Instruments of a Beating Heart is a 2024 short Japanese documentary film directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki.

[1] Edited down from Yamazaki's 2023 feature The Making of a Japanese,[2][3][4][5] the film documents the challenge presented to the first graders in a Tokyo public elementary school of performing "Ode to Joy" at the ceremony for the new incoming first graders, as their assignment for the final semester.

[8] The documentary follows Ayame, a schoolgirl eager to participate in a group performance of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" to welcome new first graders.

However, a lack of dedication to her task leads to mistakes during rehearsals, prompting the teacher to emphasize the importance of harmony and diligence.

Classmates and teachers offer encouragement and support, leading her to rejoin the group and become a part of its eventual success.