Update tradition to fit in with the times

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Young people are not interested in traditional music or instruments any more. Polytechnic Chinese orchestra will have to close due to falling membership. Solution? Change the repertoire. Play pop songs. What are the latest hits? K Pop, of course! Winning formula! From a membership of 30, this student Chinese orchestra is now 150 strong and playing to sold out audiences at the main concert hall in town.

Who said traditional Chinese musical instruments can't play any other kind of music? Sure, the sound may be slightly different from the original, but what this teacher has done has breathed new life into a dying tradition. K Pop music played with traditional Chinese instruments is new and refreshing. More importantly, it's drawing the crowds and bringing in the money.

So what is culture anyway? One of the definitions is "the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group". (Source: dictionary.reference.com) As with anything on earth, culture evolves and changes with the times. You could call it a trend, I suppose. What's important is this: this teacher is a trend setter, not a trend follower.

While a part of us reminisces the old, we do appreciate the new. Sometimes the new could simply be following the trend of the day, but giving it a little twist. Ride the wave while it's up! The wave will die down soon enough. Then it's time to look out for the next new wave.

What's the new save in your part of the world now? Does it involve learning a new language? K Pop is all about Korean culture and language. You want to sing K Pop or be the next K Pop star? Go learn Korean today!

Ride the new wave! Learn a new language today!

Fun Language Tools

Singaporean K Pop stars

K Pop group Skarf has 2 Singaporean teens, Tasha and Ferlyn, as members. One of them, Ferlyn, is now the team leader and has been asked to host a Korean entertainment programme. Yes, I'm proud of their achievements. But what impresses me most is that 1 year of grueling training in Korean language (from zero knowledge), acting, singing and dancing, these 2 girls have completely embraced Korean K Pop culture and Korean language to be considered "local".

Ms Jasmine Lee has been elected a member of the Korean Parliament. She has fully embraced the culture of her late husband, yet she is not fully accepted as a "local". Contrast this with Ferlyn's quick acceptance into the world of K Pop and entertainment!

Speaking the language opens many doors. Tasha and Ferlyn were forced into that environment. When everything was new and fresh, they did not find it too tough. But somewhere in the middle of the year-long boot camp, they felt like giving up altogether. “可是，为了完成我们的梦想，我们坚持下去，” ("But, to fulfill our dream, we persevered on,") Ferlyn said on a TV interview. Today, Ferlyn has just started living out her dream to be a K Pop sensation.

What's your dream? Does it involve having to learn another language? If yes, go for it! Dreams don't become reality just by dreaming. Get started on learning a language! Get on the road to fulfilling your dream! You can do it!

Fun Language Tools