New media as facilitators and tools of (popular) music education: Facts and findings from mainland China

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the rapid technological and cultural developments involving new media in China, this research aims to examine music education in primary and secondary schools with a focus on new media and popular music. This article incorporates a discussion, based on the research results, of the influence of new media and popular music on primary and secondary education. Data for this study were collected in the form of a questionnaire from a sample of 1986 pupils and 200 teachers from twenty primary and secondary schools in Xi’an, China. Results show that employing new media to teach popular music in primary and secondary schools enhances the overall audio-visual experience for both learners and educators, and it also has positive influences on learning, teaching and sharing popular music. Moreover, the use of new media has been proven to encourage independent learning, as well as triggering changes in aesthetic appreciation towards music. The research reflects on the importance of teaching tools, interaction and independent learning skills in the acquisition of knowledge by primary and secondary pupils.