tbjkids.com - Beijing's essential expat family resource

May Issue Out!

tbjkids — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:53:34 +0800

Just in time after the Labor Day Holiday, the tbjkids May issue is out! In our special music issue, discover Beijing’s grandest concert halls, read about a range of music makers in Beijing and tune into the life of a real radio DJ. As the weather heats up, spend an afternoon lounging lakeside and spelunking the caves at Beihai, find the best places for families to explore in Gongti, and make your own rainstick. Also, glimpse the photos from the most recent tbjkids’ pirate hunt and check out the section on how to communicate with your ayi. Plus, discover the traditions of Peking Opera, see the thrill in swing dancing, and find out how toddlers make music in Kindermusik. And, as always, discover the best events happening around town in tbjkids’ top ten things to do.

Earthquake Safety 101

tbjkids — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:05:36 +0800

As a California native, what to do in the event of an earthquake has been engrained into my head since I could remember. But now that I’ve lived out of California for a few years, those safety precautions have been pushed to the back of my mind. The recent earthquake here in Beijing was a good reminder that it doesn’t matter where you are because earthquakes can happen anywhere at anytime. Therefore, brushing up on general rules for safety can never be a bad idea.

Former United Nations Disaster Mitigation expert Doug Copp and current Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of theAmerican Rescue Team International (ARTI) gives these tips for earthquake safety:

Balancing Act

tbjkids — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:00:00 +0800

Name: Ma Xiangsheng
Nationality:
Age: 36
Chinese
Instrument: Voice
Genre: Peking Opera

How old were you when you started performing?
We all learn Peking Opera as children. I started learning Peking Opera when I was 12 years old.

How did you come to study Peking opera?
I was in middle school in Ya’an, Sichuan province, when a group of strangers came to our classroom and walked around to check each student carefully. The strangers checked my bones – then asked me to kick, stretch my arms and bend my waist. They also tested my singing as well. They were selecting students for the Peking Opera Troupe of Panzhihua City, and I was the one selected in my city to go to Tianjin Opera School.

Rhythm Stick

tbjkids — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:00:00 +0800

Name: Jon Campbell
Age: 32
Nationality: Canadian
Instrument: Drums
Genre: Rock/Blues

How old were you when you started playing drums?
I started drumming at 13, much to my parents’ dismay. This was after almost five years of piano and six months of guitar. I started playing hand drums a few years ago.

What’s the hardest part about playing drums?
Transport is the number one problem. Transport and noise are two things that make it difficult for many urban dwellers to take up the drums. Technically speaking, the hardest part is getting your four limbs to do four different things simultaneously, like patting your head and rubbing your stomach.

What do you love most about drums?
I think that more than any other instrument, it’s the one thing that people react to most deeply and immediately. Rhythm is ingrained deep in our bones, and drums bring that out – whether you’re playing or listening to them.

In the Spotlight

tbjkids — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:00:00 +0800

Name: Declan Galbraith
Age: 16
Nationality: Irish/Scottish
Instrument: Voice
Genre: Pop

How old were you when you started singing on stage?
I was singing from a very early age. I can remember singing at family parties when I was 5 or 6 years old. I used to watch and listen to my grandfather, Poppy Ben, who played and sang in a band. I suppose it was that influence that gave me the interest in music and singing.

How did you start singing?
One day when I was 6 or 7 years old, my mother took me to see a Dickens Festival in a town called Rochester, near where I live. The festival is very famous; a lot of singers, musicians and actors perform to the public in the streets. I loved seeing them all and asked my mother if I could sing a song. She laughed, but then realized I was serious. I started singing in the street, and very quickly hundreds of people gathered around. It was a fantastic experience. It was from that moment that I knew I wanted to sing.