【China Startup】New strings to train gen-next musicians 羽泉喊你学音乐

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XUEYINYUE is an Internet platform aiming to connect people who are passionate about music – this is the place where someone who genuinely wants to learn music can meet someone who is good at teaching.

Growing up in his family video store in a small city in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Ren Wei was one of the “starving” kids – he was hungry for music. 

“I need to take a six-hour bus journey from my home to the city of Xi’an to learn guitar, so I know what it feel like for a child who is crazy about music,” Ren says. 

Many Chinese people in the 1980s grew up with discarded Western cassette tapes in the small video stores that dotted the city streets. And as the music opened an entire new world, many secretly harbored a dream of becoming one of them: a rock star. 

However, becoming an artist was not a viable career option, not according to Chinese parents. But Ren’s parents were different in that sense and supported his musical path. 

And in all these years, he has devoted himself to music – from a learner to a teacher, instrument seller, band member, bar owner and a founder of a music website. At some point, he was also running five music training institutes consecutively. 

“The music training industry has not changed much since I started learning – there are small scale, tiny workshops with no well-built system,” the 31-year-old says. 

Ren lamented that none of the higher music institutions and training centers provide a major in mastering the guitar. 

In July 2014, with Internet technology at its peak, Ren decided it was high time to dive into something innovative. This prompted him to start XUEYINYUE, a music learning platform that connect tens of thousands musicians to learners.

Based in Xi’an city, the ancient Chinese capital of Shaanxi Province renowned for cultivating some of the famous Chinese rock singers under its cultural emblem of Qin opera, the company inherited the city’s spirit and also earned encouragement from the government through several innovation and entrepreneurship competitions. 

Ren believes that XUEYINYUE is where people who are passionate about music meet. Using the platform’s mobile or desktop version, music enthusiasts can opt for their instrument of choice. They will then be directed toward a staff, who will help recommend a teacher willing to teach that particular instrument. 

The students can then talk to the teacher directly and arrange time and place accordingly – it could be in their home, café or even at XUEYINYUE’s studios.

The tuition fees varied with different courses with a range from a few dozen yuan to over 100 yuan per class, half of which could go to teacher’s salaries. 

“We save the cost of mediation and handle the learning spaces and share wider profits to teachers and save more for the students,” Ren says claiming that it slashes the tuition fee by 20 % to 30% compared to the market prices. 

He added that the platform is encouraging retired professors and graduates from colleges to join XUEYINYEU’s learning studios – it would provide them an opportunity to continue their passion while making an income. 

In less than two years, XUEYINYEU has now opened over 30 learning studios in Xi’an, Beijing and Shenzhen and has more than 10,000 teachers registered in 44 cities across China. 

Last year, the platform was endorsed by renowned soft rock band Yu Quan, which helped in securing millions worth venture funding for the company. The finances funneled in right when they were running out of their capital, which was a relief to Ren and three other co-founders. The company also received technical support from Huawei. 

“I feel that I have a certain kind of bond with music, and as long as I’m in this industry, there is always going to be helping hands,” Ren says. 

But Ren also acknowledges the pressures. 

You can’t easily fall asleep with others’ money invested on you – it is like treading on thin ice all the time.

--Ren Wei, CEO of XUEYINYUE

Using his company, Ren says they can act as a mediator to connect students to quality instruments, as many young people do not have proper knowledge on this topic. If used effectively, Ren explained that windfall profit of instruments selling in China could go as high as 50% for normal manufacturers. 

As his other entrepreneurial move, Ren is also trying to come up with unique places to teach music. 

“Instruments like drum and piano learning needs special place to learn and teach. That’s the point we go beyond café space to explore our learning studios,” Ren said in his Beijing office located in an old building under reconstruction in the city’s technology innovation area Zhongguancun. 

And as he reflects on his past and present ventures, Ren believes future is in his hands. 

Playing with a Virtual Reality glass in his hands, Ren contemplates about his next big move – and that could be offering virtual reality class for students far from the traditional teaching style. 

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