Wang Jinghan prepares backstage for a concert at the Middle School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music, where she has studied violin for four years. (Source: China Daily/Zou Hong)

More Chinese parents are sending their children to music classes. Chen Nan discovers that some are jumping on the bandwagon for the wrong reasons.

While some children are playing at a park near Fangzhuang area of Fengtai district in Beijing, Wang Jinghan's fingers are fiddling vigorously on her violin.

At 11 years old, she is one of the brightest stars at the Middle School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music, located just opposite the park. The school has been churning out virtuosos in recent years.

"Like many students who impress us here, she is great, self-disciplined, hardworking and passionate," Russian violinist Nazar Kozhukhar says. "Before I came to China, I was told that the future of classical music is here. Now I believe so."

Kozhukhar has chosen Wang to give a solo performance at a concert in the school to celebrate the completion of two weeks of master classes conducted by nine Russian musicians.

"I will perform Bach, my favorite," says Wang, who came from Zhengzhou, Henan province. "But I still need more practice."

Wang was born into a family of musicians - her father, aunt and grandfather are all professional violinists, working with singing and dancing troupes. Following in her father's footsteps, Wang started learning violin at 3 and was enrolled at the school four years ago, paying a tuition fee of 20,000 yuan ($3,138) a year.

Her mother quit her job in their hometown to accompany Wang to Beijing. They rent a house near the school.

Wang describes her early days of learning violin as "a nightmare" because of the hours spent practicing. She did not have time for other forms of entertainment, not even to watch television.

"Now that I've grown up and I am able to play much better, I love the sound of the violin. I am willing to spend time on it," she says.

The successful stories of pianists such as Lang Lang, Li Yundi and Chen Sa have encouraged more parents to enroll their children in the music classes.

"My mother often tells me stories about Lang Lang to encourage me. She says that by playing music, I can one day be as rich as Lang Lang," Wang says. "And she would say 'you are just one of the 30 million children learning music, so don't complain.'"