Houli
Town is located at the northernmost edge
of Taichung County. Its old name was Neipu.
The town is located between Dajia Creek
and Daan Creek, inside of Chishing Mountain
and Yuemei Mountain. Its name is derived
from its geographical location. Its climate
is temperate and its resources are plentiful,
so it is a place with many geographical
advantages. Houli is famous for its horses,
as well as the production of flowers, which
ranks number two in the nation. Toyota's
television commercial helped promote this
home of the saxophones. It is a place that
is filled with both industries and culture.
2.
Summary
of Our Project:
The
Houli Town of Taichung County is known as
Taiwan's music capital. The saxophones that
are made in Houli have first-rate qualities.
Unfortunately, even though it produces one
third of the saxophones in the world, Houli's
saxophone industry is unable to make a name
for itself, since it has long been playing
the role of the supplier for other major
companies in the world. In order to improve
its competitiveness in the global market,
the industry, the government, and the academia
need to come together to work toward a better
future. Being a part of the Taichung County,
we are honored to be participants, in hope
of spreading the words about this unique
local industry to the public. We also hope
for the beautiful sound of Taiwan's saxophone
to be heard in every corner of the world.
3.
Our
Computer and Internet Access:
a.
Percentage of students using the Internet at home:100%
b.
Number of workstations with Internet access in the
classroom: 6
c.
Connection speed used in the classroom:T1
d.
Number of years our classroom has been connection
to the Internet: 12
e.
Additional comments concerning our computer and/or
Internet access:
Our
school is connected to the Taichung area Internet
hub – National Chung Hsing University – via
a dedicated T1 line. We are also connected to
the TAnet, the Hinet via three two-way 512K ADSL
lines, and the Heshin System via a cable modem.
All these Internet connections are fed into a
load balancer so that different ISP's could be
sorted out. The parents and students use mostly
512/64K ADSL lines by Hinet at home.
4.
Problems
We Had to Overcome:
(a)
Getting to Know the Musical Instruments
Since
it is the first time for the most of us
to come into contact with a saxophone, our
knowledge about this strange yet familiar
musical instrument is quite lacking, not
to mention playing it. Therefore, we asked
the director of our school's brass band
Ms. Lei Chang-yi to be our consulting teacher,
so he could lead us into the realm of the
saxophones. Ms. Lei said, since we have
picked this topic, we needed to understand
it inside out, and even learn how to play
saxophones. It is the only way we would
understand the uniqueness of a saxophone's
sound quality and tone.
(b)
Lack of Skills
There
are several first timers to the research
project on our team, therefore they may
be somewhat deficient when it comes to the
hands-on parts of the project. We have decided
to share our work loads in a way that we
would each select a part that we are good
at, then we would ask the teacher to help
us put them all together. This way everyone
could be on the same page, and the project
could proceed smoothly.
(c)
Integration of Opinions
Perhaps
it's because we wanted this project to be
perfect, or perhaps we are each very stubborn,
we sometimes argued with each other because
of the difference in opinions. Our teacher
said the only way to progress is by arguing,
but he wanted us to calm down to discuss
them one by one, after we each had expressed
our opinions. We always ended up with a
sound conclusion.
(d)
Constraint of Time
Because
of the heavier course load during high school,
we started working on this project back
in the summer to avoid not having enough
time to work on it. When the school started
after the summer vacation, we used our lunch
break and the computer classes to finish
the project step by step. Even though we
still couldn't utilize our time efficiently,
it still didn't dampen our enthusiasm and
determination to finish this project.
(e)
Lack of Transportation
Our
team members live in the Taichung, Changhua,
and Nantou areas, just like most of the
students in our school. As a result, we
live quite far from each other, so it is
difficult for us to meet after the school
hours. Fortunately we have the assistance
of the volunteer parents to solve our transportation
problem.
5.
Our
Project Sound Bite:
We
believe that if we put our minds and efforts into
promoting Taiwan's saxophone, it won't be looked
at as just a musical instrument anymore; it will
become the mixture of history, humanity, and environment.
6.
How
did our activities and research for this international
Schools CyberFair Project support standards, required
coursework and curriculum standards?
(a)
Local Unique Character
One
third of the world's saxophones are made
here in Taiwan, and seven out of ten saxophones
that are made in Taiwan are made in Houli.
