In music class, volunteers teach violin and more
A group of volunteers from Sejong University teaches elementary and middle school students how to play violin and cello once a week at a welfare center in eastern Seoul. By Ahn Seong-sik
The elementary and middle school students learn how to play violin from students and professors at Sejong University.
The volunteers belong to the school’s orchestra club, Jieum, and have taught violin and cello since last September at the Hansarang Welfare Center in Gunja-dong, eastern Seoul. The music class offered by the volunteer group takes place once a week.
None of the teachers learned to play through formal classes and instead taught themselves much of what they know.
The class looks like a music class, but the volunteers emphasize there is more than just teaching the students how to play instruments.
“Orchestra doesn’t work when only one performer is excellent and stands out,” said Jang Jin-bok, a 21-year-old hotel management major who serves as the conductor. “You must listen to other members so that you can hit the right chords in harmony with the other instruments,” he said.
Cheon Eun-jeong, head of the center, said that she witnessed changes in attitude in the participants.
“They’ve become more responsible and thoughtful for others after learning musical performance skills,” Cheon said.
Kim Gi-hoon, 10, was often bullied by other students and tried to keep all of the instruments to himself.
Uhm Hyo-jeong, one of volunteers, first scolded him but later took a different approach. The instructor played games with him and became close to the child. She then taught him how to hold a violin bow.
“When we first met, he always grumbled and didn’t pay attention to my words,” Uhm said.
“So, I thought I needed to change my attitude. I didn’t push him to play violin. Instead, I wanted to be friends,” said the 23-year-old food science major.
The once-mischievous kid now helps his classmates learn.
The instructors say their role is not always teaching.
“While teaching the kids, I feel I’ve become more understanding of others,” said Lee Hong-seok, a 24-year-old architecture major. “I also learned the pleasure of volunteer work and how it can be very fulfilling.” He now also plans to volunteer to build houses in Bangladesh. He will leave for the country in August and work there for three weeks.
Professor Kwon Kyung-joong of Sejong University led the team and has sought support from big companies to offer more comprehensive classes.
Last year, KT and the Asan Foundation donated 20 instruments to the club.
The volunteer work is in line with the beliefs of the orchestra club’s president.
Shin Gu, who took charge last year, said that “community service is the best means of character education.”
Since he came to college, other new volunteer groups have sprung up and the school now provides financial support for volunteer work. For instance, Shin went to Laos last winter with 20 university students to perform volunteer work.
The university also requires that students take at least one community service course before graduation.
BY YOON SEOK-MAN [ejpark@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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