Music teacher keeps village students in tune with their talent

Another student in Li's music class, Huang Xianfu, under Li's coaching, recently passed the fifth-level performance test of the Chinese bamboo flute. Like Ding, he too has been taking the classes for more than five years.

Always smiling, Li is not the type of teacher that scares students. However, teaching is not always easy.

"For these kids, I have to teach from the very beginning because they lack basic music education," says Li, adding that he also teaches them to read the scores.

The classes are not one-on-one. Usually a dozen children take lessons at the same time. Li will walk around, listen to their performance and coach them. Standing and coaching for about two hours is not easy for the 77-year-old, who often does not have time to take a break.

For teenagers, music class can be boring, especially when they have to monotonously practice a part by repetition. To maintain their interest, Li will choose the songs that appeal to them and come up with games to make lessons more engaging.

An orchestra of traditional Chinese instruments has gradually taken shape as the number of Li's students reached 60.

With the increasing popularity of Li and his lessons, he was invited to give lessons at Shiwan primary school in Liling's Dongfu town every Thursday afternoon.

Last year, under Li's efforts, a children's orchestra was founded at the school, and it has performed on public occasions. Some of the students were even admitted into music conservatories.

Li's next plan is to strengthen their playing skills and then perform more original songs with a local flavor.

"I am in love with music and also want the younger generation to get spiritual power from music," Li says. "I hope the orchestra will develop and I will be able to continue teaching."

Zhu Youfang contributed to this story.