The saxophone is undoubtedly the most representative
industry of Houli, as well as one of Taiwan's
proudest local-specific industries in terms
of humanity, history, and feelings. With
a goal of showing the whole world the unique
character of the local community, we are
using it as the main topic of this research
project. We are hoping to show the fruit
of hard work of the collaboration among
the industry, the government, and the academia,
so that Taiwan's saxophone could be heard
in every corner of the world.
(b)
Resource Sharing
The
Internet is known as "the whole world
under the same roof", showing an ideal
of information sharing. Without impinging
on the intellectual copyrights, the users
could enjoy fast and convenient information
on the Internet, as well as providing their
own data for others to see, so the spread
of information is faster and broader. We
hope that a lot more people will be able
to enjoy the information of the hometown
through this research project.
(c)
Peer Collaboration
In
order to break away from the low-priced
competition from overseas, our government
is assisting Houli's saxophone industry
to enter the higher-profile markets. A common
brand name of "Saxhome" has been
established. This brand name needs everyone's
participation and promotion for it to become
a well-known name in the industry. Our mission
is to use the information that we had learned
to build a peer relationship with the community
so we could help in selling the local-specific
products of our hometown.
"Saxhome"
is the common brand.
(c)
Peer Collaboration
In
order to break away from the low-priced
competition from overseas, our government
is assisting Houli's saxophone industry
to enter the higher-profile markets. A common
brand name of "Saxhome" has been
established. This brand name needs everyone's
participation and promotion for it to become
a well-known name in the industry. Our mission
is to use the information that we had learned
to build a peer relationship with the community
so we could help in selling the local-specific
products of our hometown.
(d)
Mutual Development
The
continuing existence of a local industry
depends greatly on the collective efforts
of its residents. This way the industry
could act as a whole, and as a greater force.
In this age of advanced technologies, using
the convenience of the Internet to develop
the industry is one of the most expedient
ways. We wish that, by creating Chinese
and English webpages, we could use our minuscule
forces to help the local industry to develop
the local-specific products of the hometown.
(e)
Combining and Educating
The
goal of the cyberfair is to use the spirit
of "educating and combining" to
strengthen the link between the school and
the local community. Being a part of the
community, we have the obligation to combine
what we had learned at school to participate
in the promotion of community affairs, so
that the whole world would know about this
fine industry in Taiwan. We believe that
in the near future, when people talk about
watches, they will automatically think of
Switzerland; and when they talk about saxophones,
they will automatically think of Taiwan.
This is the ultimate goal of applying our
education to real life.
(C)
Project Elements
1.
What
information tools & technologies did you use
to complete your CyberFair project?
Hardware
Desktop
Computer
Notebook Computer
To
create and edit webpages
Telephone
To
reach teachers, parents, team members, government
offices, cyberfair customer service
Pen
Recorder
To
record interviewee's words, as well as voice
reminder for ourselves
Regular
Camera
Digital
Camera
Digital
Video Camera
To
record the entire production process, as well
as record our field trips
Television
Used
for newscasts and related special reports
Monitor
Used
for viewing briefings and the videos that
we recorded
Scanner
Used
for scanning pictures and photographs
Software
WORD2000
Word
processing
Dreamweaver
MX
Webpage
creation
Flash
MX
Animation
creation
Adobe
Photoshop CS
Image
processing
Adobe
Illustrator CS
Illustration
for images
SwiSHmax
Special
effects for texts of title and first page
PHOTOIMPACT
8.0
To
e dit drawings, photos, and pictures
Ulead
GIF Animator 5
To
produces photo animation
WS-FTP95LE
To
transmit data files
MS-IE6.0
To
search Internet information and check results
ACDSee32
To
browse pictures
MS-Outlook
Express
To
send and receive e-mails
Printed
Material
Library
Cultural
Center
To
search for needed information
Museum
To
collect information and conduct interviews
Books
Magazines
To
search for and double-check information
Newspapers
Media
To
collect articles relating to the main topic
Verbal
Interview
The
verbal words of related people
2.
In
what ways did we act as "ambassadors"
and spokespersons for our CyberFair project both
on-line and in person.
(a)
Participation
We
have given ourselves the roles of cultural
historians, with the hope of recording the
texts and images of Houli's saxophone industry
for the past sixty years. In order to obtain
the most realistic information, we have tried
to arrange for our team members to participate
in the events of local industry, so we could
come into contact with the industrialists
face-to-face. When we met with the government
officials and the industrialists for the first
time, we told them that we are the students
at the Taichung County Ming-Dao High School,
and we interviewed them because of our participation
in the cyberfair for Taiwan's schools. Many
of the interviewees became intrigued by this
research project, and they would inquire about
this cyberfair event. We gave them the website
so they could go see it for themselves. We
also told them that, according to the Guinness
World Records, this is the largest grass-root
website competition.
