Purpose of the Study to explore the cultures of Hong Kong and Taiwan through examining the similarities and differences of the cultural contents among the music curricula in the secondary schools of Hong Kong and Taiwan. As a result, particularly, a better understanding of, the augmentation of British influence in a past colony, Hong Kong as well as the national education system in Taiwan and its promotion of her local culture, can be achieved. Also, through studying this research, the findings give teachers and different kinds of educators more opportunities to develop some awareness of the social, historical or cultural content of some of the music they read, perform or listen from various sources especially from music textbooks.

Research Question What and why are these nature and extent of cultural contents reflected from four sets of textbooks in Hong Kong and Taiwan?

Research Sub-Problem What is the nature and extent of cultural contents among the music curricula of Hong Kong and Taiwan? What kinds (Western/Chinese/Hong Kong/Taiwan) of cultural contents have been shown in the music textbooks? How much of cultural contents have been shown in the music textbooks? Why does the above phenomenon happen?

Definitions of Terms Nature of Cultural Contents: The geographical and musical origin of the culture. Cultural Contents: Things related to culture. Extent of Cultural Contents: Frequency and percentage of cultural contents. Cultural Contents of Secondary School Music Curricula: Cultural contents of CDC (1983) from Hong Kong; MOE (1986) and MOE (1994) from Taiwan

Specific Area Culture: Cultural contents of a definite area. Integrated Area Culture: Merging of cultural contents of different areas. Western Cultures: Cultural contents of Western world (Europe, USA, Canada and Australia). Chinese Cultures: Cultural contents of China (Mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong). Other Cultures: Those cultural contents do not belong to Western or Chinese cultures.

English Melody: Melody of which the nationality of the composer is English Foreign Melody: Melody of which the nationality of the composer is neither English nor Chinese. Introduced Musician: Musician who is introduced in textbooks. Music Appreciation: Listening repertoire in music lessons. Song: Song sung during music lessons.

Baroque Period: Approximately about 1600 – 1750 Classical Period: Approximately about 1750 – 1820 Romantic Period: Approximately about 1820 – 1900 Contemporary Period: Approximately about 1900 – present Unknown: Subjects (places or people) that the researcher does not know.

Four Sets of Textbooks A1Integrated Music for Secondary Music, Book 1 ( 中國音樂第一冊 ) (1996), 5 th edition. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Music Publisher. A2Integrated Music for Secondary Music, Book 2 ( 中國音樂第二冊 ) (1997), 5 th edition. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Music Publisher. A3Integrated Music for Secondary Music, Book 3 ( 中國音樂第三冊 ) (1997), 5 th edition. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Music Publisher.

B1Yung Ho Do (1997). New Course in Music Book 1 ( 音樂新編第一冊 ). Hong Kong: Sing Tao Educational Publication Ltd. B2Yung Ho Do (1997). New Course in Music Book 2 ( 音樂新編第二冊 ). Hong Kong: Sing Tao Educational Publication Ltd. B3Yung Ho Do (1998). New Course in Music Book 3 ( 音樂新編第三冊 ). Hong Kong: Sing Tao Educational Publication Ltd.

C1aGuo Zhang Yin Yue Book 1a ( 國中音樂第一冊 ) (1997). Taipei: Kanghuo. C1b Guo Zhang Yin Yue Book 1b ( 國中音樂第一冊下 ) (1998). Taipei: Kanghuo. C2 Guo Zhang Yin Yue Book 2 ( 國中音樂第二冊 ) (1998). Taipei: Kanghuo. C3 Guo Zhang Yin Yue Book 3 ( 國中音樂第三冊 ) (1996), 3 rd edition. Taipei:Kanghuo.

D1Guo Min Zhang Zhi Yin Yue Book 1 ( 國民中學音樂第一冊 ) (1987). Taipei: National Institute for Compilation and Translation. D2Guo Min Zhang Zhi Yin Yue Book 2 ( 國民中學音樂第二冊 ) (1987). Taipei: National Institute for Compilation and Translation. D3Guo Min Zhang Zhi Yin Yue Book 3 ( 國民中學音樂第三冊 ) (1988). Taipei: National Institute for Compilation and Translation.