Perceptions of values and influential sources of creativity, music types, and music activities in school music learning: a study of students in Changsha, China

With particular reference to Changsha, China (recognised as a UNESCO creative city in 2017), the purpose of the present study was to examine the under-researched relationships between music types, music activities, and sources of creativity in school music learning as perceived by adolescent students. Between October 2019 and May 2020, data were collected from structured questionnaires completed by 1,083 Chinese school students aged between 11 and 15 and above, and semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 53 of these students. The results of this study found that the students were highly influenced by their school music teachers in creativity education, and the music subject was perceived as important in integrating creativity education into school learning. With an understanding of the role of music teachers in creativity education, there are challenges in providing rich opportunities for students to engage in diverse music types and music activities both inside and outside the school environment.