Passing down the drum
china.org.cn / chinagate.cn by Zhang Lulu, December 5, 2016 Adjust font size:
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Gourd-shaped drums were used in ancient times to offer sacrifices and make wishes. [Photo by Zhang Lulu / China.org.cn] |
Young drummer
10-year-old Wei Duanduan spent half of his summer vacation this year learning to play the bronze drum. He was among a group of 30 students at a primary school in Donglan County to learn the art.
Tan Weiquan, the headmaster of the school, said that his school began to train music teachers on the ancient drum in 2014. After the teachers learned the art, some 30 students were selected to learn how to play the drum from the teachers. That way, the art can be passed down, Tan said.
The students, however, are not equipped with the drums each time they practice. Tan said each set of drums can cost as much as 10,000 yuan (about US$ 1,453), which the school cannot afford. The students therefore have to practice on desks. But when it comes to important occasions, the school can borrow drums from Chen's collection and other local public collections for the students. The school plans to offer students drum classes once per week and expand the student group to 60 in the future, Tan said.
When Wei Duanduan and his schoolmates performed the art, they stood in the courtyard of Chen's collection, where the melody they played was faintly accompanied by the thumps of the ancient drums upstairs.