Students on Chinese music courses should spend more time learning to play instruments, academics have said.
Dr Lam Ching-wah, head of Music and Fine Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University (BU) said: 'The present curriculum at universities stresses musical theory and history. I think we should equip students with skills to play instruments.' Chinese Music degrees are offered at Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU), BU and Hong Kong Academy For Performing Arts (APA).
He said more understanding of the tools of music would be useful for graduates who wanted to teach.
A conductor was being recruited to improve students' performances.
'Some full-time instructors are needed to upgrade students' presentation skills. We only have part-time instructors with limited resources,' Dr Lam said.
Instrument training is offered by part-time tutors at the two universities.