Development of Piano Performing Art in China in the 20th Century

Abstract

The author has raised the questions and elaborated her opinions on a basis of the literatures and documentations screened and collated by the author in respect of piano education and performance in China in the 20th century. This paper is written as a literature review. The development and achievements in piano education and performance in China has been discussed stage by stage in the 20th century. This will provide theoretical basis for the application of such achievements in one’s own piano performance and teaching practices. It is known from the literatures being researched that various piano schools in the world in the 20th century have affected the development of piano performing art in China in respect of piano playing. The remarkable outcomes of these schools have been widely referred to in China. As a result, a piano school with the characteristics of Chinese nation and art of music has gradually come into being. A large number of Chinese native remarkable pianists have been cultivated. So far more of the literatures available in China are on piano education and less on piano performance theories. The researches on piano performance mainly focus on a specific work of art. It is even rare to find any literature on a combination of piano education and piano performance.