Students from China and Germany attend the Black Forest Arts and Cultural Festival in Freudenstadt, Germany. Over the past five years, more than 400 Chinese teenagers have taken part in the event. This year, the event coincides with the China-Germany Year of Student and Youth Exchange. Photos provided to China Daily

Black Forest event helps youths gain understandings with music

This summer, a group of Chinese teenaged art enthusiasts will take part in the sixth annual Black Forest Arts and Cultural Festival in Freudenstadt, Germany.

The festival, to be held in July and sponsored by China Daily Education Special and the Beijing Silk Road Culture International Exchange Center, is a cultural exchange for teenagers from the two countries. Over the past five festivals, more than 400 Chinese participated in each event.

The two nations established a strategic partnership and long-term bilateral relations in 2014.

On March 21, leaders of the two countries attended the opening ceremony of the China-Germany Year of Student and Youth Exchange in Beijing.

Chinese and German teenagers will play various musical instruments together, including the piano and cello as well as traditional Chinese instruments such as the hulusi, a kind of wind instrument. German teenagers will also teach their Chinese peers about their traditional dances, while the Chinese teens are expected to hold kung fu performances and demonstrate how to write calligraphy.

Michael Clauss, the German ambassador to China, said he expects many Chinese and German teenagers to discover the dazzling variety of cultures far beyond stereotypes.

"Nothing is more valuable than a face-to-face encounter with teenagers from another country. That's why we promote exchanges between China and Germany," he said.

Chinese parents that China Daily spoke with said they expect their children to improve how they communicate with foreign peers. They said many Chinese students prefer to keep to themselves rather than socialize with others.

Chinese participants are expected to study Western manners, German arts and outdoor sports activities.

Clauss said Chinese students are more focused on their studies and have less spare time. He called their self-discipline impressive and said German teenagers tend to be "carefree".

"They do sports, play music and try to find their own way in life," he said.

"I personally think that self-determination and self-discipline don't conflict. That is why I think that Chinese and German teenagers can learn a lot from each other," he said.

Teens grow up

The event has proven fruitful for many Chinese families. Dong Cuiping, mother of 8-year-old Ma Yijia, said her daughter became more responsible and independent after taking part in the event.

She said her daughter came away impressed upon noticing that her German peers clean their tables after meals. Chinese students, she said, usually go out to play after eating.

Zhou Guanyu, mother of 9-year-old twins, said her daughters became more mature and improved on their manners.

But most importantly, many of the teens said they were touched by the music when they attended the event.

Zhao Jierong, 17, has been playing the drums since the age of 7 and attended the event last year. When she saw a marching band of teenage girls perform on Freudenstadt's main street, she jumped at the chance to join them.

"I saw they had a spare drum, so I asked with gestures if I could play and they welcomed me to join," she said.

"I don't speak German and they don't speak Chinese, but we played a song together and our rhythms totally matched. I also learned a few cool moves from them." Cheng Siqi, a 16-year-old pianist studying at Beijing's Middle School attached to the China Conservatory, said she enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere during her trip last year.

"My piano teacher studied in Germany, so I always wanted to go to Germany," she said. "I heard people playing music everywhere."

Jin Di, leader of a group of children from Jiangxi province, said the opportuniy to travel and study overseas is precious for children from the inland province.

"Our province is famous for porcelain, so I gave a blue and white porcelain vase to Freudenstadt's mayor as a gift last year. I hope more people will come to know we not only have porcelain, but also have many young talented musicians," she said.

The Black Forest, a forested mountain range in southwestern Germany, is known for its cuckoo clocks, Black Forest cake, fresh air and picturesque landscapes. Many stories from Grimms' Fairy Tales, including Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood, were based in the region.

Freudenstadt is a small ancient city with beautiful scenery in the northern part of the Black Forest. Several artists from around the world including Chinese pianists Li Yundi and Lang Lang have hosted concerts in the city.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/24/2016 page7)