An analysis of the two music syllabuses for junior secondary schools in Hong Kong: Implication for future reform

This paper is an attempt to analyze systematically the two music syllabuses for junior secondary schools, recommended by the Curriculum Development Committee of Hong Kong in 1975 and 1983. They are published as the Provisional Syllabus For Music and Syllabus For Music respectively. Supplemented to these two syllabuses are the Chinese Music Appreciation Course (1981) and An English-Chinese Glossary of Terms Commonly Used in the Teaching of Music in Secondary Schools (1989). In addition, the List of Reference and Resource Materials for Music in Secondary Schools (for Secondary 1-5) (1989) will also be examined. The purpose for the examination of the above official music syllabuses and publications is to have an overview of the post syllabuses including their rationales, philosophies, teaching methodologies, range and depth of subject content, standard of assessment, etc. Changes and differences between the two syllabuses will also be analyzed in order to have an understanding of the development of the trend of thinking and vision of the government concerning the place of music education in Hong Kong. An overview of the past syllabuses, supportive and positive recommendation for improvement and changes in the future will be made especially with reference to the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Arts Education Policy (1996) and trends and issues of international music education frontiers. Copyright © 2000 The Hong Kong Institute of Education.