Charity fills rural schools with music

Bao says charity should not be a one-time impulse: "Good projects deserve continuous donations. We donate at least 500,000 yuan ($80,000) to this one every year."

In addition to Yida, local companies and alumni of Dalian University have also contributed to fund the latest music rooms. Students from four primary schools in Dalian donated one room with their pocket money.

Wafangdian Songshu Town Central Primary School is one of the first 10 schools that accepted a donated room in 2011.

"We have been eager to have music class since we got a piano. With these instruments, our class is not boring any more," says Li Xin, a student of the school who was chosen to attend a five-day music camp in Dalian in 2012. Li and another 52 primary school students had lessons from professional music teachers and enjoyed live art performances.

"I love the summer camp. There I learned some singing skills and became more confident. My classmates said I almost become a different person," she says happily.

"She was a shy girl. Now her eyes are shining," says Ci Xiaobo, Li's music teacher.

In order to best use the instruments, Yao and her team laid out plans to train music teachers and students with potential, including Ci.

During the day, nearly 20 teachers from rural primary schools learn extemporaneous piano accompaniment and vocal music from top musicians in Dalian.

In February, Yao took the teachers to enjoy a live show at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

When the audience and the choir sang in unison the Singing of the Motherland, Ci's eyes filled with tears.

"Yao and her team did a great service for us," she says, proud that the teachers had been able to pass along their enthusiasm to their students.

The Love Music Classroom project has become a brand of Dalian Music Radio. Yao feels good to be fully engaged in it.

"I can do a lot before I retire in four years. Thinking of this, I cherish more what I have today, and hope a successor can take over this project," she says.

"Music gives me strength. Charity makes me happy."