Musicians with a flair for the guitar, erhu or violin have a chance to be given their favorite instrument for free.

    China’s first professional art education Web site was recently established by the Qingdao public art gallery with the launch of a program to promote music, with the offer of free instruments — except the piano — for enthusiasts aged between 4 and 17.

    Hou Bing, a section head of the art gallery, said the Web site had outstanding education resources and offered free training. It was a public welfare project that allowed parents to choose instruments and teachers. It would be a worthwhile New Year gift for needy parents. One million instruments would be distributed for free over 10 years, Hou said.

    Children living in Qingdao will be eligible for a free instrument after studying the instrument for one to two years. The instruments cost between 100 and several thousand yuan.

    (Jane Lai)