Volunteer's effort is music to village kids' ears

Fans of the band

Wu Jiaxin, an 11-year-old fifth grader, plays drums for the band. Her mother works in Guangzhou, Guangdong, and her father works in Changsha, Hunan.

Jiaxin lives with her grandparents and two of her younger cousins. She used to get angry often — particularly with her cousins as they frequently used to take her belongings without permission — and her grades at school were affected by her mood.

Since joining the band, though, she said she has become happier and that listening to music makes her feel more relaxed. She also often watches videos online to help her improve her drumming skills.

"Music has become my favorite hobby, and I like Mr. Wen and his lessons a lot," she said.

Jiaxin said she especially loves being part of the band.

"Being on stage makes me happy," she said. "Plus, I have made friends with others in the band, and now I want to become a music teacher."

Liu Guanyu, 11, and his cousin Wu Jiayi, 10, are both in the band. Like Jiaxin, Guanyu plays the drums, while Jiayi plays the keyboard.

Both of their parents work in cities, and they live with their grandparents.

Guanyu said he does not blame his parents for leaving him behind, as he knows they did so to support the family. He said he has enjoyed music since he was a small child, and he likes playing the drums because of their strong rhythm. His parents support his musical endeavors, as they want him to be happy and more outgoing, he added.

Besides the keyboard, Jiayi has also learned to play the drums, guitar and bass in the band. She has also taught herself ukulele by watching videos.

"Nowadays, I do not feel nervous at all when playing on stage, and I have practiced both with the band and by myself to improve my skills," she said.