hsc_symposium_2010

The INTERNATIONAL HISTORY OF MUSIC EDUCATION Website

A project of ISME’s History Standing Committee

Guido d’Arezzo

Guidonian Hand

HISTORY STANDING COMMITTEE SYMPOSIUM PRESENTED AT THE 29th ISME WORLD CONFERENCE (BEIJING), 2010 Symposium Title: Harmony and Future of the World – Confucian philosophy and the History of Music Education in China: Insights for the 21st Century Symposium Convener: Marie McCarthy, Chair, ISME History Standing Committee Symposium Abstract: At the 2006 ISME Conference in Kuala Lumpur, I proposed to the History Standing Committee that for future conferences we honor and highlight the music education history of the country that hosts the conference. We agreed that we would make every effort to include a session on the history of music education in that country. At the 2008 conference in Bologna, we sponsored a symposium on solmisation, chaired by Robin Stevens, and organized a tour to Arezzo, both cases highlighting the contributions of Italian musician and innovator Guido d’Arezzo.In the context of the upcoming conference in Beijing, we plan to focus on the influence and presence of Confucian philosophy in the history of music education in China. Confucius (551 B.C.-479 B.C.) was one of the greatest ancient Chinese philosophers and educators. This topic is well aligned with the conference theme, Harmony and Future of the World, since harmony was at the center of Confucius’ philosophy, a harmony that in some way reflected the divine order. The goals of this session will be (1) to learn about the role of music and education in the philosophy of Confucius, (2) to identify the influence of Confucian thinking on the development of music education in China in various eras, and (3) to highlight the usefulness of Confucian philosophy to contemporary music education, both in Eastern and Western countries. Participants: Presentation 1 — Professor Hai Lin Xiu, China Conservatory of Music, Musicology Department(Prof. Victor Fung, University of South Florida, translator)Confucian Philosophy of Music Education in the Context of Ancient Music Education in China. This presentation highlights the Confucian philosophy of music education in the context of ancient music education in China. It also describes the development of this philosophy and relevance to contemporary practices. Presentation 2—Professor Da Ma, Guangzhou University, Dean of the School of Music and Dance(Prof. Victor Fung, translator)Confucius’ Philosophy of Music Education and Contemporary School Music Education in ChinaConfucius considered music education an important component of educating ideal citizens. He emphasized moral education together with musical aesthetic education. Based on the history of Chinese school education and the music education policy document issued by the Chinese government in the last 100 years, we can see the deep influences of Confucius’ music education philosophy. This ancient philosophy plays an important role in contemporary Chinese music education philosophy. Presentation 3—Professor Victor Fung, University of South Florida (will translate for two Chinese scholars)Philosophies of Confucius and Plato in Relation to Contemporary Music Education: This presentation examines the philosophies of Confucius and Plato with a focus on their similarities. The goal is to explore commonalities in music and the humanities regardless of the different cultural roots. The presentation concludes with traces of their philosophies in contemporary music education practice and potential development in the 21st century. Presentation 4—Professor Marie McCarthy, University of MichiganConfucian Philosophy: Insights for Music Education in the 21st CenturyPhilosophies of music education during the last century have drawn exclusively on Western philosophy, particularly those of ancient Greece and continental Europe. In this presentation, the educational and musical philosophies of Confucius are synthesized as they relate to music education philosophy in contemporary Western education. This paper will set up discussion questions and the topic will be opened up for audience participation.