(b)
Promotion
We
are using the website to promote Houli's saxophone
industry both to people inside and outside
of our school. We are recommending this fine
musical instrument to the brass instrument
club of our school. We told them that when
the former president Bill Clinton of the U.S.
visited Taiwan, our president Chen gave president
Clinton a Houli's saxophone as a present,
to show everybody that Houli's saxophone has
entered the main stage of international affairs.
(c)
Mass Media
We
have submitted several articles to various
major media to inform them about the contents
and news of the press release conference of
saxophone industry innovation. Our hope is
to gather the attention of the public about
this local-specific industry. Because of the
accuracy of our topic, we have gained the
friendly cooperation of the media, as they
published our articles.
3.
What
has been the impact of our project on our community?
It
is incredible that a fire-damaged saxophone could
mark the beginning of a local industry for the global
market. It has become one of the most significant
accomplishments for this country in the past sixty
years. This is unquestionably the result of determination
and perseverance intertwined with a little luck
and coincidence. But how did they create this musical
miracle without their firm resolve? After studying
the history of Houli's saxophones, the biggest impact
it gave us is that "everything is accomplishable
with enough will". We have learned that, with
enough efforts, success will always come at the
end. We have also changed our attitude toward everyday
things, and learned to turn peril into opportunities.
4.
How
did our project involve other members of our community
as helpers and volunteers?
(a)
Minister of Economic Affairs – Ms. Ho Mei-yueh,
Director of Industrial Development Bureau
– Mr. Chen Chao-yi, Director of Ministry
of Economic Affairs Mid-Taiwan Office – Li
Chong-chin
During
the press release conference of saxophone
industry innovation, we learned about the
assistance our government is giving the local
industries. The goal is to continually research
and develop new products, so they could always
better themselves.
Minister
of Economic Affairs - Ms. Ho Mei-yueh
Director
of Industrial Development Bureau - Mr. Chen
Chao-yi
Director
of Ministry of Economic Affairs Mid-Taiwan
Office - Mr. Li Chong-chin
(b)
ITRI/MIRL – Ms. Tsai Shiu-ru
She
patiently answered all the questions we had,
and she provided the data and pictures that
we requested, so that we could complete our
research project on time.
ITRI/MIRL
- Ms. Tsai Shiu-ru
(c)
Houli Saxophone Industrialists
From
the history to the explanation of musical
instrument to playing instruction, the saxophone
industrialists taught us everything they know,
which enabled us to learn a great deal about
saxophones.
Houli
saxophone industrialist
(d)
Diapason Saxophone Quartet
They
were very generous in supplying the music
that they played in the National Music Concert
Hall, called "Loves Greeting", to
be used as our background music.
Diapason
Saxophone Quartet
(e)
Rigel Arts – Ms. Josephine Lin
"Rigel
Arts" is the only professional agency
of Jazz music in Taiwan. Ms. Lin was very
nice to supply the pictures and information
about Jazz to us.
(f)
Local Elders
They
tirelessly introduced to us various points
of interest and places to eat local-specific
snacks. The information they provided for
us is really invaluable, which is why they
are the treasures of the town.
5.
Discoveries,
Lessons and Surprises
(a)
Discovering the Harmony of Humanity and Technology
Humanity
could showcase an area's unique quality, and
technology could extend the life of the industry.
Together they could highlight an area-specific
industry. We had discovered that Houli's saxophone
industry is drawing on this town's rich humanity
and combine it with a traditional type of
industry, as well as modern technology. This
is an exciting discovery, because it combines
the essence of the old with the new, so that
the humanity is not just about the past, and
the technology is not just about the modern
days.
(b)
The Lesson of Teamwork
In the old
days, people were used to working alone, trying
to do everything behind closed doors. As a
result, they were not able to keep up with
the fast-changing world. Now people are beginning
to realize that the only way to survive is
by teamwork, combining the individual efforts
into a common goal of the team. This research
project has taught us a lesson in that "strength
comes from teamwork".
(c)
The Surprise of Strong Vitality
Faced with
the challenge posed by China and other developing
nations, Houli's saxophone makers use innovation
and improved quality to fend off the competition,
giving them a second wind. We are both amazed
and touched by their display of resiliency.
This is the best interpretation of life's
vitality.
