrates a spontaneous performance that occurred in the context of an academic confe... more This article narrates a spontaneous performance that occurred in the context of an academic conference, the topic of which was Performance in Education (PIE). Developed retrospectively by the performers through a process of textual conversation, the article includes the performers’ background information, descriptions of rehearsal and performance, as well as a discussion on the role of “scholar-performers” in education. The article suggests that when teachers are open to spontaneity and allow themselves to be vulnerable in performance, this attitude can be mirrored by students in a language education context, encouraging them to use unfamiliar language without fear of failure.

Englisia: Journal of language, education, and humanities, 2020

This research considers how the study of musical performances from around the world can be drawn ... more This research considers how the study of musical performances from around the world can be drawn upon as a useful resource for language instruction, particularly in EFL Japanese university classrooms. This study shares the insights gained from literature reviews combined with the researcher’s teaching experiences on the advanced English elective course of Computer Assisted Ethnomusicology. This work was carried out over a five-year period between 2013–2018 at a university in the Tohoku region of Japan, based on a course that focused on the music and culture found in Oceania, South East Asia, East Asia, Africa and North America. This study identifies the language resources present within the ethnomusicological content, and identifies the ways it can help awaken learners to the rich variation that exists among the cultures of the world, and highlighting the way local and global features combine in the ‘glocal.’ In addition to digital applications, approaches introduced in the study al...

The JALT CALL Journal, 2015

This paper reports on the experimental use of a recently developed musical looping app with a cla... more This paper reports on the experimental use of a recently developed musical looping app with a class of Japanese university students of English during 2014. Working in groups using shared hand-held devices, students created compositions based on lexical chunks or formulaic sequences selected freely from a fixed text. A scored example of one such group composition is included in the paper. During research, the author acted as instructor and a participant/ observer role afforded an intimate view of the educational process. Self-assessment questionnaires prior to and post working with Loopy indicate that students experienced increased confidence in their ability to produce spoken English over a three-month period. The affordances and constraints of using the musical app to learn English are examined and a significant increase in speech rate when reading from a fixed text is also noted.

Since the thirteenth century the musical forms of canon and round have been expressive vehicles f... more Since the thirteenth century the musical forms of canon and round have been expressive vehicles from composers from Perotin through to Bartok and more recently the phased looping of Steve Reich. Contemporary Looping software applications such as Loopy HD support the layering of multiple tracks and group creation of interactive student compositions based on the canon or round. Working with hand held devices to make music in this way is of particular benefit to second language learners because it encourages them to practice lexical chunks or formulaic sequences, which enhance students‟ physiological capability to render these units of speech. Repetition need not be tedious. By practicing language with musical applications, the training process can be aestheticized and enlivened. This paper reports on how these approaches were used with students at a university in Fukushima, Japan. Examples of student composition are showcased as audience members in Oxford are given hands-on experience...

Since the initial promotion of multi-cultural policies in the last decades of the twentieth centu... more Since the initial promotion of multi-cultural policies in the last decades of the twentieth century, Australia, and increasingly New Zealand, have been recalibrating their changing societies fo be more unclusive of diversity. Although Filipinos such as Antonio Cubillo, the founder of Australia'a first rondalla in the early 1900s, lived in Australia at the time of the so called "white Australia policy" nowadays, immigration from conuntires in Asia is a dynamic feature of Australasian life and diversity is celebrated. Music, as a means of increasing an awareness of this diveresity, and creating a sense of identity within a multicultural nation is important. One strand within contemporary Australasian society is represented by the Philippine rondalla. This paper reports on the recent develoipment of rondallas in Australia. Such ensembles are found in Canberra and Melbourne and also in Ipswich and Townsville in Queensland. A rondalla in Palmerston North, which is currently New Zealand's only rondalla, is also discussed. Important similarities, as weel as great diversity, amoungst the groups are demonstrated and the motivation behind the preservation and promotion of traditional Filipino music in migrant Filipino communities is examined.

