What We Can Learn: Fifteen year old native Oakland teenager teaches immigrant youth traditional Chinese music
nevit via stock.xchng
Time to look across the pond where I just read about fifteen-year-old Oakland, California student Tyler Thompson whose hobby sets him apart from many of his peers. As an African-American student in the Purple Silk Music Education program, Thompson teaches Oakland-based low income immigrant kids how to play and sing traditional Chinese musical fare.
Thompson told the Associated Press he finds the music “very beautiful” and “ passionate.” Thompson received a standing ovation for performing a centuries old musical theater piece at Washington’s World Children’s Festival last June. According to Thompson, the music has made him curious about the world outside of Oakland, outside of California, and outside of America.
Thompson first learned Chinese language singing when he was a kindergarten student taking a music class in Oakland’s Lincoln Elementary School Lincoln Elementary School’s student population is over 90 percent Asian. His teacher recruited him to join the Purple Silk Music Program. The program teaches students how to play traditional Chinese instruments and sing Chinese songs. Thompson performed his first solo came when he was six years old at Davies Symphony Hall. He has also appeared at “Good Morning America” on ABC. He has performed at the US State Department for Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and Secretary of State Condoleeza
Rice.
Thompson’s mother said that her son’s cross-cultural experiences have made him more open minded. Although he says some students joke about how a black Oakland kid can sign Chinese, Thompson says he plans to further continue singing Chinese traditional songs since this art from has opened doors of opportunity for him.