The Shanghai Conservatory of Music announced renowned Japanese music producer Shinji Tanimura joined its faculty last week, but officials at the school say they can't afford to hire nearly as many foreign teachers as they would like.

Although 18 of the conservatory's Chinese teachers hold foreign passports, officials are eager to hire teachers born and raised in a foreign culture.

"All the departments, except for the Chinese Music Department, are eager for the teachers from abroad who were born in the countries where their instruments were invented and traditionally used," said Yang Liqing, president of the conservatory. "But the financial support is too small for our art schools, which makes it impossible for me to invite more and better overseas teachers."

The conservatory is renowned in China, but it only has a budget of 1.8 million yuan (US$216,000) a year to spend on foreign teachers.

Yang said they were lucky to land Tanimura, who will only earn US$20,000 a year during his three-year stint at the school, far less than the average international salary for such a teacher, which he says sits somewhere around US$625,000.

Unattractive salaries, however, make it almost impossible to keep a foreign teacher, even a foreign one with Chinese passport. Chai Liang, a violinist who lived in the United States, returned to Shanghai to teach. But shortly after arriving, he left for a job in Beijing when that city's Central Conservatory doubled his salary.

"It is understandable, but we only hope that the art schools like us can get more fitting policies and support from the government," said Yang.

(eastday.com April 2, 2004)