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hello subangman.
I'm new to lowyat forum and i hope u dont mind me quoting ur question to 0Celeste0 that was more than a year ago.
It seems very difficult to find a good teacher for Erhu on my own...so I was quite happy to find this thread with so many guzheng and erhu lovers actively sharing their passion and knowledge.

I've learnt piano and completed grade 8 exams 5 years ago. Now that I've graduated from university and finally got some time, I'm interested to pick up Erhu or Guzheng.
I prefer Erhu because of its unique sound and also it's WAY more convenient to carry around than Guzheng...
On the other hand, Guzheng is also very beautiful...sigh. Still considering though.. tough choice.


Do you mind telling me the contacts for Erhu and Guzheng teachers?

To answer your questions:
1. I'm in Ampang, but I don't mind travelling. but if possible, whichever more accessible by public transport? lol. cuz I am still without my own car.
But even if it's not, I'll still consider 'cause i really am interested to learn.

2. I'm 21 years old now. Am gonna play mostly for fun, not for exams.

3. Yea i took Mandarin up to SPM level.


I'd appreciate it if anyone else can answer me as well! =)

Thanks in advance for taking time to answer me!



This post has been edited by darielle11: Nov 28 2011, 06:57 PM

Good to see more new people joining this forum!

Welcome darielle.
Finding teachers and lessons syllabus is subang's specialty. He may be busy lately.

Meantime tell us what you like about the guzheng and erhu.

It's ok, i can wait. I'm preparing for my last professional paper also, which is coming in less than 2 weeks‘ time.

Actually I've always liked string instruments. I considered joining the music society last time in college to learn basic violin from seniors. But due to hectic study schedule and other society activities, I put that off until graduate d also din get to join.

Then recently I've been watching alot of youtube videos (exam stress lol) and the interest returns, strongly.

I like guzheng 'cause it's very beautiful when the strings are strummed. the sounds that transports me back to ancient times of China...very 古色古香. Grants me peace of mind. Yet, the same instrument can depict an entirely different atmosphere like the tension in a swordsmen fighting scene (haha i know i may sound like one who like to fantasize, but music is one of the ways I enjoy that can bring some sparks to mundane everyday life )

On the other hand, erhu is kinda like violin but more... erm, it's easier for me to be touched by the music when played by erhu, esp when it's Chinese music. More 动人心弦. it's also super amazing that despite having only 2 strings, erhu can produce such sound...

For me, i think guzheng is gud at demonstrating 意境 while erhu is gud in expressing 心境.
I'm sorry for the use of Chinese despite knowing some of you may not be able to read. But my limited English vocab is unable to describe correctly whatever I'm trying to say la.

The only thing I'm worried is that erhu is often accompanied by other instruments in background. If I play it alone, it might not be as nice.
Guzheng can be on its own entirely. What do you guys think about this? Since most of this forum have been about guzheng, I'd like to hear your opinions on solo erhu

And also is it very hard to pick up these two instruments at this age? Learning from young age seems alot easier for many things.

This post has been edited by darielle11: Nov 29 2011, 08:22 PM

I play both...but am far better with Erhu. Erhu is not easy to play. It demands lotta practise. It can be quite disheartening exspecially when you 1st start as the sound will be horrible.

If you practise daily for 20-30 minutes...you should be able to play simple tunes in less than a month.

Where are you located?

I'm in Ampang. that's the far end of LRT for Ampang line.

Yea I figured it would need ALOT of practice, seeing that it doesn't have fingerboard like guitar to know exactly where to place your fingers for a certain note. And I'm used to piano with obvious keys to press. That'd probably take a long time for me to get it right lol.
Hopefully passion can make it easier.
and good teachers. That's why I'm starting to look for one...

But when you play erhu alone, would you find it much nicer with accompaniment, or solo is just as good?

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Added on November 29, 2011, 9:39 pmBtw Faceless,

I just saw that in one of the previous posts you mentioned that you stay at Wangsa Maju?
So there're teachers for erhu/guzheng in Wangsa Maju??
That'd be great also, since I was TARC student kaka.

Can you tell me the details like address, contacts and fees structure?
Thanks in advance!


This post has been edited by darielle11: Nov 29 2011, 09:39 PM

sori for the late reply...... very very Busy wit my gals stuff as well as doing something for our grandchildrens' children...
(hope u understand wat i'm trying to hint)


ok... since u've done ur due diligence... allow me to share wat u like to know about tis classical instrument.

the nearest centre i can think of for u is near Taman maluri, Chin woo, kuchai lama or Unkel Faceless school ... (may b Faceless Gor Gor)...

dun take exam if u not keen but try to finish all the songs in each syallbus as that really helps ... observed via my gal...
u need a very strong foundation in "yew chee" & plucking wit right hand b4 entering to both hands... good classical songs after G5 need great
foundations.

dun know mandarin not a great disadvatage... seen my "taijek kwai lor" buddy playing GZ... i will try to paste it here later.

but great teacher who can teach to high level in klang valley not many. ... ..

i think u r a gal right ... GZ is more towards the lady side except for the demons.... ... sori ah bru faceless as he is trying to beat the infamous
6 fingers GZ demon..... 六指琴魔

erhu is cool but hard very mellow instrument .... prefer the horse head erhu; 马头琴. ...

erhu solo often very emotional one...

empire : u r right bru... not easy as tat thing got only 2 STRINGS to fiddle around... ... even kwai lor often amaze by it... hahaha.

