Selfless university students teach 'dorm auntie' to play guitar

A dormitory administrator at Wuchang Shouyi University is being taught how to play the guitar by a group of students, after falling in love with music on the job.

Zhang Chuanyun, 56, picked up an old guitar when she was cleaning a corridor at the university last summer vacation. After finding out that the previous owner didn't want it anymore, Zhang kept the guitar and often played it even though she had no idea how.

Her off-key performance caught the attention of two students, Wang Ziming and Xu Wantian, who are good at guitar and soon asked her if she wanted to learn.

Zhang was keen, and spent two months tirelessly mastering the basics of guitar playing.

After her two "teachers" graduated this June, they asked two junior schoolmates, Zhou Fansi and Xie Yupeng, to continue teaching her, which they happily agreed to do.

Recently, Zhang's story was widely shared on social media after someone captured a video of her playing guitar while singing and posted it online.

Zhang told Chutian Metropolis Daily on October 17 that she has been learning guitar for almost one year, but can only play one complete song. "I'm a little older so I learned very slowly, but my four young teachers have been very patient and often applauded me for my progress to encourage me."

Zhang said she doesn't have any musical talent, but that would not impede her enthusiasm for continuing to learn guitar. "Guitar has given me so much joy, so now I learn it hard, not just for myself, but also to live up to the students' kindness." 

She said she appreciates them taking time out of their busy studying to teach her.

"Auntie Zhang is very optimistic," one of the students, Zhou Fansi, said. "Zhang treats us students very well — she often helps us sew our clothes and even repair our umbrellas."

"Her passion for music moved me," Zhou added.

Zhang said though she's still not very skilled in the guitar department, she insists on learning and practicing. 

"Here I have a group of warm-hearted children," she said. "Their patient teaching has given me the confidence to continue my love for music."