This paper takes the form of a detailed report discussing the development, rehearsal and presenta... more This paper takes the form of a detailed report discussing the development, rehearsal and presentation of a short English language Noh-style play performed by Japanese university students in 2018–2019. It shares students’ perceptions in response to the flow of rehearsals and performances, which were documented with ethnomusicological fieldwork methods. Music and drama are increasingly recognized internationally as effective vehicles for language education and in this case the aspiration to master ‘a tool of global communication’ is coupled with local sensibility and an important Japanese heritage tradition. Contemporary cyber-culture immersed Japanese youth sometimes express little interest in traditions such as Noh. This project prompted a greater appreciation of traditional Japanese culture amongst such students. The benefits of regular practice of the declamatory speech that is basic to Noh chanting was also found to be particularly beneficial to students’ confidence with spoken E...

Recognizing the value of performing arts activities within EFL education, teachers have experimen... more Recognizing the value of performing arts activities within EFL education, teachers have experimented with a wide variety of approaches in their teaching. This article draws broadly on one such project which took place at a prefectural university in Fukushima during late 2016 and early 2017. Here, English was embedded in a traditional Japanese dramatic form and students in a third-year elective course developed an English language Noh theatre set in cyberspace. While this work is discussed in detail elsewhere (Rockell, 2019), the current article focuses on some of the practical ways the project was carried out and uses these ways as a basis for a suggested English Noh Theatre workshop to be offered to language teachers in Japan in the near future.

Englisia: Journal of Language, Education, and Humanities, 2020

This research considers how the study of musical performances from around the world can be drawn ... more This research considers how the study of musical performances from around the world can be drawn upon as a useful resource for language instruction, particularly in EFL Japanese university classrooms. This study shares the insights gained from literature reviews combined with the researcher's teaching experiences on the advanced English elective course of "Computer-Assisted Ethnomusicology." This work was carried out over a five-year period between 2013–2018 at a university in the
Tohoku region of Japan, based on a course that focused on the music and culture found in Oceania, South East Asia, East Asia, Africa, and North America. This study identifies the language resources present within the ethnomusicological content, and identifies the ways it can help awaken learners to the rich variation that exists among
the cultures of the world, and highlighting the way local and global features combine in the 'glocal.' In addition to digital applications, approaches introduced in the study also include the combination of high and low contact activities based on ethnomusicological resources. This helps to emphasize how Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and open-source multimedia make it possible to approach musical song texts and discourses that surround musical practice and performance
and apply these to EFL teaching.

International Journal of Education & the Arts, 2020

A Guitarist's English Masterclass is a specialist ESP tool designed to teach classical guitar-re... more A Guitarist's English Masterclass is a specialist ESP tool designed to teach classical guitar-related and general musical terminology to classical guitar students whose first language is Japanese. Each scene is based on a short original composition that illustrates the key words being taught. Explanations of the English terms are given and pronunciation practice opportunities are included, guided by the author/composer.

Musika Jornal, Center for Ethnomusicology, University of the Philippines, 2012

Since the initial promotion of multi-cultural policies in the last decades of the twentieth cent... more Since the initial promotion of multi-cultural policies in the last decades of the twentieth century, Australia, and increasingly New Zealand, have been recalibrating their changing societies fo be more unclusive of diversity. Although Filipinos such as Antonio Cubillo, the founder of Australia'a first rondalla in the early 1900s, lived in Australia at the time of the so called "white Australia policy" nowadays, immigration from conuntires in Asia is a dynamic feature of Australasian life and diversity is celebrated. Music, as a means of increasing an awareness of this diveresity, and creating a sense of identity within a multicultural nation is important. One strand within contemporary Australasian society is represented by the Philippine rondalla. This paper reports on the recent develoipment of rondallas in Australia. Such ensembles are found in Canberra and Melbourne and also in Ipswich and Townsville in Queensland. A rondalla in Palmerston North, which is currently New Zealand's only rondalla, is also discussed. Important similarities, as weel as great diversity, amoungst the groups are demonstrated and the motivation behind the preservation and promotion of traditional Filipino music in migrant Filipino communities is examined.

