Music gets new meaning

Children practice different musical instruments during a 10-day music camp in Beijing. The non-professionals will give a performance at the Beijing Concert Hall on Monday. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY

There was no audition or test for the applicants and they will give a performance on Monday at the Beijing Concert Hall.

After tests, the students were divided into three groups, which form three orchestras－symphony, string and percussion.

Speaking about the project, Hu, who is training the students along with his musician friends, says: "For many of them, this will be their first music summer camp experience, and the first opportunity to perform in an orchestra at a concert hall."

The camp, which runs from 8:30 am to 3 pm daily, includes basic training and rehearsals for the performance.

The camp began with the children playing Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring under the guidance of Zhang Jingye, a violin teacher at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

As the artistic director of Orchestra Kids, Zhang says the project is a challenge both for the students and the teachers.

Speaking to the students, Zhang says: "I know you have been practicing the piece for days, but I want to say it doesn't matter how well you play your instrument. The important thing is you listen to others' performances and try your best to help each other."