DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A DIGITAL MODULE ON IMPERIAL CHINESE THEATRE FOR PRE-SERVICE MUSIC TEACHERS: FOCUSING ON KUNQU MELODIC PATTERNS AND VOCAL EXPRESSION

Imperial Chinese theatre, especially Kunqu opera, has huge cultural and pedagogical importance in the field of music education. Although Kunqu is a recognized example of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO, it is still underrepresented in the present-day music teacher training curricula. The presence of a gap in the existing literature in digital pedagogical materials specifically designed to meet the needs of pre-service music educators, has been identified. This research fills this gap through the design and execution of a web-based learning module that would be devoted to melodic patterns of Kunqu and the expression of vocal directed to pre-service music teachers in particular. The study utilized a systematic literature review (SLR) as its main methodological approach and synthesized 16 research papers on music pedagogy, digital education, and Chinese opera studies. The results served as the basis of creating an interactive and multimedia-based module, which combines historical background, audio-visual analysis, and instructed vocal practice. The major insights are that exposure to Kunqu online adds to the appreciation of learners, their technical knowledge, and their confidence when working with non-Western vocal culture. Intercultural awareness and pedagogical creativity in music teaching are also encouraged in the module. The findings highlight the possibility of digital tools in filling the cultural content divide of teacher education. The research will be relevant to the development of the curriculum as well as to the discussion on the integration of traditional performing arts into the music education of the 21st century.