Rural students win praise after making concert debut

Magical transformation

He noted that the children in Huanxi are not as confident as their urban peers, so it was understandable that they were nervous when they went to rehearse at the Jiuritai Concert Hall in urban Fuzhou on March 4 for their performance the following day. "Despite there being not even a single audience member, they looked extremely uneasy when they took the stage," he said.

He has discovered that music has the magic to transform these children, which has encouraged him and the other musicians to remain devoted to the orchestra, despite all the difficulties.

A Grade 5 boy in the orchestra used to be socially awkward, and he even felt uneasy when he had to stand next to a girl, Nie said. However, he is a different person now: he is poised when communicating with others, and he outperforms his peers in playing the sheng, a reed pipe wind instrument.

Since the March 5 performance, Nie has noticed that many of the students are more confident and mature.

"You can feel from the way they play that they are relaxed," he said, adding that their performance is now even better than that of some university orchestras in Fuzhou.

Chen Zhongsheng, principal of Jieban Primary School, is also impressed by the changes in his students. "I have seen their determination improve, and they have become increasingly capable of deep concentration," he said.

He added that his school's poor musical education facilities have made him appreciate and cherish the opportunities offered by the musicians.

More than 20 of his 69 students joined the free music classes at the beginning, he said. However, he noted that many of the children have had to stop because of inadequate transportation.

Some of the students live 30 minutes from the school by foot, he said, and though local buses between the school and Huanxi township often visit to pick the children up and then take them back when the class ends at 6 pm, it is quite late when they get home.

Moreover, in winter, the sun sets at 6 pm, so it is difficult for the students to get home on the dark, hilly roads, he added.

Chen Shuming, principal of Huanxi Primary School, is proud of his students because he never imagined that they would one day stage a performance in a professional concert hall.

"None of them had any background in playing musical instruments, and most had never even heard of the sheng," he said, recalling the time the Friday classes were launched at his school.

"It was a great achievement for them to stage a performance at the Jiuritai Concert Hall, but they went even further by performing eight songs," he said. "They are much more confident now."

Dreams, influence

Despite never having touched a musical instrument before, Chi Yuxin was one of the first students from Huanxi Primary School to join the music classes in 2019. Now age 12, she has discovered a world of joy through music.

First, she studied the erhu for about two years, before changing to percussion. Now, she concentrates on percussion, but still plays the erhu when she has enough free time.

"If I'm busy with homework, I practice (percussion) for half an hour a day. If not, I spend an hour," she said, adding that she has bought a drum pad to improve her skills at home.

Chi has enjoyed singing since she was very young, and has seen her sense of rhythm grow stronger since she joined the classes. "Every day when I am taking a shower, I sing songs. I really enjoy that," she said.

She is happy that her brother, a third grader, has joined the orchestra this year. He has chosen to learn the ruan, a traditional plucked stringed instrument. "He chose to join, probably under my influence," she said.

Chi said she plans to keep learning music after she enters middle school. "My dream is to be a doctor. That dream has not changed, but music will enrich my spare time," she said.

Yang Jie in Fuzhou contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at houliqiang@chinadaily.com.cn