This study examines how revisions to the national music curriculum have influenced world music education by comparing changes in the composition and distribution of world music selections in middle school music textbooks developed under the 2015 and 2...
This study examines how revisions to the national music curriculum have influenced world music education by comparing changes in the composition and distribution of world music selections in middle school music textbooks developed under the 2015 and 2022 revised curricula. A content analysis was conducted on 14 textbooks for each curriculum period, encompassing both volumes 1 and 2 of each title (28 volumes per period). Findings from the 2015 revised textbooks were cross-validated with previous studies to confirm consistency.
The results show that world music selections increased from 90 to 162 pieces in the 2022 revised textbooks, representing an approximately 1.8-fold expansion across all continents. European music remained the most prevalent at 37.7% (61 pieces), yet the repertoire shifted away from traditional folk songs toward more accessible genres such as chanson and pop. Continuity was observed through repeated selections across both periods, while newly introduced pieces reflected changing educational priorities. Publisher-level differences were also identified, with the number of world music pieces ranging from 5 to 19, suggesting potential disparities in students' learning experiences depending on textbook selection.
By providing a comprehensive analysis of world music composition across all middle school music textbooks published under the 2022 revised curriculum, this study offers foundational data to support more balanced approaches to world music education in future curriculum development.