Contemporary Piano Pedagogy and Creative Teaching in the One-to-one Context in Higher Education Institutions in Mainland China

This research focuses on contemporary piano pedagogy and creative teaching in the one-to-one lesson in higher music education institutions in mainland China. This qualitative study explores the student-teacher relationship in the one-to-one lesson; teaching methods, materials and pedagogical philosophies; the role and application of creativity and creative teaching in contemporary piano pedagogy, and institutional influences on pedagogy. Data, gathered through one-to-one semi-structured interviews with piano students, teachers, a principal, and head of departments, and videoed piano lessons in Chinese higher education institutions, was thematically analysed. The findings show that the one-to-one lesson plays a significant role for piano students to gain knowledge. The teaching is technique-oriented, focuses on specific work in detail, prioritises classical repertoire and appears to concern the negative aspects of what students were not good at. The master-apprentice approach dominates and is seen by these teachers as being widely applied in one-to-one pedagogy. The findings also suggest that teaching methods were shown as didactic; demonstration and directives were frequently used, and students were learning through imitation and obeying directives.
Additionally, the findings also indicate that due to global influences that link creativity to technological innovation and economic conditions there was generally a positive attitude from the participants regarding creativity and creative teaching in the field of music. Despite this seemingly positive motivation, it was found that the students’ independence and creativity were not given much room to develop in the one-to-one piano pedagogy in the current research, and creativity appeared to be lacking within the videoed lessons. Therefore, potential barriers that relate to creative teaching in this context are discussed in detail; in addition, a framework for creative teaching in piano pedagogy in higher education institutions in mainland China is provided.