The Investigation And Research On The Current Situation Of Yangqin Social Education In Baotou Of Inner Mongolia

Yangqin is a Chinese musical instrument with more than 400 years of history.The instrument was introduced to China's coastal areas of GuangDong province in the late Ming/early Qin Dynasty. Once considered exotic, the instrument underwent various stages of development and evolution,fusing into Chinese performing arts including local folk music, opera music, local folk art music as well as other forms of performances, forming a variety of local music style and artistic characteristics. In modern China, Yangqin has become both an international music instrument and a distinctive national music instrument. The use of Yangqin in Inner Mongolia's Er-Ren-Tai opera is one of its many uses in local Chinese musical styles. It is also a distinct Yangqin music style.Baotou is the largest city in Inner Mongolia. As a typical immigrant city, the formation of a unique regional music culture - the Inner Mongolia Er-Ren-Tai is inevitable following a long-term cultural integration and development. Yangqin is known as one of the "San Da Jian" (Three main music instrument) in the Inner Mongolia Er-Ren-Tai music. With the development of Er-Ren-Tai art,Yangqin began to gain popularity amongst the people in a unique cultural atmosphere of Inner Mongolia, gradually evolved to form a variety of performance as oppose to its original status as an accompaniment instrument, becoming an indispensable member of inner Mongolia art music. However, most of the researches on the Inner Mongolia Er-Ren-Tai music were focused on performances and musical skills rather than theoretical research on Yangqin education or theory and practice of Yangqin social education.The main content of this paper consists of three parts namely: introduction,theory, and conclusion. The introduction part explains the purpose and significance of the paper as well as the current research and research methods of the paper. The second part is composed of three chapters. The first chapter expounds the development of the Yangqin art in Baotou area, namely its transformation from an Er-Ren-tai accompaniment instrument towards the Yangqin education,as we know today. The transformation will be explained in three periods: (a) The development in the fifties and sixties of the twentieth century, (b) The development in the mid-sixties to late seventies of the twentieth century, (c) The development in the eighties of the twentieth century until modern day. The development will be written out in accordance with the time course, explaining the situation of Yangqin social education in Baotou area in each period respectively. The second chapter will be focused on understanding the current state of Yangqin education in Baotou area as well as getting hold of the problems that need to be solved and perfected. This will be done through a systematic review of the development of Yangqin art in Baotou area and fieldwork in primary and middle schools with prominent Yangqin education. Scale of schools,teachers, students, and training modules are factors that will be taken into considerations for the study. Questionnaires on the knowledge of Yangqin aiming at Yangqin students and the public of Baotou area will also be carried out. The third chapter analyses the current status and future development of the Baotou area Yangqin social education through questionnaire and surveys.Through the investigation and research on the current status of Yangqin social education in Baotou area, the author finds that the development of Yangqin in Baotou area is inextricably linked with the art of Er-Ren-Tai. The use of Yangqin in Er-Ren-Tai music is the source and important support of the development of Yangqin music in Baotou area. At the same time, the author found in the survey that most of the Baotou people came to know and understand Yangqin from the Er-Ren-Tai art. It can be said that the development of Yangqin in Baotou area cannot be separated from the Er-Ren-Tai art. Therefore, the author incorporates the research of "The application of Er-Ren-Tai techniques in Yangqin performing" in first chapter of the study, making a new attempt at its techniques and artistic characteristics in hopes of better inheriting and developing the unique music culture of the region. This also reflects an important aspects of the future of Baotou area Yangqin teaching work, cultivating higher level Yangqin talents and musicians.