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TheSpecialMusic PrograminTaiwanFor educatingTalentedand GiftedYoungMusicians

Hsiao-Shien Chen, Ph.D., Guest Contributor University of Oregon

The Declaration of Beliefs for the International Society for Music Education (1994) states: “All children should have access to an education in music which is balanced, comprehensive and progressive and designed to meet the musical needs of each unique learner, including those with exceptional aptitude” (p. 49). School education globally has taken up this cause. In recent years one of the most important issues that has emerged in educational communities all over the world is educational equity (Borland, 1989).

One such prime example is the Taiwanese government’s decision to follow the style of administration typical of American schools with regard to the policy of catering to children who display exceptional ability. Specifically, the Taiwanese designed the Special Music Program (SMP) to train talented and gifted young musicians in Taiwan. The SMP has now been established in Taiwanese public schools from the elementary to the high school level for more than 30 years. Students in the SMP are independent and follow different schedules than do other students in their school buildings. Two fulltime teachers are in charge of one class in the SMP. One teacher takes responsibility for the students’ academic work and the other advises their musical studies. In addition, they have several experts who teach private lessons, and they use the most expensive facilities in the schools (Chen, 1998). On the other hand, students in the SMP carry heavy course loads every day. They do most of the regular academic work as the other students but also have coursework in solfége, theory, private lessons, and ensembles.

The SMP entrance exam is designed to identify talented musicians. Administrators of the SMPs at the elementary and junior high school levels recruit students from each school in their area. The recruitment of high school SMP students is the same as that of university music departments. Young musicians are required to take the National Entrance Exam just like other students who want to attend high schools. Moreover, they