Sichuan Conservatory of Music Pop Music Academy

Department of Pop Instruments

       The specialty of pop instruments was founded in 2002 and was one of the earliest specialties of pop instruments performance with four-year university degree in China. It is composed of four teaching groups which are guitar (electric guitar and folk guitar), electric bass, drum set and saxophone. With reference to the international advanced pop instruments’ teaching experience and the research of the present status of pop instruments in China, a relatively integrated teaching system has come into being with directors and teachers’ continuous innovation to the teaching approaches and materials. With four years strict training, not only solid foundation for performance be will well established, but practical skills like harmony, sight-reading and improvisation will be also cultivated, so to be competent for professional recording and live performance. Meanwhile, to meet the demand for pop instruments teachers in the society, to cultivate and transmit excellent teachers to schools is also our aim.
     
        Associate Prof. Hu Xiaohai has been the dean since 2005. The faculty team includes Wu Bin, Zhao Pei, Feng Zhaoxiong, Shen Ge, Cao Yeyan, Sun Shiwei, Yu Shiqiang, Wang Su and Zhang Defeng, among whom, Prof. Hu Xiaohai’s slap in electric bass, Zhao Pei’s speed and funk in guitar and Wang Su’s saxophone modern techniques are at a distinctive advantage in the same domestic level.

 
         Pop Instruments Department has many academic exchange activities like international and domestic master classes, lectures and concerts. Report concerts have been held on a regular time to establish students’ solid foundation with excellent teaching conditions and artistic atmosphere. Students of our department have won different awards in various music competitions. Particularly, in 2007 National Pop Music Education Forum of Higher Academics and First Academy Cup Invitation Competition hosted by our school, students of our department were required to rehearse and accompany for 22 songs in the limited 20 days, acting as the unsung heroes and were spoken highly by musicians from brother colleges.
    
Curriculum
Required Fundamental Courses
1、Solfegio  2、History of Chinese Music   3、History of Western Music  4、Theory of Pop Music  5、Chinese Folk Song and Music  6、Piano  
Required Major Courses
   1、Solo   2、Ensemble   3、Harmony   4、Music Form   5、Orchestration   6、of Computer Music Production  7、Composition Techniques for Pop Music 8、Analysis of Pop Music Classics  9、Music Appreciation  10、 Paper Writing
    
Teaching Characteristics   
    
1. With the utilizing of international and domestic advanced teaching materials and course books compiled by our own teachers, different performing techniques will be mastered in the process of teachers’ explanation and demonstration and performing music pieces and studies with targets. In this way, some senior music works will be gradually played and expressed in the accurate styles and emotions. Students will last be encouraged to improvise with the combination of techniques they have learned and imagination.
   
2. With the analysis of style, scale, harmony, form, instrumentation of pop music, ensemble class mainly performs classic works so to strengthen the cooperation with other instruments and improve students’ comprehension to contemporary pop music.
     
3. Through the appreciation of international and domestic classic music works, students’ appreciation abilities to music will be largely cultivated so to enhance their artistic accomplishments. Besides the introduction to the instrumentation of pop music, instrumentation emphasizes on the fixed orchestration styles of pop music so to make students accumulate more orchestration  experience in pop music composition and electro-acoustical band.
     
       Pop instruments have always been an important component in the development of pop music. In accordance with the present stage of the development of pop music, the education of pop instrument is also a significant part in pop music. Under the leadership of Prof. Hu Xiaohai, the faculty team not only completes the teaching tasks, but involves in international and domestic artistic exchanges, broadens the construction of the discipline, strengthens academic teaching and researches as well, which providing high-quality teaching and creating excellent learning atmosphere.