University of Macau Moon Chun Memorial College fosters students’ growth in various aspects through experiential learning. As part of its mission to promote cultural engagement and encourage service to the community, College Resident Fellow, Dr. Peggy Lau, and a group of college students have started the Music Teaching and Learning project to teach piano to local elders. Dr. Lau organized the project as part of the college’s community service program, the initiative aims to engage students in meaningful service activities that benefit the community and promote personal growth. Together, the group prepared a curriculum designed to teach basic piano techniques and theory in an accessible and engaging manner to elders each week. During the process, the program not only enhanced students’ cultural engagement, service and leadership skills, but also intergenerational communication. It provides students with the opportunity to give back to the community while developing their skills as musicians and educators. Music has the power to bring people together, and the connections were made during the process, especially evident in the mini concert held in the last week of the program, where each elder performed two pieces together with their teachers and expressed their gratitude to their piano teachers with small gifts – food and drink.

With the venue support from Ngai Chon Center of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau, the program was a success, with both the students and the elders benefiting from the experience. The students gained a deeper understanding of the importance of community service and the value of music education, while the elders enjoyed learning a new skill and interacting with young people.

Piano lesson time

Group theory class

End of program mini concert