Comparative Study of Popular Music in China and the United States

Abstract

Music provides numerous benefits for students of all ages, ranging from children to teenagers. As popular music continues to emerge and evolve rapidly, it has become a daily activity for many students around the world. However, popular music pedagogies often lack professionalism and direction. This article highlights the significance of popular music education, describes the limitations of popular music education in the two countries, outlines mainstream suggestions for incorporating popular music education in schools, and compares the two countries’ popular music educational systems. Through research results, it is found that while the two countries’ popular music education differs in stipulated instructional hours and is confronted with distinct attitudes from teachers and scholars, they share similarities, such as a high demand for teachers, curricula offerings differing from students’ music of interest, and a disparity between schools. This comparative study sheds light on the similarities and differences of popular music education in the two countries and may provide guidance for improving the popular music educational systems.