Since ancient times, music has been considered an important part of education, believed to be vital in shaping a well-rounded person. However, China's traditional music, which is a significant part of the country's long history, has gradually become more obscure.
Zhu Xiangfei, a history expert conducting post-doctorate research at Beijing Normal University, expressed his remorse over the decline of traditional Chinese music.
"The quiet and elegant nature of traditional Chinese music is what makes it so important to include in music education, as it has the characteristics to awaken refinement and grace within people. Today, very little traditional music has been sustained. For instance, very few people even know what kind of music Confucius was listening to in his era. A lot of traditional Chinese music pieces have gotten lost as time has gone by."
The musical landscape of China is vastly different today than it has ever been in the past. The ancient conservatory system and the sea of professionals able to bring these performances to life are largely absent.
Yang Jie, a professor at the Communication University of China's Institute of Art, says that, with a rise in mindless entertainment and a declining interest in traditional art forms, there is an overall negative impact on China's culture.
"At present, a negative trend in our film, TV and music industry is excessive entertainment, which merely satisfies people's superficial, low-level demand. Sometimes, such a desire even develops into a vulgar taste. As some western scholars have said, pure entertainment may cause death."
Much of Yang Jie's statement echoes the often-heard complaints by Chinese artists that most people don't appreciate the beauty of elegant art forms like Peking opera and Kunqu opera, but admire vapid or vulgar songs.
Professor Zhang Jing, who specializes in festival culture research, believes the seminar on China's traditional music education may somewhat pave the way for the art form to stage a comeback. He also interprets the role traditional Chinese music can play in countering the previously-mentioned negative trend.
"Today, so many renowned scholars gathered for an in-depth discussion of China's traditional music, interpreting their theories on the music, which I think is a positive and meaningful endeavor. In fact, China's traditional music plays a role not only in educating the society, but even more so in nurturing a healthy personality. Meanwhile, the relevant education on China's traditional music should be a main channel in shaping one's aesthetic value."
The seminar, part of the 5th Beijing Traditional Music Festival in October, presents various aspects of the preservation and development of traditional music from China and the world.
One of the approaches to restore traditional music in Chinese society, according to the participating experts, is to teach traditional music on ordinary campuses in primary and middle schools. Yang Jie agrees with implementing this in a trial operation, but also expresses his concern about effectively teaching traditional and non-traditional music together, working all manner of musical expression into the lessons, including popular music.
"In ancient times, poetry, singing and dancing were closely associated in one piece. If primary and middle schools in China had popular music lessons, educators would have to researching engaging ways to connect popular music lessons with teaching traditional classics. This way, young minds can understand modern music and where the elements of modern music derive from."