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Public library offers many free classes
By Wu Huixin |
December 18, 2012, Tuesday
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EVERY Tuesday morning, a dozen middle-aged and elderly women wave fans and dance as they follow directions of a teacher at the Hangzhou Public Library.
They are among many ordinary citizens taking regular free classes in dance, calligraphy, photography, playing traditional Chinese instruments and around 15 other subjects at the library.
Three years ago, the Hangzhou Public Library began to recruit expert volunteers to teach free classes, open to all city residents, regardless of experience.
There are two terms, the spring term from March to June and the autumn one from September to December. Enrollment is limited and early registration is recommended.
Zhan Yuqin, a member of the dance class, learned about the free classes when she borrowed books. Then she quickly called up her neighbors in the Yangjia Community in Xiacheng District, urging them to sign up. Although dozens of women in that community applied, only 11 were admitted. All of them are older than 40; the oldest is 61.
The classes also welcome people from other provinces who have settled in Hangzhou, such as 60-year-old Xiong Minghua from Chengdu, Sichuan Province. After retirement she moved to Hangzhou and every week she takes a hour's bus ride to attend dance class at the library.
"The class helps me blend into local life because I make friends with other members of the class," says Xiong, who plans to continue next year.
Many of the women in the dance class previously took part in square dancing, but none had ever received professional training. "We love dancing and want a professional to teach us," says Zhang.
"Since these ladies have no formal training in dance, I teach them the basics, such as basic positions, steps and gestures," says a volunteer teacher identified only as Su. Considering that older people have flexibility and other problems, she teaches less difficult routines.
Su works in the library as a volunteer in her spare time. This term she teaches dance, next year she will teach yoga.
"These women are much older than I but they are very optimistic and enthusiastic about learning new things," says Su. "I consider them a model."
Unlike free public classes open to everyone regardless of background, the Hangzhou Public Library's chorus requires auditions to test applicants' sense of pitch and rhythm.
The chorus was started in 2010, targeting ordinary residents, especially the middle-aged and elderly. Few people came to audition, so the overall quality that year was unsatisfactory.
"Although the first group of chorus members was not good enough, after two years of practice they became the pillars of the chorus," says conductor Zhao Bing. Last year the chorus gave a concert at the Hangzhou Grand Theater and were greatly applauded.
It generally takes the chorus half a month to learn a song. At first members could not read music, but now they can read musical score, Zhao says.
The library chorus has become popular throughout Hangzhou because of their many free performances, as well as their good performances in choral competitions, which has encouraged hundreds of citizens to sign up.
"The mother of a library employee auditioned but was rejected because of her poor pitch. We allowed her to sit in and audit only. So you see, no one can enter this chorus through the 'back door'," says Zhang Lei, head of the chorus.
Finally, 30 people stood out from the hundreds of candidates this year and the chorus was restructured into two teams. Team One consists of the highest level of talent and aims to participate in competitions, while Team Two aims to boost the level of singing.
The two choruses train every Tuesday and Friday from 6pm to 9pm. Attendance rules are strict and members are dropped if they miss three sessions without permission.
Lu Ming, 23, works at the Xiasha Economic and Technology Development Zone, which is far from the library. His company allows him to leave early on rehearsal days, and make up the time later.
Next to Lu is 73-year-old Chen Tiansheng, who belonged to a college chorus many years ago.
"The library chorus enriches my retired life, and the conductor teaches us singing methods, which adjusts my breathing rhythm and makes me healthier," Chen says.
Hangzhou Public Library calls itself "the third life space," after the home and the office. "We hope our library can become the third life space where citizens can improve and showcase their hobbies," says Liang Liang, vice curator of the Hangzhou Library. The aim is to become a public space for cultural communication.
For information about the free public classes or chorus, visit the Hangzhou Public Library website (www.hzlib.net/).
They are among many ordinary citizens taking regular free classes in dance, calligraphy, photography, playing traditional Chinese instruments and around 15 other subjects at the library.
Three years ago, the Hangzhou Public Library began to recruit expert volunteers to teach free classes, open to all city residents, regardless of experience.
There are two terms, the spring term from March to June and the autumn one from September to December. Enrollment is limited and early registration is recommended.
Zhan Yuqin, a member of the dance class, learned about the free classes when she borrowed books. Then she quickly called up her neighbors in the Yangjia Community in Xiacheng District, urging them to sign up. Although dozens of women in that community applied, only 11 were admitted. All of them are older than 40; the oldest is 61.
The classes also welcome people from other provinces who have settled in Hangzhou, such as 60-year-old Xiong Minghua from Chengdu, Sichuan Province. After retirement she moved to Hangzhou and every week she takes a hour's bus ride to attend dance class at the library.
"The class helps me blend into local life because I make friends with other members of the class," says Xiong, who plans to continue next year.
Many of the women in the dance class previously took part in square dancing, but none had ever received professional training. "We love dancing and want a professional to teach us," says Zhang.
"Since these ladies have no formal training in dance, I teach them the basics, such as basic positions, steps and gestures," says a volunteer teacher identified only as Su. Considering that older people have flexibility and other problems, she teaches less difficult routines.
Su works in the library as a volunteer in her spare time. This term she teaches dance, next year she will teach yoga.
"These women are much older than I but they are very optimistic and enthusiastic about learning new things," says Su. "I consider them a model."
Unlike free public classes open to everyone regardless of background, the Hangzhou Public Library's chorus requires auditions to test applicants' sense of pitch and rhythm.
The chorus was started in 2010, targeting ordinary residents, especially the middle-aged and elderly. Few people came to audition, so the overall quality that year was unsatisfactory.
"Although the first group of chorus members was not good enough, after two years of practice they became the pillars of the chorus," says conductor Zhao Bing. Last year the chorus gave a concert at the Hangzhou Grand Theater and were greatly applauded.
It generally takes the chorus half a month to learn a song. At first members could not read music, but now they can read musical score, Zhao says.
The library chorus has become popular throughout Hangzhou because of their many free performances, as well as their good performances in choral competitions, which has encouraged hundreds of citizens to sign up.
"The mother of a library employee auditioned but was rejected because of her poor pitch. We allowed her to sit in and audit only. So you see, no one can enter this chorus through the 'back door'," says Zhang Lei, head of the chorus.
Finally, 30 people stood out from the hundreds of candidates this year and the chorus was restructured into two teams. Team One consists of the highest level of talent and aims to participate in competitions, while Team Two aims to boost the level of singing.
The two choruses train every Tuesday and Friday from 6pm to 9pm. Attendance rules are strict and members are dropped if they miss three sessions without permission.
Lu Ming, 23, works at the Xiasha Economic and Technology Development Zone, which is far from the library. His company allows him to leave early on rehearsal days, and make up the time later.
Next to Lu is 73-year-old Chen Tiansheng, who belonged to a college chorus many years ago.
"The library chorus enriches my retired life, and the conductor teaches us singing methods, which adjusts my breathing rhythm and makes me healthier," Chen says.
Hangzhou Public Library calls itself "the third life space," after the home and the office. "We hope our library can become the third life space where citizens can improve and showcase their hobbies," says Liang Liang, vice curator of the Hangzhou Library. The aim is to become a public space for cultural communication.
For information about the free public classes or chorus, visit the Hangzhou Public Library website (www.hzlib.net/).
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