AN 82-year-old man performed Chaozhou drums and gongs with his three grandsons during an outdoor show in Dongmen on Sunday, attracting a huge crowd.

Ma Songnan, who migrated from Chaozhou to live with his children in Shenzhen, staged the free show at the Jinbaili art plaza in Dongmen with a folk music society from Buji, Longgang District, the Daily Sunshine reported yesterday.

The program included performances of traditional Chinese music instruments like drum and gong, erhu, guzheng and flute.

Ma, a veteran who began playing drums at 25, started the folk music society with several other Chaozhou countrymen. He also organized the free show staged for the Lantern Festival.

After 10 minutes'drum beating, the retiree said:"I hope our show can draw more people to value the Chinese cultural heritage."

"Anyone who wants to learn drum beating or how to play other folk music instruments can learn from us free of charge on the fifth floor of the retirees'center on Longling Road in Buji."

The old man said beating drums is not as simple as it seems. It takes two to three years'practice to train a drummer who can perform onstage."It is also a healthy activity that strengthens your arms and exercises many body parts."

Ma's three grandsons, all at high school, learn their trade from the old man every day. Ma Zhuangfa, 13, said the skills were still beyond his command though he has been learning to play drums for two years.

Editor: Wing