Inventor's unique take on the yangqin opens up numerous music possibilities

Standing by a black grand piano near the window, Li Yanrong, a Chinese musician and professor, is controlling the instrument and guiding a female vocalist via an iPad.

"The piano is an instrument for solo performance. But with the help of an iPad, it can work as a band," Li says.

A professor of music theory at the Northwest Normal University in Lanzhou, in Gansu province, Li does not only teach music, but also works on inventions related to musical instruments.