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ok.... from the path tat i walked along wit my gals... tis is wat i found.

piano and guzheng can easy mix and match as piano often the basic musical foundation instrument apart from guitar in KampungKUL.

sori if i 'cheong hee' again.

both my gals are pianist as well... the elder one completed until Yamaha G5 and AB G8 in theory+pract....... GZ she dropped out after G3 .
total time spend in GZ classes .. i say less than 2yrs
now hardly touch any instrument as busy wit her Uni workload, 'kai-kai' , 'bong cha-cha' and 'keh poh' wit her jie mei...
the passion in music mayb off alridi for her ... soon she will 'tar tar' wit ah pa to persue her dreams ... how to 'tar pau' intsruments along wit her ???
so music might be KIV until the next flame alights !!!!

the second one ... tis is the EVIL one... ....
Completed her Yamaha till G6 three years ago..... sitting her AB G8 in theory+pract next year. Her teacher pushing her for Dip. after tat.

GZ ... CCMA now G9... but doing a crash course ... more or less G9 + G10 simutaneously... Target to complete by August next year. {G10 is Dip. in CCMA.}
as for exam... G9 is compulsory b4 G10... so no choice must take G9 exam.
very likely will b over to Hong Kong for the GZ youth competition next August too... all the competition songs are G10. .. so have to know them b4 August.
total contact duration ... 4 yrs in total. she skipped G1,G2,G3 exam.... direct G4 then G6 and G8 last august.... even though her teacher advised NOT to but
he could not stopped her as her results were very good .. sp no choice allowed her to skip as she wished...

On top of all these she still doing her 'bong cha cha' competitions... local & international ones... and the worst next year SPM.... !!!!

she been pestering me to let her sitting for SAT exam few months ago .. to run away from A level or even SPM.. doing Biomedic but I put her
back to track.... "NOT tOO fast young lady". Cannot have everything in one time.

so GZ should not b a problem for u....

This post has been edited by subangman: Nov 30 2011, 12:30 AM

Good to see this thread alive and kicking again! Too bad the rest are not interested anymore. That's a shame.

often HARDCORE remains.

I am more trying to do my part helping to keep the culture instrument alive... wat is civilasation and history when there is no culture.

Arts and music is part of the culture.......




This post has been edited by subangman: Nov 30 2011, 12:43 AM

'often HARDCORE remains'. Subangman...so true!

I never knew I am hardcore!

u know u r one... u r not one tat can forgo his roots for a kwai lor instrument lightly.

Of course! I do not try to be Ang Moh...cos I am not.

We should meet up lo. Am sure darielle is dying to meet us

I dont opening up my house again for the next gathering so that darielle can take lrt right to Kelana Jaya..which is very near my house.

I answer your quote one paragraph by one paragraph.

I am amaze that guzheng can bring you back to ancient china. I am like that too (also your first post in LYN is this thread just like me). Remember this song title 高山流水。 Most swordsman movie use the tension part of this song for sword clashing scenes from lakes to mountains to cities. You can play the same part with a different feel and transport these high mountains with cascading waters right in front of you.

Subang, Empire and I are bananas but using chinese here is not a problem. As long as you dont type a long passage in chinese, we have no problems. This is traditional chinese instruments thread. Sometimes it is best not to translate certain terms. Bananas who like traditional chinese instrument had to learn them sooner or later.

Erhu solo is super. Listen to the master composer (I forgot his name). You can find it on wikipedia. He is a learned man turn beggar due to the communist overthrow in china. After you find his name look up his songs in u-tube. Then you will not say what most people say about erhu (that which you had said above). I believe his song are high grade so it takes a long time to acquire that skill level.

Age is not a factor in learning any music instruments. The most important thing is commitment to practise. Passion for the instrument is going to be the sole factor to fuel this commitment.

There are no teachers/schools that I know in Wangsa Maju. Like I said things like syllabus and fees, Subang is our expert. You read far enough in the early pages to know that he had looked for lessons at every corner of the Klang Valley to find the best place to enroll his daughters for lessons.

I had problems figuring out the hints. Could be now your girls are now teaching music already or perhaps there is a new moon celebration. What ever the case congratulations. By the way if there are red eggs to consume we are waiting for invitation.