This paper reports on two recently developed contemporary rondallas outside the Philippines: one ... more This paper reports on two recently developed contemporary rondallas outside the Philippines: one in Dansui, Taiwan and another in Queensland, Australia. The rondalla is a plucked-string ensemble which was brought to the Philippines from Spain in the late nineteenth century, not long before American intervention and the end of the Spanish era. This type of instrumental group was enthusiastically adopted in the Philippines and became an inexpensive and accessible medium for music education in schools. It has also become strongly connected to notions of Philippine national identity. Enjoying periodic resurgences within the Philippines, the characteristic, sparkling tremolo sound of rondalla instruments has an enduring place in the Philippine musical soundscape. This examination of rondallas in two diasporic locations confirms that the key concern for group founders is the transmission of culture of origin to second- generation Filipino migrants. In spite of a lack of funds and the scarcity of rondalla teachers, Filipinos have been able to reconstruct a treasured, musical heritage in their new homes. The paper also highlights the interesting contrast between the specific forms of multiculturalism which have arisen in Taiwan and Australia over the last few decades and have influenced the development of rondallas in each location. Recommendations for the rondalla's further development are offered, including the establishment of a freely downloadable database of scores and the creation of accessible educational multi-media materials for rondalla.

While EFL instructors come to the classroom from a variety of backgrounds, little is known about ... more While EFL instructors come to the classroom from a variety of backgrounds, little is known about skill transference to a language teaching environment. Motivated initially by the authors’ personal experiences using music to teach English, this article presents the results of recent research which evaluates the effectiveness of musical skill transference in EFL teachers in Japan in 2012. For this purpose, a heuristically constructed list of musical skills or qualities is first offered by way of exploring the music/language nexus, and highlighting important areas for music’s potential application. Encouraged by the research findings, a fresh approach to the application of musical skills termed “RMR” (Rhythmic/Melodic Recalibration) is advocated. The paper also explores the perception that EFL teachers in contemporary Japan are successfully managing the reapplication of core musical skills, in particular, to teach “speech mode of communication”.

This paper reports on the experimental use of a recently developed musical looping app with a cla... more This paper reports on the experimental use of a recently developed musical looping app with a class of Japanese university students of English during 2014. Working in groups using shared hand-held devices, students created compositions based on lexical chunks or formulaic sequences selected freely from a fixed text. A scored example of one such group composition is included in the paper. During research, the author acted as instructor and a participant/observer role afforded an intimate view of the educational process. Self-assessment questionnaires prior to and post working with Loopy indicate that students experienced increased confidence in their ability to produce spoken English over a three-month period. The affordances and constraints of using the musical app to learn English are examined and a significant increase in speech rate when reading from a fixed text is also noted.

AsiaCALL Journal, 2016

Research in fields such as cognitive science, anthropology and sociolinguistics strongly support ... more Research in fields such as cognitive science, anthropology and sociolinguistics strongly support the importance of the music/language nexus, while in the language classroom, music is increasingly recognized as a valuable education tool. Interesting studies, such as Franzblau’s computer-aided learning system employing a pitch tracking line, and Lenz’s system for learning music using a computer game, have potential application to music in CALL. However, very few studies have addressed the combination of music, language and computers directly. This paper reports on a recent, Japan-based, exploratory study, which probes the affordances and constraints of incorporating music in a CALL environment, establishing a protocol for computer assisted language learning incorporating music (CALLiM). Approaches used previously without a computer are applied to CALL, to help discover the key functionalities and sustainable approaches that assist in learning a language through music in a digital age. Reflective practice, auditor intervention and diary work inform data collection and analysis. The study reveals a number of interesting contradictions that arise when moving from a pre-CALL to CALL environment. It also sheds light on issues that impact on searching and sampling, vocabulary learning strategies, and developing comprehension skills and cultural competence when incorporating musical strategies. With Ilocano song lyric texts as a point of departure, the importance of employing varied rhythmic drills and featuring music as a component of rich input (RI) is also highlighted by the study.

