CHICAGO, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Tens of musicians from China and the United States gathered on Monday at the Valparaiso University in the U.S. state of Indiana during a forum and shared their experiences in music.

At the Second Valpo Forum on Confucianism and International Music Exchange, musicians from the two countries talked about the impact music has produced on life and soul; music origin and evolution in respective countries; the role music plays in fostering harmony and promoting understanding and cooperation; their experiences in teaching Chinese instrumental music in U.S. high schools, and music tours in China; and suggestions for music education in China.

In a keynote speech, Han Mei, director of the Center for Chinese Music and Culture at the Middle Tennessee State University, talked about her experiences as a musician and music educator.

"I began to see my musical roots from a new perspective, and this greatly deepened my appreciation of Chinese music," she said.

Han expressed the hope that by learning Chinese music, "(American) students will be inspired to explore the world of music in all its facets, and to learn to speak of what is in their soul and in all our souls."

Jeff Doebler has been to China 13 times, and in 10 of the 13 tours he was with his Windiana Concert Band. He and his band have played in schools and communities in most parts of China. He made a speech at the forum about fostering global harmony, understanding and cooperation through music.

"What we see is that the American people and the Chinese people that we work with get along just fine and it really has nothing to do with politics or economics. It has to do with sharing the arts and sharing culture and sharing the civilization," Doebler told Xinhua. "If everybody could act like that, we'd be in great shape."

Doebler, also director of music education and bands at Valparaiso University, held that music tours between China and the United States model kind of cooperation, kind of sharing that "we want to see in other places."

"Our tours may be just a tiny part of that, but if more people could do something similar or see what we've been doing over there, I think it could help in this world relations in all respects," he said.

Meng Jianyun, director of the Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University, has dedicated his whole life to music both in China and the United States. "As a Chinese American, I feel China and America just like our parents. We cannot live in peace unless the two countries can get along," Meng said.

Being a sponsor of the forum, Meng and the Valparaiso University have done a lot in the past five years to promote musical exchanges between China and the United States. They are hosting the annual "Great Lakes Confucius Institute Music Festival," an important showcase of Chinese music in America's heartland as well as a platform for the exchange of Chinese and American music; help open orchestras and classes of traditional Chinese instruments in nearby schools and communities; and help Chinese and U.S. orchestras and musicians visit each other and perform together in more shows.