嶺聲共融樂坊故事分享
在 德和慈善基金及 黃炳禮音樂與演藝部 的慷慨支持下，嶺聲共融樂坊於 2021 年展開了它的旅程。一路走來，我們經歷了無數溫馨又充滿啟發的時刻。現在，我們準備將這些「以音樂連接人們」的故事分享給大家。
無形的給力
隨着一位活潑女孩子柔和的歌聲，配合著輕鬆愉快的動作，徐徐拉起「一起變大隻音樂會」的序幕！
她毫不怯場地唱出她喜愛偶像的名曲。歌聲與身體語言結合，兩位同伴亦以結他及木箱鼓緊緊跟隨拍子，配合演出，免有所失。另外有兩位伴奏的大學生哥哥以鋼琴及結他伴奏帶領。
第二隊樂隊出場，立即由廣東歌走向多元化的音樂領域。以流行英文曲開始，西班牙經典流行歌曲作結! 有與會者非常讚賞由大學同學擔任歌手的表演。認為如果他參加電視台舉辦的「中年好歌聲」節目一定獲獎。那時大學生急急澄清他只有21歲。場面非常搞笑。大家熱熱鬧鬧的鬧作一團。
之後便是嶺大合唱團女同學獨唱表演，又是另一個風格是時代風。對大學的年青朋友非常合適。
最後出場是澤耀, 他由母親扶往電子琴坐下。
他先簡單介紹自己，再而感謝嶺南大學給予機會接觸音樂。看他專心一致，自彈自唱兩首歌曲。發自內心的感情表露無遺！澤耀是視障人士, 他記性極好，全部曲譜記熟。配合歌唱，全身運作，渾然忘我！
擠滿音樂實驗室的觀眾，有嶺大音樂科學生、家長、大學生演出者的家人及朋友、兒時死黨、長者、及其他的參加者。
大家都對演出者均報以熱烈的回應，包括掌聲、歡笑聲、拍掌和應。還有長者同學帶來自製霓虹光管閃燈攪攪氣氛。投票環節，亦為各表演隊伍，帶來歡樂及打氣。
壓軸好戲，便是自由參加jam歌, 四位朋友, 自由自在地一齊唱一首真的愛你，看他們手舞足蹈放聲高歌，卸下表演時的拘謹，完完全全釋放自己，沉醉在這一刻難得的時空!
音樂便在此時此刻，連結所有參加者，彼此照亮！
後記：音樂會完場後三位朋友要返回宿舍，我便陪伴他們一起搭車。畢竟在晚上在嶺南大學門口的巴士站相當黑暗亦少行人。如果有人加以陪伴及照顧更好。
在巴士上細意觀察，三位朋友心情極好，還保留着剛剛音樂會的興奮！男孩子負責看管巴士上的結他，兩位女孩子便與車上的其他乘客的幼兒打招呼玩樂！
他們下車時，在朦朧的月色下，隔着巴士的玻璃窗，依依不捨的向車上陪伴他們搭車的長者送上連環不斷的飛吻，揮手說再見！
這一片景象，令人的心也溶化了！它成為了人生寶貴回憶內的一抹彩虹，照亮了往後的人生道路！
字：雪糕 (Silvia Kan)
2025年7月2日
Intergenerational Exchange of Care and Community Building through Musical Training
Link Sound Sinfonia has experimented in intergenerational exchange by involving golden agers in music training modules based on the foundations between the SENs participants and the Lingnan University students in phase 1 (2021-2024).
This initiative explores golden ager's contributions, specifically emphasizing their roles as facilitators and active participants in fostering interpersonal connections between individuals with special educational needs (SENs), university students, and music tutors, and promoting social bonding and personal growth among participants.
The intergenerational exchange of care and support has been identified as a potential element in fostering the development of cohesive and sustainable communities.
Case Study: The Role of Ar So in the Keyboard Training Module
Drawing from Phase 1 of the project (starting from June 2024 until now), golden ager Ar So—a retired social worker—was instrumental in establishing a supportive learning environment and a safe space for building connections within the keyboard training module. Her empathetic disposition and advanced interpersonal skills enabled her to build rapport among SEN participants, Lingnan University students, and tutors.
Beyond the classroom, her active participation in events such as the New Year Music Concert in 2025 demonstrated her commitment to collaborative performance. These shared experiences have strengthened the connections among the participants and contributed significantly to creating an inclusive and nurturing community within the group.
An individual interview was conducted with her, and the following are some quotes from an interview with Ar So:
Gain a Sense of Belonging
“Once I joined the WhatsApp Group, the youth responded actively, that makes me feel warm and cared.”
“I am truly happy to be part of the little warm community.”
Gain a Sense of Purpose Through Sharing
“At the age of 70s, sometimes I will think about how should I live the day once opening my eyes. However, once I think about I will be meeting the youth later today, I am expectant about the meetup.”
“I don’t think I have brought them anything material, but I will sometimes share my life experience with them.”
Contribution of Professional Skills / Guidance to Youth Development
“I tried to encourage the SEN participants to develop their social skills by encouraging him to initiate conversation.”
“Before all these interferences, a solid relationship should be established with kindness.”
Gain a Sense of “Rejuvenating”
“Being with the youth and SENs participants make me feel more rejuvenating.”
Learning trendy songs, trends and interests from the youth
Replication and Expansion: The Guitar Training Module
Inspired by the outcomes of the initial phase, Phase 2 replicated the model by integrating another golden ager, Silvia Kan, into the guitar training module. Similar to Ar So, Silvia contributed to community bonding by fostering a caring atmosphere. Her small yet impactful gestures, such as bringing gifts and snacks, cultivated a sense of warmth and solidarity among participants. This reciprocal interaction not only enriched the participants' experiences but also motivated Silvia in her personal musical journey.
