A Study on the Application of an Innovative Rhythm-Training Approach in Chinese Primary and Secondary School Percussion Education

Authors

  • Yi Huang University of Lisboa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62177/jetp.v2i4.926

Keywords:

Rhythm, Percussion Education, Innovative Pedagogy, Chinese Music Education, Participatory Music Practice, Musical Language

Abstract

This study examines how innovative percussion-teaching approaches—featuring polyrhythm structures and contemporary percussion practices—can be meaningfully integrated into primary and secondary school music education in China. The aim is to support students in developing musical creativity and expanding the expressive scope of their musical language. Guided by concepts of musical creativity, normative musical development, and participatory music practices, this research critically reviews existing scholarship and proposes a new framework for fostering creativity through percussion learning. By drawing together diverse theoretical perspectives and addressing challenges specific to the Chinese educational context, the study articulates an approach to rhythm instruction that balances technical skill with creative exploration. The framework emphasizes the importance of historical context, systematic rhythm training, and collaborative performance experiences in cultivating students’ creative capacities and fluency in musical expression. Ultimately, this study seeks to bridge traditional and innovative pedagogies, offering practical strategies for nurturing a new generation of creative young musicians who can communicate effectively through a rich and expressive musical language, contributing to the ongoing development of music education in China.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Webster, P. R. (1998). The new music educator. Arts Education Policy Review, 100(2), 2–6.

Humphreys, J. T. (2006). Toward a reconstruction of “creativity” in music education. British Journal of Music Education, 23(3), 351–361. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265051706006884

Jaques-Dalcroze, E. (1921). Rhythm, music and education. London.

Juntunen, M.-L., & Hyvönen, L. (2004). Embodiment in musical knowing: How body movement facilitates learning within Dalcroze Eurhythmics. British Journal of Music Education, 21(2), 199–214. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265051704005686

Rohrmeier, M. (2020). Towards a formalization of musical rhythm. In Proceedings of the International Society for Music Information Retrieval Conference (ISMIR) (pp. 621–629).

Honing, H. (2013). Structure and interpretation of rhythm in music. In D. Deutsch (Ed.), The psychology of music (3rd ed., pp. 369–404).

Small, C. (1998). Musicking: The meanings of performing and listening. Wesleyan University Press.

Qiu, Z. L., & Hirunrux, S. (2022). The development and application of body percussion in music education, Guangzhou, China. Asia Pacific Journal of Religions and Cultures, 6(1), 94–111.

Hughes, G. (2020). Music, science and expert listening: Interdisciplinarity and solo percussion performance. Steam, 4(2), 1–9.

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2002). Creativity and music education (Vol. 1). Canadian Music Educators’ Association.

Dogani, K. (2004). Teachers’ understanding of composing in the primary classroom. Music Education Research, 6(3), 263–279.

Economidou Stavrou, N. (2013). Fostering musical creativity in pre-service teacher education: Challenges and possibilities. International Journal of Music Education, 31(1), 35–52.

Henry, W. (1996). Creative processes in children’s musical compositions: A review of the literature. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 15(1), 10–15.

Yu, Z., & Leung, B. W. (2019). Music teachers and their implementation of the new music education curriculum standards in China. International Journal of Music Education, 37.

Zhou, Q. (2021). Retracted: Development of creative thinking skills through aesthetic creativity in middle school educational music course (p. 263).

Hargreaves, D. J., Miell, D., & MacDonald, R. (2002). Musical identities. Oxford University Press.

Hoffman, D. M. (1996). The Takadimi system: A rhythmic solfège method. Music Educators Journal, 82(7), 22–26.

Poudrier, È., & Sapp, C. (2022). Composite tool: A computational system for the visualization and analysis of polyrhythms. Music Theory Online, 28(1).

Downloads

How to Cite

Huang, Y. (2025). A Study on the Application of an Innovative Rhythm-Training Approach in Chinese Primary and Secondary School Percussion Education. Journal of Educational Theory and Practice, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.62177/jetp.v2i4.926

Issue

Section

Articles

DATE

Received: 2025-11-30
Accepted: 2025-12-08
Published: 2025-12-22