Observable flow experience in Japanese children’s interactions with musical instrument digital interface instruments, violins, and bells

Abstract

Despite the existing research on flow in music education, there remains a lack of researches in understanding children’s flow experiences in the context of playing musical instrument, electronic technological instruments, and other traditional instruments. This study investigates the observable flow experience among young children during their interactions with musical instrument digital interface instruments, violins, and bell-like instruments. The research employed a case study approach, with 20 children aged two to nine (11 females and nine males) participating in the study. In the study, we, as practitioner-researchers, offered workshops for children to experience a variety of traditional and non-traditional musical instruments. Throughout the study, researchers collected 89 video clips for analysis, using four cameras operated by four assistants who were trained to capture children’s flow in a musical context. These monthly sessions, each lasting an average of 60 min, began with the first session dedicated to capturing the very first encounter of children with various musical devices, instruments, and materials. Custodero’s Flow Indicators in Musical Activities captured children’s flow experiences during workshops. The findings included interpretations of the children’s flow experiences as they explored different devices, instruments, and materials, with a particular emphasis on accessibility and developmental considerations within the social context of children’s musical flow.