University of Texas Press The Donkey's Ears Go Flop, Flop: Miyagi Michio's Koto Works for Children Author(s): Anne Prescott Reviewed work(s): Source: Asian Music, Vol. 36, No. 1 (Winter - Spring, 2005), pp. 27-43 Published by: University of Texas Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4098502 . Accessed: 29/05/2012 23:35 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
[email protected]. University of Texas Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Asian Music. http://www.jstor.org The Donkey'sEars Go Flop, Flop: Miyagi Michio'sKoto Works for Children Anne Prescott Abstract:Miyagi Michio gilA L (1894-1956),koto performer,composer, and edu- cator,was a musicalinnovator who modifiedtraditional instruments, incorporated new ideasinto the bodyof workcalled s6kyoku Z 0,' andadopted compositional and playingtechniques from Western music and instruments.He was also one of the first Japanesecomposers to createpedagogical materials and entertainingworks that were appropriatefor children,and thoseworks are still widelyused todayto teachkoto- playingto beginners,particularly children. This paper will providean introductionto the Miyagischool of kotoplaying, examine the traditionalmethod of teachingkoto to children,investigate Miyagi's motivation for creatinga pedagogicalmethod for chil- dren,provide a historicaloverview of Miyagi'sdakyoku @ (children'ssongs), and finallyanalyze several of theseworks.