Co-Learning Environments as Platforms for Empowering Elderly through Peer Recognition and Life Coaching
The Link Sound Sinfonia initiative has created a unique co-learning environment where golden agers, can thrive as both learners and contributors. This environment not only encourages them to continue their musical practice but also provides opportunities for them to share their life experiences as informal advisers, fostering deeper connections and mutual support among participants.
Through interactions with golden agers, I’ve often heard expressions of self-doubt, such as “I am old, not good enough.” However, it has been heartening to see how the SEN participants and Lingnan University students assure them of their value. This encouragement motivates golden agers to participate actively and boosts their confidence.
Their involvement goes beyond music, as they often take on advisory roles when others face challenges, such as relationship issues or dilemmas about life direction. These moments allow golden agers to offer guidance and share their wisdom, reinforcing their sense of purpose and identity.
Engaging Golden Agers as Vital Contributors to Community Development
The Link Sound Sinfonia initiative illustrates that intergenerational exchange through music can serve as a cornerstone for building cohesive and caring communities. By fostering an environment of mutual support and shared creativity, such programs have a transformative impact on participants across age groups.
The active involvement of golden agers in music training programs demonstrates the potential of structured intergenerational collaborations in community building. Their facilitative roles underscore the value of their life experiences, communication skills, and empathetic engagement in creating inclusive environments. The broader implications of such models suggest scalable approaches for other community-based initiatives.
Text: CHIU Ka Chun (Link Sound Sinfonia Project Coordinator)
Date: May, 2025
My Journey with Link Sound Sinfonia: A Year of Impact and Growth
As Johnny, a one-year full-time intern at Link Sound Sinfonia (LSS), I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in a social impact project that blends music, community engagement, and personal growth. This experience has been transformative, offering me unique opportunities to explore the intersection of music and social good, test my interest in community work, and build valuable professional experience.
Music as a Force for Social Good
At Link Sound Sinfonia, I discovered how music skills can contribute meaningfully to society. As a coordinator for the "Digital Composition Class," I witnessed firsthand how music education fosters creativity and connection within communities. By facilitating workshops and supporting participants, I helped create a space where individuals could express themselves through digital music creation. This role showed me the power of music as a tool for empowerment and social cohesion, reinforcing its value beyond mere entertainment.
Exploring a Passion for Community Work
As a student at Lingnan University, where undergraduate degrees in social work with licensure are not offered, finding opportunities to engage in social work internships can be challenging. Link Sound Sinfonia, however, opened its doors to passionate students like me, regardless of formal qualifications in social work. This inclusive approach allowed me to explore my interest in community work without the barriers often faced by those without a social work major. Through hands-on involvement in community-focused initiatives, I gained clarity on whether this field aligns with my passions and strengths, making Link Sound Sinfonia an invaluable platform for self-discovery.
A Stepping Stone to Future Opportunities
In Hong Kong’s competitive job market, fresh graduates often struggle to secure full-time roles without prior work experience. Link Sound Sinfonia provided me with a meaningful transitional job that bridged this gap. As a full-time intern, I honed skills in project coordination, teamwork, and communication—experiences that will undoubtedly strengthen my future job applications. This internship has equipped me with a solid foundation of professional experience, giving me confidence as I prepare to navigate the job market.
My year with Link Sound Sinfonia has been more than just an internship; it’s been a journey of learning, impact, and growth. From leveraging music for social good to exploring my place in community work and building a professional track record, LSS has shaped me in ways I’ll carry forward into my future endeavors.
Text: Johnny MAU, Link Sound Sinfonia scholarship recipients (2021-2022)
Date: 3 May, 2025
Empowering SEN Participants Through Assistant Tutoring in Music
The transformative power of music education extends beyond personal growth—it can foster inclusion, confidence, and community engagement. This was vividly demonstrated during a recent collaboration between the Link Sound Sinfonia and Lingnan University's Equal Opportunity Committee Programme, "Inclusion Ambassador." in 2025.
In this initiative, four Lingnan students, undergoing training to better understand and interact with individuals with diverse needs, joined a music session with participants from the Link Sound Sinfonia project.
What unfolded was a powerful moment of role reversal. Although the university students unfamiliar with music intended to join us as an assistant tutor, one of our project participants, Maggie, confidently stepped into the role of a teacher, introducing them to basic guitar skills. This spontaneous act of teaching not only showcased Maggie’s musical abilities but also highlighted the empowering potential of enabling Special Educational Needs (SEN) participants to become assistant tutors.
This experience challenges traditional narratives where individuals with special needs are seen solely as beneficiaries. Instead, it opens up a new paradigm where they are also contributors—sharing their skills, leading interactions, and inspiring others. We believe that the act of teaching promotes mutual respect and a deeper understanding between people of different backgrounds and abilities.
Encouraged by this experience, we see exciting possibilities for integrating assistant tutoring roles into our community music programs. By providing structured opportunities for SEN participants to teach, we not only enhance their personal development but also cultivate a more inclusive and co-learning environment. This approach aligns with the core values of community music—participation, empowerment, and shared creativity.
As we move forward, we hope to explore more avenues where our participants can experience the joy and confidence of teaching, transforming music sessions into spaces of mutual growth and inclusion.
Text: CHIU Ka Chun (Link Sound Sinfonia Project Coordinator)
Date: May 2025