"Paul Harris’s Simultaneous Learning has offered Chinese teachers a new way to think about music teaching."
British music educator and author Paul Harris is making a significant impact in one of the world's largest and fastest-growing music education markets, as teachers across China embrace his publications and pioneering teaching philosophy, Simultaneous Learning.
Harris's publications have long been popular with teachers worldwide, and in recent years they have developed a particularly strong following in China. His Improve your sight-reading! series for piano has achieved strong commercial success through Chinese-language editions published by Southwest University Press, and his Simultaneous Learning methodology has gained a substantial following among teachers seeking more holistic approaches to music education.
The growing interest in Harris’s work was further demonstrated by his recent tour of China and Singapore, where he delivered workshops and professional development events for music teachers, sharing practical teaching strategies and introducing audiences to the principles behind his widely respected educational publications.
A key figure in the expansion of Harris’s work in China has been music educator and translator Dongyang Yu, who has helped introduce Simultaneous Learning to teachers and students through a series of lectures, teacher-training programmes and international exchange initiatives.
The programme included lectures by Paul Harris in China, delivered in both online and in-person formats, allowing teachers across different regions to engage directly with his ideas and with his book, Simultaneous Learning.
Billed as a practical and inspiring approach to instrumental teaching, Simultaneous Learning encourages teachers to connect the different “ingredients” of music so that lessons become more creative, positive and meaningful for students.
Yu also led a group of Chinese teachers to the UK for a summer school he organised, where Harris’s work was further explored through a lecture at the Royal Academy of Music. The visit gave participants the opportunity to experience British music education at first hand while deepening their understanding of Harris’s teaching philosophy.
Yu said:
“Paul Harris’s Simultaneous Learning has offered Chinese teachers a new way to think about music teaching. It is not simply a method, but a way of helping students connect technique, expression, listening and imagination. Through these events in China and the UK, we hope to build a bridge between British music education and Chinese teaching practice.”
Dongyang Yu (2nd from left, 2nd row), Paul Harris (7th from left, 2nd row) and Faber Music CEO, Richard King (8th from left, 2nd row) with lecture attendees at Beijing Normal University. May 2026
Paul Harris is one of the UK's leading music educators, authors and composers. His many publications for Faber Music include Simultaneous Learning, The Virtuoso Teacher, Improve Your Teaching! and The Practice Process.
Dongyang Yu is a Chinese music educator and organiser committed to promoting international exchange in music education. Through lectures, summer schools and teacher-training events, he has worked to bring leading British music educators into dialogue with teachers and students in China.