This study provides an in-depth examination of creativity development in higher music education in China. Between April 2023 and February 2024, the researchers conducted surveys and interviews with 316 students and 27 faculty members at five institutions in Guangzhou, China, intending to explore teaching strategies, sources, and challenges of creativity. The findings revealed the importance of traditional teaching methods; however, introducing innovative teaching methods is essential to activating creativity. The primary sources of creativity include cultural heritage, diversity of musical genres, and technological advances in music composition. Curricular rigidity, limited opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, and insufficient use of technology are the main barriers to creativity development. This study proposes the use of flexible pedagogical strategies integrating technology into music education and encouraging interdisciplinary student engagement, and the reforms for higher music education in China, aiming to address barriers to creativity development to foster musical talent that can compete and innovate on the global stage, promote music education in China, and enhance international competitiveness.

Authors:
Tingyu Yan, South China Normal University, China
Hong Yu, South China Normal University, China
JiaJun Tang, University of Southern California, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Tingyu Yan is a voice teacher and postdoctoral researcher at South China Normal University, focusing on voice pedagogy, performance studies, music education, and infant music cognition. She is also a visiting scholar at The Ohio State University.

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