An examination of piano study of selected public junior and senior high music preparatory programs in Taiwan, the Republic of China

The purpose of this dissertation is to study the piano instruction in the music preparatory programs of four selected junior high and senior high schools in Taiwan. The four selected schools are the Taipei Municipal Nan-Men Junior High School, the Taipei Municipal Jen-Ai Junior High School, the National Taiwan Normal University Affiliated Senior High School and the Taiwan Provincial Girls' Senior High School. This study provides introductory information on the educational system in Taiwan, details on the entrance requirements to the public junior and senior high music preparatory programs, curriculum design, facilities and faculty, and educational pursuits of the graduates of the four music preparatory programs under investigation. The primary focus of this research is on piano instruction, examination of semester requirements of piano studies in the selected schools, and approaches to piano teaching methods and materials. Observation, evaluation and recommendations for future development by music educators in Taiwan are included in the summary chapter. Appendices at the end of the dissertation provide current list of all of the junior and senior music preparatory programs, entrance examinations in the music theory subject to the public junior high, public senior high and college music programs.;Findings from the research indicate that students undergo vigorous entrance examinations in order to enter these music preparatory programs. The format of curriculum design appears uniformed and strenuous in these programs. Additional elective courses and more options within the system may broaden students' educational experience and promote individual development.;In order to obtain information needed for this research, telephone interviews with all four headmasters and with piano faculty members of the selected schools were conducted. Primary documents examined include catalogues, brochures, educational reports from various music preparatory schools, articles, books and government educational research reports.