People in Your Neighborhood: Voice Teacher

In our daily rounds of Shunyi, we encounter lots of people who help us and do things for us. Some we recognize, still others we may even know by name. Wouldn’t it be nice to get to know a little more about the people in our neighborhood?

Jess’ wispy frame belies her immense lung power. She has a lifelong love affair with performing. As a child growing up in her native Shanghai, Jess would sing and dance for everyone around her and enjoyed touching people’s hearts with her singing.

Not one to settle, Jess improved her craft by listening to different singers and studying their styles. She used their performances as a starting point but developed her own way of style. Her family eventually decided to enrol her in piano lessons; although she played well, Jess always thought she could do more. She kept in touch with her childhood piano teacher, who continues to give her advice.

When she was younger, Jess’ talent attracted the attention the Communist Party. She was invited to join their singing and dancing troupe as the star performer. She traveled extensively in China with other artists to perform at Party events and entertain military troops stationed across the country. They would don the appropriate uniform, depending on whether the show was meant for the army, the navy, or the marines. Later on, there were a few TV appearances as well.

Jess’ years in the public eye are now over. She decided to settle down in Shunyi with her husband and two boys, now aged 3 and 5. But because she could never fully turn her back on her love of music, Jess decided to take on a new role as voice teacher and coach. Jess now works with both children and adults at Claire’s Music Studio in Europlaza.

Each hour-long lesson is broken up into three parts: the first 20 minutes are used to warm up, and the next two parts (20 minutes each) focus on the learning of two songs. Jess is a demanding coach because she believes that her students are always capable of doing more. Along with lessons on technique, breathing, and posture, Jess also works on building confidence. She believes that anybody with a musical ear and a good voice should not be shy about sharing these talents.

She peppers her lessons with singing to get across what she wants from students. Jess constantly reminds her students to incorporate emotion into their delivery. She maintains that the best way to sing is to make your audience feel like you are simply talking to them or telling them a story.

Over the last few years, Jess has taken center stage once more, this time sharing the limelight with her students in school recitals. These duets are technically superior but more importantly, they are performances that demonstrate the soul of a true performer.

Claire’s Music Studio

Suite L507, Europlaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu Zhen, Shunyi District (8046 1368)

顺义区天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆广场5层L507单元

Photo by Dana Cosio-Mercado

Dana is the beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to Beijing in 2011 (via Europe) with her husband, two sons and Rusty the dog. She enjoys writing, photography, theater, visual arts, and trying new food. In her free time, she can be found exploring the city and driving along the mountain roads of Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu.

People in Your Neighborhood: Beauty Salon Therapists

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In our daily rounds of Shunyi, we encounter many people who help us and do things for us. Some we recognize, still others we may even know by name.

"We know how to do massage, manicure, pedicure, facial, manicures, and pedicures …" The two ladies at Flower River Beauty Salon complete each other’s sentences. They are eager to try out their English because talking with customers is how they’ve learned phrases related to their job.

Twenty-year-old Zhao Na is from Gansu while 25-year-old Bai Xia is from Hebei. They are bubbly young women who enjoy their job for the chance it gives them to meet different people.

"We used to have lots more foreigners than Chinese customers coming here. But maybe a lot of them have left Beijing because of the pollution problem," says Bai. Now they have an approximately 50-50 ratio of Chinese to foreigners, and aren’t able to practice their English as often as they used to.

Zhao, who has been living and working in Shunyi for a year and a half, prefers her work in the suburbs to her first salon experience in the city. People are friendlier in Shunyi, she says. But the biggest advantage is lower rent and cost of living. Bai agrees, and hopes to stay long-term in Shunyi. The rent they used to pay for a bed in a dorm-style room now affords them a larger room that they can have all to themselves.

The girls work long hours, often working almost non-stop from 9am to 11pm. When asked whether this busy schedule tires them out, Bai is quick to reply: "I’m used to it by now." Zhao smiles quietly at first and then admits, "Hai keyi." (It’s tolerable.)

Despite their heavy workload, the girls manage to stay cheerful and help their customers relax. They seem to know whether you like to be chatty or prefer to have services done in relative quiet. If you’ve come to Flower River Beauty Salon for some much-needed “me time,” these young ladies can offer the pampering you’re looking for.

If you meet Zhao and Bai, be sure to say hello and tell them you saw them on beijingkids!

Flower River Beauty Salon (sign outside says Health & Beauty)

Daily 9am-midnight. Yuyang Lu (south gate of Capital Paradise), Shunyi District (8046 6112) 顺义区榆阳路名都园别墅南门外

Getting There

This is the same strip of commercial stalls as Piazza Café; coming from River Garden, it will be to your left. Flower River will be before Piazza Café.

Photo by Dana Cosio-Mercado

Dana is the beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to Beijing in 2011 (via Europe) with her husband, two sons and Rusty the dog. She enjoys writing, photography, theater, visual arts, and trying new food. In her free time, she can be found exploring the city and driving along the mountain roads of Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu.

Occupations – Beijing Kids

People in Your Neighborhood: Voice Teacher

People in Your Neighborhood: Beauty Salon Therapists