Yi ethnic group band Shiguangzhe Jihua recently released an album titled The Sounds of Time. The band has six members－(from left, front) Qubi Wuli, Jiduo Quyi, Shuori Niubu, and (from left, back) Jike Jinhua, Shama Tuoqian and Jizhu Shizuo. CHINA DAILY

In July 2011, Liu Yelong, a then 22-year-old student who had just graduated from Nanjing Agricultural University, arrived in Meigu county of Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan province.

His trip to the remote mountainous area had nothing to do with rest or recreation.

With a major in labor and social security under his belt, Liu had participated in some charity work and did research on rural development. During his second year at university, he went to a school in rural Anhui province as a volunteer teacher, which inspired him to continue the role after graduation.

He had planned to teach at a school in Meigu county for two years and then either return to academia to further his study and gain a master's degree or prepare for the civil servant exam and get a stable job.

However, Liu didn't expect that, 10 years later, he would still be teaching in the county.

He also didn't expect to uncover the musical talent of his students, nor that he would found a band, called Shiguangzhe Jihua, comprised of six high school students－three boys and three girls.

On Nov 25, during the New Year of the Yi ethnic group, which was celebrated from Nov 23 to 27, the band released an album, titled Shiguangde Shengyin, or The Sounds of Time. It features four original songs written by the band members that express their thoughts and emotions about growing up, and two songs adapted from Yi folk songs, one of which is about a traditional wedding and the other a ballad about a shepherd.

Since July 2019, when Liu first shared their music on social media, the band has gained a large fan base. Their first video, which saw Liu's students singing Yi folk songs while playing the guitar and hand drums, sitting by a campfire dressed in traditional garb, earned the band over 10,000 fans in one day and has been viewed 250,000 times. To date, the band has performed over 100 Yi folk songs, sharing them online with their 180,000 followers.

In July, the band was crowned champions of the fifth season of China Yi Singing Competition, produced by the TV Station of Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture.

Volunteer teacher Liu Yelong poses for a photo with his students at Daqiao Junior Middle School in Meigu county, Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. CHINA DAILY

"I've known them since they were children. Now, they have grown up and become good singers. I am very proud of them," says Liu, adding that he is grateful for the help and support from the local government and charity organizations. "They are still very young and have great potential."

Born and raised in Linshui county in Guang'an, Sichuan province, as a child Liu loved singing. His grandfather, uncle and elder brother are good at playing a variety of musical and percussion instruments, including erhu, suona and bamboo flute.

He still remembers that when he first met the students－113 in total－he was nervous because none of them spoke Mandarin and they were very shy and felt reluctant to talk to strangers.

"Many of the students had lost their parents and I tried to use music to help them open up and to make them happier," recalls Liu. "We all studied and lived in the school, which soon brought us closer."

In 2013, Liu decided to launch a chorus. The six members of Shiguangzhe Jihua were members of the chorus from the very beginning.

While teaching them to speak Mandarin and learning to speak the Yi language himself, Liu taught the students to sing in Mandarin. The first song Liu taught the students to sing was a Mandarin song, titled Chong'er Fei, or Flying Bug.

"That day, our school's electricity was off. Liu turned on his phone's flashlight and taught us to sing the song. He waved his phone while singing. It was dark outside and it felt like a lightning bug flying," says one of the six band members, 19-year-old Shama Tuoqian, who lost her mother at a very young age. She is a main vocalist in the band and writes lyrics.

"He is more than a teacher. He also takes care of us and gives us a hand whenever we need help. He is family," she adds.

Liu, along with the students, also collected and adapted Yi folk songs into choral singing, keeping the traditional music alive.

All of the six band members have been friends since childhood and they all share passion for music.

For example, Qubi Wuli is one of the band's main songwriters. Jiduo Quyi is learning electric guitar, hoping to add more musical elements to the band's songs. Shuori Niubu is a singer, specializing in the lower harmonies, and writes the Yi-language lyrics for their songs.

"I once sang a song as a soloist in the school's Children's Day gala, and I got lots of candy from my teacher as a gift. I was very happy," recalls 19-year-old Qubi Wuli. "If I didn't meet my teacher, I would never have learned to sing and enjoy it. Perhaps, I would have dropped out of school already."

Now, the next goal of each of the band members is to study at a music conservatory and return to their hometown to teach more children to sing.