Elderly volunteers use music to inspire mentally handicapped youth

"Choir grandmas" teach music to young people with learning disabilities. [Photo/Yongpai app]

At a community center in Ningbo's Yinzhou district, Ren Yizhen, 79, leads a small choir class alongside two fellow volunteers. Known locally as the "choir grandmas", the trio teaches weekly music sessions to students with learning disabilities, guiding them through simple melodies, repetition, and rhythm practice.

This all began more than a decade ago, with a chance encounter in a care facility, when Ren performed a simple piano accompaniment and noticed that the previously withdrawn young residents responded with smiles and curiosity. That experience led her to begin volunteering regularly, later joined by her two friends.

Their teaching style is shaped by patience rather than formal technique. Instead of focusing on musical notation or strict timing, they break songs into small phrases, repeat them slowly, and encourage students to take it step by step. Over time, many participants who once struggled with communication have become more expressive, even greeting the volunteers warmly and engaging in group performances.

Their work has also reached public stages, with the participants performing a song at a recent community performance in Ningbo, drawing applause and emotional reactions from families who have witnessed the students' progress.

For Ren and her teammates, the goal is not musical perfection but emotional growth. "Music helps them open up and feel happy," she said. "Seeing them become more confident makes it all worthwhile."