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Music teacher on special mission to help, entertain less-fortunate souls
By Xu Wenwen |
August 15, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
XIANG Ai stepped onto the stage with his fellow performers. The spotlights hit his face and he took a deep breath, then he put his sweaty hands on his guitar and started to play.
This was Xiang's performance debut after learning how to play the guitar one year ago. He played with the 3+1 Band in a Hangzhou air-raid shelter, which is being used during the summer months as a place where people can come to stay cool.
The 25-year-old from Lichuan, Hubei Province, has only studied in elementary school for three years. He became a migrant worker at 18 years old. Last year he moved to Hangzhou and worked as a cook. Months later, he decided he wanted to be a guitarist.
"I have loved music since I was little, and I believe music can take me to a kind of lifestyle where people do not look down upon me," he tells Shanghai Daily.
Migrant workers are often looked down upon by people in cities. As an example, Xiang says his girlfriend dumped him after three years because her father said Xiang's family was too poor.
At that time, Xiang gave up his job as a cook, which paid him 3,500 yuan (US$550) a month, to follow his dream of becoming a musician. He got a job at a music instrument store on less than half his previous salary, but he can learn music for free.
"Music is my dream," he says. "Since I have chosen it, I will take this path and see where it leads," Xiang says.
The 3+1 Band is led by Gu Yueqi, the boss of the musical instrument store. Gu also teaches music to Xiang and the other four band members, all migrant workers who work in the store.
The band, associated with Hangzhou Volunteer Art Troupe, has given dozens of performances in communities, schools and air-raid shelters.
Gu, a native of Fuyang, Hangzhou, organized the grassroots band and made it related to charity. While the band members are quick to accept gigs in which they perform for those less fortunate they do accept commercial gigs.
Gu, 41, plays the saxophone, clarinet, flute, guitar, piano and drums. He has worked as a music teacher for years and has been volunteering with the Hangzhou Volunteer Art Troupe for almost a decade.
He established Teacher Gu's Music Instrument Store in Binjiang District last October and formed 3+1 Band with a bunch of migrant workers.
Some know Gu from the store, some were introduced to him by friends and others turned to him to see if they could get free music lessons. Gu says he accepts those who have passion for music and come from a working-class background.
Some band members, like Xiang, work as a salesman in the store so they can learn different instruments.
"To found the store is to make a band, and to make a band that plays music I like has been my dream for many years," Gu says.
"A person should do meaningful things," he continues. "The money I earn from running the store is enough to support my family, so I see no reason to charge the poor for our performances."
Gu also says their free performances are good opportunities for the new band members to learn and gain experience.
Band member Mo Xiaofeng, 24, from Yulin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, used to sing in subway and on street corners to make a living.
The two met last year at a performance by Gu. Soon afterwards, Mo became a band member and a guitar teacher in the store.
"I might not become a star, but being a guitar teacher and playing music I like is already a great achievement," Mo says.
Mo says his relationship with Gu is special.
"Gu is like my second father," he says. "I have done many jobs in the past couple of years, but after I met Gu, I realized I should follow my heart and choose music as my life."
The band members also include an albino, who dreamed of becoming a singer to change his situation after few would offer him a job because of his appearance, and an office worker who quit his job that offered a decent salary to pursue a career in music.
The 3+1 Band will likely keep evolving as Gu's final wish is to organize an electro-acoustic band that includes a guitarist, drummer, keyboarder, sax player and other wind instrument musicians.
Music is my dream. Since I have chosen it, I will take this path and see where it leads.
This was Xiang's performance debut after learning how to play the guitar one year ago. He played with the 3+1 Band in a Hangzhou air-raid shelter, which is being used during the summer months as a place where people can come to stay cool.
The 25-year-old from Lichuan, Hubei Province, has only studied in elementary school for three years. He became a migrant worker at 18 years old. Last year he moved to Hangzhou and worked as a cook. Months later, he decided he wanted to be a guitarist.
"I have loved music since I was little, and I believe music can take me to a kind of lifestyle where people do not look down upon me," he tells Shanghai Daily.
Migrant workers are often looked down upon by people in cities. As an example, Xiang says his girlfriend dumped him after three years because her father said Xiang's family was too poor.
At that time, Xiang gave up his job as a cook, which paid him 3,500 yuan (US$550) a month, to follow his dream of becoming a musician. He got a job at a music instrument store on less than half his previous salary, but he can learn music for free.
"Music is my dream," he says. "Since I have chosen it, I will take this path and see where it leads," Xiang says.
The 3+1 Band is led by Gu Yueqi, the boss of the musical instrument store. Gu also teaches music to Xiang and the other four band members, all migrant workers who work in the store.
The band, associated with Hangzhou Volunteer Art Troupe, has given dozens of performances in communities, schools and air-raid shelters.
Gu, a native of Fuyang, Hangzhou, organized the grassroots band and made it related to charity. While the band members are quick to accept gigs in which they perform for those less fortunate they do accept commercial gigs.
Gu, 41, plays the saxophone, clarinet, flute, guitar, piano and drums. He has worked as a music teacher for years and has been volunteering with the Hangzhou Volunteer Art Troupe for almost a decade.
He established Teacher Gu's Music Instrument Store in Binjiang District last October and formed 3+1 Band with a bunch of migrant workers.
Some know Gu from the store, some were introduced to him by friends and others turned to him to see if they could get free music lessons. Gu says he accepts those who have passion for music and come from a working-class background.
Some band members, like Xiang, work as a salesman in the store so they can learn different instruments.
"To found the store is to make a band, and to make a band that plays music I like has been my dream for many years," Gu says.
"A person should do meaningful things," he continues. "The money I earn from running the store is enough to support my family, so I see no reason to charge the poor for our performances."
Gu also says their free performances are good opportunities for the new band members to learn and gain experience.
Band member Mo Xiaofeng, 24, from Yulin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, used to sing in subway and on street corners to make a living.
The two met last year at a performance by Gu. Soon afterwards, Mo became a band member and a guitar teacher in the store.
"I might not become a star, but being a guitar teacher and playing music I like is already a great achievement," Mo says.
Mo says his relationship with Gu is special.
"Gu is like my second father," he says. "I have done many jobs in the past couple of years, but after I met Gu, I realized I should follow my heart and choose music as my life."
The band members also include an albino, who dreamed of becoming a singer to change his situation after few would offer him a job because of his appearance, and an office worker who quit his job that offered a decent salary to pursue a career in music.
The 3+1 Band will likely keep evolving as Gu's final wish is to organize an electro-acoustic band that includes a guitarist, drummer, keyboarder, sax player and other wind instrument musicians.
Music is my dream. Since I have chosen it, I will take this path and see where it leads.
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