CMU Journal of Science, 2024

Nanying History, Society and Culture: VI: Art and Material Culture in the Tainan Area, 2022

Performance in Education Review 2020, 2022

Performance Education Review 2020, 2022

Englisia: Journal of language, education, and humanities, 2020

The JALT CALL Journal, 2015

Englisia: Journal of Language, Education, and Humanities, 2020

This research considers how the study of musical performances from around the world can be drawn ... more This research considers how the study of musical performances from around the world can be drawn upon as a useful resource for language instruction, particularly in EFL Japanese university classrooms. This study shares the insights gained from literature reviews combined with the researcher's teaching experiences on the advanced English elective course of "Computer-Assisted Ethnomusicology." This work was carried out over a five-year period between 2013–2018 at a university in the
Tohoku region of Japan, based on a course that focused on the music and culture found in Oceania, South East Asia, East Asia, Africa, and North America. This study identifies the language resources present within the ethnomusicological content, and identifies the ways it can help awaken learners to the rich variation that exists among
the cultures of the world, and highlighting the way local and global features combine in the 'glocal.' In addition to digital applications, approaches introduced in the study also include the combination of high and low contact activities based on ethnomusicological resources. This helps to emphasize how Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and open-source multimedia make it possible to approach musical song texts and discourses that surround musical practice and performance
and apply these to EFL teaching.

International Journal of Education & the Arts, 2020

Musika Jornal, Center for Ethnomusicology, University of the Philippines, 2012

This paper reports on the experimental use of a recently developed musical looping app with a cla... more This paper reports on the experimental use of a recently developed musical looping app with a class of Japanese university students of English during 2014. Working in groups using shared hand-held devices, students created compositions based on lexical chunks or formulaic sequences selected freely from a fixed text. A scored example of one such group composition is included in the paper. During research, the author acted as instructor and a participant/observer role afforded an intimate view of the educational process. Self-assessment questionnaires prior to and post working with Loopy indicate that students experienced increased confidence in their ability to produce spoken English over a three-month period. The affordances and constraints of using the musical app to learn English are examined and a significant increase in speech rate when reading from a fixed text is also noted.

AsiaCALL Journal, 2016

Since the thirteenth century the musical forms of canon and round have been expressive vehicles f... more Since the thirteenth century the musical forms of canon and round have been expressive vehicles from composers from Perotin through to Bartók and more recently the phased looping of Steve Reich. Contemporary Looping software applications such as Loopy HD support the layering of multiple tracks and group creation of interactive student compositions based on the canon or round. Working with hand held devices to make music in this way is of particular benefit to second language learners because it encourages them to practice lexical chunks or formulaic sequences, which enhance students‟ physiological capability to render these units of speech. Repetition need not be tedious. By practicing language with musical applications, the training process can be aestheticized and enlivened. This paper reports on how these approaches were used with students at a university in Fukushima, Japan. Examples of student composition are showcased as audience members in Oxford are given hands-on experience and guided through the creation of a simple composition using Loopy.

Practical Ideas For Teachers Vol. 2, 2022

This group work or “ensemble” activity is part of a toolkit of musical strategies for learning, l... more This group work or “ensemble” activity is part of a toolkit of musical strategies for learning, limited only by the imagination of those instructors who choose to work with music in the language classroom. Research on music in language learning points to its helpful role in improving spoken language production, but also suggests potential benefits
in terms of vocabulary memorization, general fluency, communicative competence, and motivation (Rockell & Ocampo, 2014; Rockell, 2015, 2016a, 2016b, 2017). With these in mind, I will share an activity that I have encouraged Japanese undergraduate university students to try as part of “Performance in English,” and “Language and Music” elective classes. Previously carried out in real-time, face-to-face classes, where students could be closely guided and monitored, the activity is presented here in the form adapted for online learning, which was used during the 2020 academic year as a result of COVID-19.

The debut of a new work by Christchurch composer John Emeleus was part of a concert in the Nut Po... more The debut of a new work by Christchurch composer John Emeleus was part of a concert in the Nut Point Jazz Series by the Black Orpheus duo comprising Kim Rockell (Guitar and vocals) & Roger Buckton (Flute). On this occasion, Anatoly Zelinski (viola) joins the duo to premier Emeleus's 'Suite for Three.'