A Study Of Official Music Education In The Northern Song Dynasty

The music education in the Northern Song Dynasty was an important part of the splendid culture of the Song Dynasty,and it provides the basis for the high development and wide spreading of musical culture at that time.However,the historian circle of music did not pay much attention to music education in this period.Therefore,it is necessary to take the research on official music education of the Northern Song Dynasty as a precedent study.Through the analysis of the relevant literature,it can be seen that the official music education in the Northern Song Dynasty is basically divided into two parts.One is the music education in the official system of this period,including schools for the education of royal family members,government-run schools such as those at local prefectures and counties and feudal imperial colleges for ordinary people,and private schools and family teaching as official preparatory education.Through the analysis of the content and examples of music education in the above-mentioned official schools,it can be found that the music education in the Northern Song Dynasty was not marginalized and dispensable as considered by some scholars.On the contrary,music education is an important part of Confucian thoughts for the education of rites and music,and it plays a central role in the teaching of official schools.The other part is music education in the official music institutions of the Northern Song Dynasty.This includes the practice and research of the court music carried out by Taichangsi Institution and Dashengfu Office under the attention and guidance of the rulers.The music offices extensively absorbed the essence of folk music,which frequently showed its rhythms in the court music of Northern Song Dynasty.The analysis of these musical activities indicates that,the musicians in the music institutions at that time were engaged in exchanging ideas,making innovations and improving music pieces,which led to the development of music education in the entire Northern Song Dynasty.In addition,the contents of music education in that period can also be reflected in the evolution of the music institutions and the military music practices.