My interest in pursuing educational research as part of the Chinese Whispers project was rooted in my pre-doctoral volunteer teaching experiences in the Confucius Institute at the University of Hull, as well as my background as a native music lecturer and choir director in China. My teaching experience range from educating Chinese college-level students about native folk music and singing English in choirs to working with primary and secondary school children and University-level students in the UK in teaching Mandarin language through singing activities. As a teacher, I would describe myself as a language-cum-music tutor. Even though much of my training in music focussed on performance, especially accordion playing, I have always participated in choirs and have extensive experience of groups singing. Likewise, my insights into language teaching have developed from my professional work as an interpreter.

I started learning music when I was 5. My mother plays a series of Chinese instruments including Erhu, Pipa, Jinghu. Although she is not a professional musician, she has made a profound impact on me. At the age of 2, she brought me my very first accordion and put it on top of a cabinet in my bedroom. I was staring at it everyday till one day (5 years old), my mom asked me if I wanted to take a look at the accordion and start learning. Well done mom! You have successfully made a toddler curious for so many years!

Although I began learning music at a young age, I didn't attend a specialized music school. It wasn't until the Chinese Gaokao (equivalent to A-levels) that I decided to pursue music as my future career. I enrolled at Jimei University to study Musicology (Accordion Performance) for my Bachelor's degree, and later pursued a Master's degree in Art Management at Fuzhou University.

After completing my Master's, I began working in Tianjin, where I taught courses in Music Appreciation, Chinese Folk Music, Music History and directed a campus choir. Additionally, I was responsible for teaching international exchange students from countries such as Canada, Thailand, and others. My subjects included Chinese language and culture, Chinese music, and more. I found it deeply rewarding to work with students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

In 2019, I embarked on a PhD journey at the University of Hull, focusing on the interdisciplinary Chinese Whispers Project. In 2023, I started working as a Postdocoral research assistant at the University of Hull.

There are three core values that underpin my teaching activity:

First, I believe that it is important to teach children to be respectful to one another no matter who they are or where they come from, thus fostering an internationalized attitude towards the world. I believe that education, especially intercultural education across multiple ethnic groups, teaches students to know and understand others, which could contribute towards social equality and reducing prejudice.

Second, I think it is important that learning is fun and, as such, I regard language learning through singing as a process of "perceiving the other side of the world" in an enjoyable way.

Third, I believe that teaching is a creative pursuit. In particular, I think that combining language and music through a medium of instruction provides a unique opportunity to be creative and to inspire children and adults to develop their creative potential too.

In my spare time, I like cooking (all kinds of food, especially Chinese), hiking, exploring the beautiful Yorkshire area, and playing with my animals. I am also a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory and All Creatures Great & Small!

Publications

Journal Articles:

Lu, Y. (2021a). Book Review: Interculturality in Learning Mandarin Chinese in British Universities: by Tinghe Jin. London and New York: Routledge, 2021. British Journal of Education, 9(8), 50-54. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3909274

Lu, Y. (2021b). Performing music research: methods in music education, psychology, and performance science: by Aaron Williamon, Jane Ginsborg, Rosie Perkins and George Waddell, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2021, 544 pp., £34.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-19-871454-5. Educational Review, 74(6), 1199. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131911.2021.1979312.

Lu, Y. & King, E.C. (2025, forth coming): Music and Language Learning: Designing a “Singing Curriculum” to support Mandarin Language Acquisition in the UK. British Journal of Music Education.

Lu, Y & Prior, H. (2025, forth coming): Music and Language Learning: Delivery a “Singing Curriculum” to support Mandarin Language Acquisition in the UK. International Journal of Music Education.

Book chapter

Lu, Y. & King, E.C. & Prior, H. (2025, forthcoming):

Intercultural Teaching in the Chinese Whispers Project. In E. King & S. Desbruslais (Eds.), Music and Interculturalism: Perspectives in Education, the Community and Creative Practice. London: Routledge.

Presentations:

· Lu, Y., King, E. & Prior, H. (2025). Intercultural teaching in the Chinese Whispers Project. Sempre: Intersections between music psychology and education. Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). 9 and 10 April 2025.

· Lu, Y. & King, A. (2024). Access and sustainability in music technology professional development.

· Conference Chair/Presentation. SEMPRE MET 2024 (MUSIC-EDUCATION-TECHNOLOGY), University of Hull, June 2024.

· Lu, Y. (2021). International Symposium on Music and Intercultural Practice, University of Hull, April 2021. Design and delivery of the Chinese Whispers Singing Curriculum.

· Lu, Y. (2021) Intercultural Music Education: Teaching Mandarin Chinese through Choral Singing.

SEMPRE Conference: Engaging with Education, Music and Psychology Research, University of Keele.

· Lu, Y. (2023) The Chinese Whispers: Teaching Language through Singing: Teaching Strategies. BFE/ RMA Research Students’ Conference 2023 at Northumbria University.

· Lu, Y. (2022) Newland Lecture: The Chinese Whispers™ Project: University of Hull Research and Reflections on Mandarin Singing Curriculum Design and Intercultural Teaching.

Poster:

BFE-RMA Research Students’ Conference 2022 at University of Plymouth

1st Place Poster Competition: Second Language Singing Curriculum Design: Learning Mandarin through Singing. 6-8 January 2022.