With charity project, music teacher hits the right note

Pupils gets their beloved music instruments through a charity project called Sound of Yida - Love Music Classroom. [Photo Provided To China Daily]

Shi Yan has been working as a music teacher at primary schools since 1997. Now, she teaches piano at Dalian Shahekou District Chunliu Primary School.

With innovative teaching methods and fresh style, she once won the first prize in a nationwide teaching competition.

"I started learning to play the piano when I was 5. At that time, I was forced by my parents to practice every day. So I understand my students and try to let them learn in a happy and relaxed atmosphere," she says.

Currently, parents in urban areas want their children to learn piano, painting, dancing, swimming, and English. However, things are quite different in the rural areas.

There, both schools and parents do not pay attention to musical education, she says.

"Sound of Yida-Love Music Classroom is not only sending them (rural schools) music instruments, but also a concept - the emphasis on musical education. Students in rural areas deserve the same education as their peers in urban areas do," Shi says.