Amateur musician says people should live an artistic life
By Zhu Yuexia |
December 26, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IT is hard to believe a knife sharpener can be a talented music enthusiast. But surprises come in all shapes and sizes and this is especially true for 66-year-old Yin Kui, a native of Yanbian, Jilin Province, who used to work as a coal miner, soldier and policeman.
Early this year, Yin and his wife moved to Jiangqiao Town to live with their daughter. At first Yin felt a little lonely after leaving friends and relatives behind in his hometown. He then started sharpening knives and scissors around Jiangqiao Town's residential communities. Soon Yin's hawking attracted a few aunties and grannies from the neighborhood. Sharpening a pair of scissors costs 1 yuan (16 US cents) and sharpening a kitchen knife costs 2 yuan. Owing to the low price and Yin's good technique, his business is doing well. When he is not busy sharpening blades, Yin usually plays his homemade erhu -- a two-stringed bowed instrument - to entertain passersby with joyous melodies. Day after day the cheers from the crowds make Yin feel happy and fulfilled.
I met Yin accidentally. The worker of a maintenance shop found it difficult to repair the microphone I had brought to him, but with instructions given by Yin who happened to be in the shop at that time, the worker managed to fix the microphone.
Impressed by his knowledge, I talked with Yin for a long time. To my surprise, when he learned that I wanted to learn to play erhu but hadn't found a mentor yet, Yin volunteered to teach me.
The next day I was invited to Yin's apartment and I was amazed at the many different styles of erhu he had made himself. These erhus are made from varied materials and can produce different sounds.
I was also very curious about a musical instrument lying on the floor, whose shape is similar to that of guzheng, a Chinese plucked zither, or yangqin, a Chinese hammered dulcimer. Yin told me that it was his newest self-made instrument. He dubbed the instrument leiqin, adding that it combines the characteristics and flavors of both guzheng and yangqin. The 17-string instrument produces clear and elegant sounds through high, middle and low ranges. It seemed to be a perfect choice for beginners.
I liked the instrument so much that I couldn't take my eyes off it. Yin decided to give the instrument to me as a gift and carried it to my home. From then on, I enjoy practicing the instrument every day. With Yin's guidance now I am able to perform the famous piece of "Moonlight of Spring River." Recently I also started learning basic erhu playing skills from Yin. Another friend of mine is learning to play the accordion. Yin is a patient and excellent teacher, who doesn't charge any tuition fee.
Yin's interest in music started in his early childhood. He would often save the money for food to buy the musical instruments. The seven erhus at his Shanghai home was made by him after Yin arrived in Shanghai. There are another 40 or so homemade erhus at his home in Jilin Province. He is also adept at playing the accordion, flute and suona (Chinese shawm).
"People should live an artistic life," Yin says. "Music is indispensable to my life."
(Translated by Xu Wei)
Early this year, Yin and his wife moved to Jiangqiao Town to live with their daughter. At first Yin felt a little lonely after leaving friends and relatives behind in his hometown. He then started sharpening knives and scissors around Jiangqiao Town's residential communities. Soon Yin's hawking attracted a few aunties and grannies from the neighborhood. Sharpening a pair of scissors costs 1 yuan (16 US cents) and sharpening a kitchen knife costs 2 yuan. Owing to the low price and Yin's good technique, his business is doing well. When he is not busy sharpening blades, Yin usually plays his homemade erhu -- a two-stringed bowed instrument - to entertain passersby with joyous melodies. Day after day the cheers from the crowds make Yin feel happy and fulfilled.
I met Yin accidentally. The worker of a maintenance shop found it difficult to repair the microphone I had brought to him, but with instructions given by Yin who happened to be in the shop at that time, the worker managed to fix the microphone.
Impressed by his knowledge, I talked with Yin for a long time. To my surprise, when he learned that I wanted to learn to play erhu but hadn't found a mentor yet, Yin volunteered to teach me.
The next day I was invited to Yin's apartment and I was amazed at the many different styles of erhu he had made himself. These erhus are made from varied materials and can produce different sounds.
I was also very curious about a musical instrument lying on the floor, whose shape is similar to that of guzheng, a Chinese plucked zither, or yangqin, a Chinese hammered dulcimer. Yin told me that it was his newest self-made instrument. He dubbed the instrument leiqin, adding that it combines the characteristics and flavors of both guzheng and yangqin. The 17-string instrument produces clear and elegant sounds through high, middle and low ranges. It seemed to be a perfect choice for beginners.
I liked the instrument so much that I couldn't take my eyes off it. Yin decided to give the instrument to me as a gift and carried it to my home. From then on, I enjoy practicing the instrument every day. With Yin's guidance now I am able to perform the famous piece of "Moonlight of Spring River." Recently I also started learning basic erhu playing skills from Yin. Another friend of mine is learning to play the accordion. Yin is a patient and excellent teacher, who doesn't charge any tuition fee.
Yin's interest in music started in his early childhood. He would often save the money for food to buy the musical instruments. The seven erhus at his Shanghai home was made by him after Yin arrived in Shanghai. There are another 40 or so homemade erhus at his home in Jilin Province. He is also adept at playing the accordion, flute and suona (Chinese shawm).
"People should live an artistic life," Yin says. "Music is indispensable to my life."
(Translated by Xu Wei)
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