Rural kids get chance to realize musical dreams

Although many primary school students in underdeveloped areas have an innate love of music, they are often prevented from developing their talent by lack of resources.

Now, students from 125 Hope Schools across China can enjoy music lessons thanks to the Happy Music Classroom Program, sponsored by German premium auto manufacturer Mercedes-Benz .

This initiative in corporate social responsibility aims to bring the joy of music to more than 40,000 youth by providing fully equipped music classrooms.

Thanks to the program, schools will have percussion bands with uniforms.

Over the course of this year, the program will establish another 175 music classrooms and finally provide music to more than 100,000 Hope School children across 29 regions and provinces in China. With 10.5 million yuan in funding, the program will provide facilities and instruments, including electric pianos, desktop audio systems, TVs and DVD players.

Through the strong partnership between the automaker and the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF), the program has been effective at establishing music classrooms within a short period of time and has also been recognized as a successful case model for improving the quality of music education.

This model involves four key steps: furnishing music classrooms, training teachers, gathering volunteer support, and exchange activities.

Music training for teachers

In addition to donating musical instruments, Mercedes-Benz has also prioritized professional music training for teachers.

This shows the automaker's belief that maintaining a high standard of music education in Hope Schools is equally as important as providing tools and facilities.

Professional training courses conducted by professors from the Shanghai Normal University's Conservatory of Music have been carried out since the inception of the program.

Every teacher supported by the program can attend an intensive training at the Shanghai Normal University.

The courses have been very well received by the teachers from 300 Hope Schools who have attended the course since 2010.

Yet Mercedes-Benz's work does not end at putting music classrooms in place and providing training for teachers. It also endeavors to rally more social forces to bring together the best education resources to meet the needs of society.

Through the Star Ambassador Volunteer Program, it has successfully called upon the public and famous celebrities, including the Li Biao Youth Percussion Group, singing duo Yu Quan and many others, to support the program.

The carmaker's dealers, customers, employees as well as other qualified professionals have also volunteered their time and expertise to help the program.

Star bases for music education

In order to ensure the sustainable development of its program, Mercedes-Benz is also establishing Mercedes-Benz Star Bases for Music Education in areas with close proximity to the music classrooms.

Such bases will serve as regional hubs for education, where professional volunteers and teachers can gather to reach out to underprivileged children. This program is a long-term partnership between Mercedes-Benz and selected nationwide organizations in a bid to provide professional volunteer support for the implementation of the Happy Music Classroom Program in a regular, targeted and sustainable way.

This will not only expand Mercedes-Benz's volunteer resources and help encourage more people to take part in acts of charity and social support but also serves as an innovative way of promoting the continued development of its social welfare programs.

Two bases have already been set up in Harbin, Heilongjiang province and Hubei province, respectively, and six more will be established before the year's end.

Interaction and exchange activities are critical to learning music, especially for children living in rural areas.

Mercedes-Benz organized the recent Music Gala for this purpose, aiming to provide an opportunity for the children to showcase their musical talents to a wide audience, and at the same time, create a joyful platform for the underprivileged kids to fulfill their musical dreams.

Contact the writer at zhuangti@chinadaily.com.cn