The Value of Learning a Traditional Instrument

Learning to play the erhu, a traditional Chinese string instrument, has been a journey of connection to my heritage. My grandpa taught me how to hold the instrument and pluck the strings, and he told me stories about how the erhu was used in ancient folk music. At first, the sounds I made were scratchy and off-key, but I practiced every day. Now, I can play simple folk songs, and I even performed at my school’s cultural festival. Playing the erhu isn’t just about music—it’s about honoring my family’s culture. It’s a reminder that traditional instruments carry the stories of our ancestors, and we have a responsibility to keep those stories alive.

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