I like this picture from the Kindergarten English Immersion school we visited in Xi'an. (The CCUEI or China-Canada US Collaborative English Immersion Program). The morning was filled with morning exercises, demonstrations in art, music and linguistics. Many of us received beautiful paintings by the children. We were all elated with this experience
The picture shows a young student (about 6 years old) performing a solo on the zheng or guzheng instrument, which appears both, technically and physically difficult. Notice the fingertip guards worn by the boy as he plucks the strings. His left hand managed to create a sophisticated vibrato. In the shadows under the tree in the distance I managed to capture the silhouette of a woman watching for the duration of this boy's performance. I suspected it was his mother and then confirmed this suspicion with one of the staff at the school. At the end of the solo, the boy quickly discarded the fingertip guards in the hands of a teacher and he smiled, seeming relieved and proud of his efforts. At this point I glanced, and "mom" had disappeared.
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