中国音乐教育与国际音乐教育 [Chinese Music Education and International Music Education] by Jianhua Guan (review)

Reviewed by: 中国音乐教育与国际音乐教育 [Chinese Music Education and International Music Education] by Jianhua Guan Mengchen Lu Jianhua Guan, 中国音乐教育与国际音乐教育 [Chinese Music Education and International Music Education] (Nanjing: Nanjing Normal University Press, 2013) In Chinese Music Education and International Music Education, Jianhua Guan examined Chinese music education and curriculum in relation to other countries’ music education through the lenses of internationalization. Written in Chinese, there were three sections with several chapters in each and one appendix that documented interviews with American music educators such as Bennett Reimer. In the first section entitled, “On the Philosophy and Culture of Music Education,” Guan pointed out that global cultural development in the twenty-first century has influenced Chinese music education. He wrote richly on a diverse array of topics, including globalization, music education based on Chinese culture, music education during the Space Age, Chinese music education in institutions of higher learning, philosophy of music education, and the internationalization of music education. He concluded the first section by introducing the ideas of Chinese music educator Dan Zhaoyi, Chinese musicologist Wang Guangqi, American postmodern cultural and music education, and Reimer’s philosophy of music education. [End Page 194] The second section, “Music Education Curriculum and Teaching,” began by examining challenges faced by the twenty-first century Chinese music classroom. Subsequently, he discussed how teaching approaches in Chinese music education have changed in the twenty-first century, how traditional Chinese music may be taught in the Chinese classroom, and music as part of a multidisciplinary curriculum in secondary education. This was followed by a survey of thirty years of Chinese music education, music education in American universities (such as Wesleyan University), and the Suzuki mother tongue approach to music education. Throughout this section, Guan’s writings were interspersed with chapters translated from writings by Canadian, American, and Japanese scholars, such as in the chapter on “How Music Help Students’ Cognitive Development.” There was also a translation of an introduction to the Indian concept of Guru-Shisya Parampara. In the final section, entitled “On International Multicultural Music Education,” Guan discussed diverse approaches to music education in various parts of the world. Furthermore, he noted the writings of scholars such as Bruno Nettl and Alan Merriam, as well as James Albert Banks, Ram Mahalingam, and Cameron McCarthy. To create awareness of the international music education community, he covered important organizations such as the International Society for Music Education (ISME) as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Discussing issues closer to China, he compared the issue of race in China with that of the United States, noting that racial problems are less pronounced in China due to its non-immigrant population. He concluded by writing about Chinese approaches to multicultural music education, making references in particular to two important conferences in China. Following the third section of the book, Guan presented interview transcripts with music educators such as Bennet Reimer. There is much to recommend about Guan’s work. First, he argued that philosophy of music education should be undergirded by culture, a position which he coined “music cultural philosophy” (yinyue wenhua zhexue 音樂文化哲學).1 For him, as the twenty-first century is one that is marked by globalization and multicultural development, musical traditions from different cultures, languages, ethnicities, and religions should not be neglected. Meanwhile, the establishment of the International Society for Music Education (ISME) creates an environment to better understand the inter-relationships between diverse cultures within music education.2 Guan argued for the importance of embracing diverse musical traditions for now and the future, navigating music education in China toward a multicultural philosophy. As music is related to history, culture, and human behavior, it is crucial for us to connect our cultures to others through music and contribute to societal development. In emphasizing the role of culture, Guan [End Page 195] contributed richly to philosophy of music education in China, which has in recent years been influenced by major philosophies from the West. He encouraged China to look within itself to shape its own philosophical thinking. Second, Guan appealed for China to have its own music education system, one which places traditional Chinese music and Chinese culture at its core, so as to free China from...

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