Chen Shiran

Thesis

Thesis

The potential for decolonizing the curriculum through the (re) integration of gongche notation in guzheng teaching.

Supervisor: Dr.Pete Dale

This thesis explores the potential of decolonizing music curricula by attempting to reintroduce gongche notation—a traditional Chinese character-based solmization system originating in ancient China—into contemporary guzheng pedagogy. In many modern educational contexts, Western staff notation and numbered notation (jianpu) dominate, often marginalizing indigenous notational epistemologies and reinforcing colonial legacies in music education. By attempting to reintroduce gongche pu in guzheng teaching, the study investigates how this culturally embedded notation can reclaim epistemic agency, enhance cultural authenticity, foster intercultural competence, and challenge Eurocentric frameworks. Through pedagogical experiments, historical analysis, and practitioner perspectives, the research demonstrates gongche’s capacity to preserve intangible heritage, support flexible rhythmic and interpretive practices, and contribute to broader decolonial efforts in global music education.

Biography

Biography

I am a PhD candidate in Music Education in University of York， specialising in the decolonisation of music curricula through the reintroduction of gongche notation in contemporary guzheng pedagogy. My PhD research explores how this traditional Chinese character-based solmisation system can reclaim epistemic agency, enhance cultural authenticity, preserve intangible musical heritage, foster intercultural competence, and challenge Eurocentric frameworks within global music education.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Guzheng Performance from Yunnan Arts University，a Master’s degree in Classical Music Industry from the University of Liverpool, and a Master’s degree in Education Leadership from the University of Manchester. I have performed as a soloist and ensemble musician in China and internationally, and I bring over eight years of teaching experience across guzheng performance and academic contexts at both pre-tertiary and university levels, developing curricula that bridge traditional knowledge systems with contemporary pedagogical practices.

I have delivered presentations at multiple international conferences in the fields of music education and decolonial studies. Outside academia, I have a strong interest in Chinese calligraphy, traditional arts, and sustainable living.

Research

Research Interests

• Decolonising music education
• Gongche notation
• Guzheng pedagogy
• Indigenous and non-Western notation systems
• Epistemic justice in music education
• Curriculum decolonisation
• Intangible cultural heritage
• Intercultural music education
• Practice-based research
• Chinese traditional music pedagogy

External activity

External activity

2026 37th ISME World Conference 

2025 6th Postgraduate Research in Music Education Symposium 2025

2025 CHIME – European Foundation for Chinese Music Research 28th Annual Conference