Music promotes rural revitalization

A group of seniors perform at the launch ceremony of the rural music classroom of the Central Conservatory of Music in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on Oct 8. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

The Central Conservatory of Music launched a rural music classroom in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on Oct 8 in an effort to promote the rural revitalization in the area.

The rural music classroom is located on Tiantong Old Street in Dongwu town,  Yinzhou district, and is the first rural music classroom that the college has built in the country. It plans to build a total of 8,000 similar music classroom in rural areas across the nation.

Relying on the teaching resources of the Central Conservatory of Music, the classroom will offer various music-related activities for locals, including music sharing, piano lessons and chorus lessons.

A traditional Chinese folk music performance was held at the launch ceremony, played by a band called "80 Group".

The band was established 12 years ago, and its members are all local residents. The eldest member is 85 years old, while the youngest is 61 years old. They are not professional musicians but have a strong passion for music.

In 2019, the Central Conservatory of Music built a music center in Yinzhou district to accelerate rural revitalization in the area through art. Gao Yanan and Liu Changjie, teachers from the college, visited Dongwu town to provide professional training for local art groups. "80 Group" is among them.

"Some of them are carpenters, while others are farmers. But they all share a love for music," said Liu, "After we came, they came to practice every day and never missed a lesson.”

Yu Feng, president of the Central Conservatory of Music, was surprised by the performance. "They have made great progress over the course of a year," said Yu, "I hope the elderly can still enjoy themselves through art.”