Student Attitudes and Teacher Strategies in the Aesthetic Education in Chinese Middle School Music Classes

Abstract

This study aims to explore the current state of music education in Chinese middle schools within the context of aesthetic education. It focuses on middle school students attitudes toward aesthetic education and the challenges and strategies music teachers face when implementing aesthetic education in their classrooms. Through questionnaires and interviews with 13 music teachers and 1032 students from 7 middle schools in Guangdong Province, this research reveals that students generally have a positive attitude toward aesthetic education, considering it an essential part of their holistic development. However, the study also identifies multiple challenges teachers face in implementing aesthetic education, including varying interests and levels of understanding among students, curriculum design and textbook selection, and a lack of adequate teaching resources and support. In response to these challenges, teachers have adopted a series of strategies, such as innovating teaching methods, utilizing technological tools, and enhancing teacher-student interaction, to improve the effectiveness of aesthetic education. This study provides an empirical basis for improving the quality of music education in Chinese middle schools and offers suggestions on how music teachers can effectively implement aesthetic education.