On June 20, 2026, on the second floor of Yueqingshan Bookstore in Tongzhou, Beijing, a group of children sat in an arc holding violins and cellos, with sheet music for "Auld Lang Syne" on their music stands. Many of them had no prior experience in an orchestra, no experience in independent sight-reading, and had never played in an ensemble. An hour later, when the piece was played in full, every parent and teacher present knew—the Idyllic Symphony Youth Community Orchestra had truly begun.

Violin Temple · Violin Temple Treasure Hall The First Step to Dismantle the "Sound Valve" Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra's First Rehearsal Successfully Held June 20, 2026, Tongzhou, Beijing · Yueqingshan Bookstore On June 20, 2026, on the second floor of Yueqingshan Bookstore in Tongzhou, Beijing, a group of children sat in an arc holding violins and cellos, with sheet music for "Auld Lang Syne" on their music stands. Many of them had no prior orchestral experience, no experience in independent sight-reading, and had never played in an ensemble. An hour later, when the piece was played in full, every parent and teacher present knew—the Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra had truly begun. Why Create a Public Welfare Orchestra? Before the rehearsal began, Tian Lifu, director of the Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra, gave an opening speech. Without pleasantries, he posed a direct question: Why has learning music become so expensive in China? A single lesson costs thousands of yuan, a violin can cost hundreds of thousands, exams require fees, competitions require fees, and even performances require out-of-pocket expenses. He called this the "sound valve"—a monopolistic structure that turns music education into a lucrative business by exploiting information asymmetry and erecting barriers. The Idyllic Symphony Orchestra's mission is simple: tear down these barriers. "Rehearsals are free, performances are free, and competitions are free. This is not a gimmick, not a 'free first, then charge later' scheme—it is genuinely three kinds of free. Because it's free, it must be cherished even more. What you receive without spending money, others may not obtain even with money. So treat it with greater seriousness than if you had paid. — Tian Lifu, Director, Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra" In his speech, Tian Lifu shared the orchestra's origins. His father, Professor Tian Yuan, benefited from free lessons at the Changchun Film Orchestra in his youth—learning the violin without spending a penny. He later joined the orchestra, entered university, and became a conductor, composer, and university professor. Now, Tian Lifu is passing on the same opportunity his father received to even more children. 3 Rehearsals · Performances · Competitions – All Free 4+ Annual Public Welfare Performances 6.6 Official Announcement of the Three Free Promises (June 6) First Half: Each Child Performs The first half of the rehearsal did not begin with picking up instruments. Instead, each child in the orchestra stepped forward in turn to perform a solo piece. After the performances, the instructor arranged seating based on each player's actual skill level—who sat as concertmaster and who sat in the back was determined not by age or seniority, but by the level demonstrated that day. This was not a one-time arrangement. Tian Lifu announced that every new member joining the orchestra in the future would undergo the same process. Having each child perform in front of the entire group tests their own abilities and shows respect for their fellow orchestra members. Parents were not present during the rehearsal. No parents helped pack up instruments, apply rosin, or organize music stands—the children handled their own instruments, helped the teacher move chairs, and collected music stands. Even first graders managed this independently. This independence is not taught; it is cultivated by letting go. Second Half: Ensemble Performance of "Auld Lang Syne" The first rehearsal was led by Professor Tian Yuan himself. As Tian Lifu's father, Tian Yuan serves as the conductor and artistic director of the Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra, with decades of experience in orchestral performance and teaching. Facing a group of children with vastly different skill levels—some had studied for years, while others could not even read sheet music—he remained patient, working through each section note by note. The rehearsal piece was "Auld Lang Syne." Though the melody is simple, the challenge of ensemble playing lies not in individual technique but in collaboration: string sections must listen to each other, watch the conductor, and enter and exit together. For children who had never experienced ensemble playing, this was a completely new challenge. By the end of the rehearsal, most of these children—who had little to no orchestral experience or music-reading ability—had largely completed the ensemble performance of "Auld Lang Syne." From sitting down with blank expressions to raising their bows in unison and blending their sounds—this process is the power of ensemble education. Ensemble Playing Teaches More Than Just Playing the Violin In his speech, Tian Lifu shared a thought that may be the most important takeaway for parents: In an orchestra, children learn more than just how to play an instrument. They must listen to other sections, blend with others, and follow the conductor's gestures to enter and exit together—this is ensemble playing. Ensemble training cultivates listening, collaboration, discipline, and focus—skills far more important than being able to play a few pieces. Another crucial aspect is stage presence. When a child stands on stage, with hundreds of real audience members seated below, lights shining on their face, and bow raised in the air—that feeling cannot be simulated in any classroom. Stage presence is built through repeated performances, not bought with money. The Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra promises at least four public welfare performances annually, plus commercial performances sponsored by partners—all real stages. Ensemble Training Fosters Listening and Collaboration Stage Presence Cultivates Real Performance Experience National-Level Teaching Faculty Orchestra Rules: Set Rules First, Then Begin Public welfare does not mean laxity, and free does not mean lack of seriousness. At the end of his speech, Tian Lifu announced five core rules for the orchestra, emphasizing: Because it's free, treat it with greater seriousness than if you had paid. Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra · Five Rules Punctuality: Rehearsals start at 2:00 PM. Arrive 10 minutes early to tune and warm up. Being late means the entire section waits for you. No Absences Without Reason: Do not take leave without a compelling reason. Last-minute cancellations or post-hoc excuses are not acceptable. Parents Wait Downstairs: Rehearsals are between the children and the conductor. Leave the space to the children. Music Folder and Sheet Music: Bring your own music folder. Sheet music is distributed uniformly. Take it home to practice after rehearsal and bring it back next time. Respect the Conductor and Fellow Members: When the conductor speaks, everyone stops and listens. Do not chat or disrupt when others are playing. From Today, We Walk Together The first rehearsal concluded on the second floor of Yueqingshan Bookstore. As the children lowered their bows, the air in the bookstore still carried the scent of rosin. Parents waited downstairs, asking their children how it went. The children replied, "It was okay. I'll come again next time." The Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra is currently supported by the Idyllic Symphony teachers and Yueqingshan Bookstore for operational costs. In his speech, Tian Lifu said, "We don't have sponsors yet, but we start first and seek sponsors along the way. We can't wait for funding to begin." On June 6, the orchestra officially announced its commitment to free rehearsals, free performances, and free competitions. On June 20, the rehearsal day, the children filled the rehearsal hall. 2024: National Youth Music Literacy Competition – First Prize in Beijing, Second Prize Nationwide The Idyllic Symphony Children's Orchestra fought hard in competitions June 6, 2026: Official Announcement of Free Rehearsals, Free Performances, Free Competitions The Idyllic Symphony Orchestra formally commits to "Three Frees" June 20, 2026: First Rehearsal Held at Yueqingshan Bookstore Professor Tian Yuan guides the children in completing the ensemble performance of "Auld Lang Syne" Let more families afford music education, let more children experience the feeling of standing on stage, and let music education return to what it should be—not a privilege for the few, but a light accessible to all. From today, we walk together. Violin Temple · Violin Temple Treasure Hall violintemple.com · Idyllic Symphony Youth Public Welfare Orchestra

The First Step of Removing the Sound Valve: The First Rehearsal of the Idyllic Symphony Youth Charity Orchestra Successfully Held