The author points out that Hong Kong is a metropolitan city where Chinese culture meets the West. However, the music curriculum does not reflect a perfect blending of music cultures from both China and the West. In the official general music curriculums set forth by the Curriculum Development Committee, Western music dominates what is currently taught in Hong Kong schools. Chinese music is given far less prominence than Western music in all years of schooling. The author discusses this issue, as well as other factors in the training of the teachers that will help build a more fuller understanding and healthier attitude toward the teaching of Chinese music and Chinese culture.

Noting that there are many definitions of a music curriculum, the author attempts to find out some changes in the music curriculum for Hong Kong primary schools since the 1960s. The discussion focuses on two aspects of the music curriculum for Hong Kong primary schools: the "formal curriculum" and the "operational curriculum". The scope of the author's study is mainly on the analysis of documents available.