In March 2026, Dr. Michael Houlahan gave guest lectures at top music universities and conservatories throughout China, such as the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Wuhan Conservatory of Music, Tianjin University, Jiangsu Second Normal University, Central China Normal University, and the China Conservatory of Music.

His presentations drew on his published research with Oxford University Press, including Choral Sight Reading: A Kodály Perspective (with Philip Tacka), as well as his current work on boosting creativity and musical problem solving in musicianship using the UDU model (https://www.uducreate.com).

He also highlighted research showing how teachers’ own musicianship links to effective music teaching, stressing that strong musicianship skills help with musical understanding, creativity, and better classroom instruction.

The lectures and workshops covered musicianship development, creativity, and improvisation in music classrooms, along with how the Houlahan–Tacka approach applies to Chinese folk, art, and popular music.

During his visit, Dr. Houlahan met with faculty translating his work into Chinese and with graduate students studying musicianship and music teaching. This visit helped continue academic exchanges with music educators and researchers in China.