Xiao Dong
Music Education
Office: TC 125
Email: xdong224@uwo.ca
Xiao Dong is a current PhD candidate at the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University. As a musician, educator and scholar from China, Xiao brought her cultural perspective to her doctoral study in Canada. Different educational experience within different cultural, social and political structures allows Xiao to rethink music teaching and learning through multiple perspectives. Xiao’s research interests have developed from her experience as a classically trained violinist. Her research focuses on student metacognition and subjectification in violin learning, and how reflective practice may be an approach and catalyst to improve student metacognitive capacities and subject-ness.
Xiao holds a master’s degree in Violin Performance from Soochow University in China, which she completed in 2018. During the three years of graduate study at Soochow University, Xiao built well-rounded techniques and musicianship as a violinist in different settings such as solo performance, chamber music and symphony orchestra. One year later, Xiao started her doctoral study at Western University (2019). The shift of self-identity from a performer to an educator and a scholar has refreshed Xiao’s understanding of the musical world, especially music education. As a violin teacher, Xiao is committed to creating a safe environment for students to think through their music practices. Beyond transferring music knowledge and techniques, Xiao encourages students to become independent learners and thinkers.
Since 2021, Xiao has started providing virtual violin lessons within one-on-one and group study settings. After over one year of exploration in virtual teaching and learning, Xiao gave a presentation at the 35th ISME (International Society for Music Education) World Conference, titled Pedagogy in Uncertain Times: Learning to Teach Violin, Again. Xiao will present at ACE (The Asian Conference on Education) in November 2022, discussing the challenges and opportunities in instrumental teaching during and beyond the pandemic.
