Xiangyun Temple Academy Ether Drum Composition Course, Music Practice Embodies the Spirit of “Temple-as-School”

By Renjian News Reporter Xi Xiu, Austin

Xiangyun Temple Academy has introduced a new course in its seventh session, the “Ether Drum Music Composition Workshop,” attracting ten participants with an interest in music. The course is well structured, comprising a total of ten classes. Instructor Wang Nuan provides one online individual coaching session each month, while Dharma Sister He Biyu conducts in-person instruction every Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

On December 7, the class continued from Instructor Wang Nuan’s earlier symphonic-style demonstration of “Canyon in D Major.” In this session, students learned an ether drum arrangement adapted from the classic song “Blue and White Porcelain.” The piece requires both hands to coordinate melodic patterns and is technically demanding. During class, students practiced with great concentration, while the instructor offered patient guidance. Music flowed throughout the classroom, filling it with joy and Dharma delight.

Support from family members added warmth to the course: some assisted with transportation and carrying instruments, while others stayed at the temple to copy sutras and engage in spiritual practice—presenting a beautiful picture of families learning and cultivating together. Through its diverse arts-based curriculum, Xiangyun Temple integrates musical creativity with spiritual cultivation. This not only enriches the academy’s educational content but also allows participants to develop concentration and aesthetic sensibility through music, putting into practice Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s vision of “temples becoming schools,” and transforming the temple into a joyful place of growth for the whole family.