Since when I became guzheng teacher with school? I am still stuck in grade4 I am very sad and may end up losing the passion. I been doing 浏阳河 for 1 year already and still cant get it. The two handed part is still a big obstacle. The rain drops part (the 琶音four fingers arpeggio) is very frustrating. Fishing boats 渔舟晚唱 also had not been kind to me. Half a year still cannot master.

If darielle want introductory level I can teach on barter basis. Since he G8 piano, he can teach me music theory in exchange.

Looks like got to do CNY already unless can do December. I actually urgently need to meet you. I want to learn how to remove the cobra skin. My brother got me an erhu. He will likely give it to me on Christmas. It may be sometimes before I start playing with it. When I get my erhu I must meet you urgently already.

What happen to your stage debut in Genting?

This post has been edited by faceless: Nov 30 2011, 10:58 AM

Faceless...they hired a cheapo unplugged Band. Client said "cheaper by a lot wo!".hehehe... Well...they get what they pay for. This kinda typical unplugged bands are the usual boring bands that play sleepy songs.

If you cant sleep..go hear them. You will sure sleep then.

Why you wanna remove the snake skin??

Its going to b a long way before any of my gals getting married. Its just me running around town doing stuff for "OUR" grandchildrens' children ....
actually its more towards the political thing tat happening lately ..... got another one tis Sat @ the park .
"OUR" means u,me, every kind and humble kampungKUL folks.

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Actually exam orientated course is better than NON one as we are more towards the exam orientated species since childhood.
We intend to follow and challanged ourselves to complete each grade within its time frame and be assesed else its very easy to sway here and there
and finally gettin nowhere unless strong passion and discipline within thy soul.
I'm a failure in tis as my sax still hibernating in its cave.

faceless: 浏阳河 is a very nice song and not easy one unless the left hand obeys its master commands. then the next one is 山丹丹开花红艳艳.

高山流水 is THE SOUL for guqin and guzheng. Created at least 2,000yrs in history. I will try to post the documentary link for this .. its in *.mkv file.
worth watching .... free dload.

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darielle11 if u intend to buy a GZ... i came across one GOOD value for $ guzheng in Klang valley.
Its a 20+yrs old Dunhuang Duo Crane (21 strings) in excellent condition.
Belongs to a pastor and he has re-loacated back to his hometown Penang for good. ... he wans to dispose its to a "chee yam yan" = one who has passion in GZ...... asking for just RM1,000.... mayb can nego to say RM$800 if u try hard.
For info Dunhuang Duo Crane is the only model made at least more than 100,000 sets. Hot cake item. The earlier batches wood is better than the later versions and tis one is a well season alridi.

actually I wan it for my gals but too many GZs in house as will b gettin a very rare GZ from Dunhuang {Aged Rosewood} to complete her mini GZ collection.
one from Yangchao, Xian, Tianyi, Dunhuang 23 and Dunhuang 21 strings.... anything more she got to find it herself along her path.

for teachers if I were u, i will take the Putra line to Taman Bahagia ; SS2 to find a teacher during the weekends and solve the problem.
U can find few good teachers there.

U won't believe how far my gal and I have to travel for her GZ class.

i often believe a passion person will willing do extreme things for their desire or lust ... remember how the young shaolin monk kneel for days in order to
beg his master to teaches him kungfu

or else .. the easy way... shift near my neighbourhood or b my neighbour and try to get my gal to coach u... hahaha...just kidding .
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tis is the link for the guyin documentary clip. EP 32. ...

http://www.movdrama.com/2011/06/09/china-w...b8%ad%e5%9b%bd/

This post has been edited by subangman: Nov 30 2011, 12:28 PM

Empire,
What does the term "unplugged band" means?

As I know it, most people hire sub standard band. A philippine group taught me
1) Sing out each syllable clearly. Most band I hear their voice muffled up
2) Cut out your local accent. For this malaysians over do it. They try to "slang" instead.
3) Sing/play with feel. We here saja only nyanyi/main.
Many places like hotels, pub, ... the bands are this quality and Genting is no exception. The worst is the lead try to gauge his audience. He come up with jokes that only he understands.
Shanghai Angels is different. They meet the above standards. The lead has charisma. All members are talented multi-instruments player.

I want to take out the snake skin because it will rot if not played for a long time. I want to do 浏阳河，高山流水, 渔舟晚唱 and some other numbers before I do erhu. Since I am stuck on these song for some time, I figure it would be some time before I can pick up the erhu.

I think I should take exams like what Subang said.

Subang,
I never thought the hint was on politics. I should have guess it since we touch about politics. For me, politics and music dont mix. Until I learn how to compose songs. Then perhaps I will walk the path Dylan and Lennon did.

山丹丹开花红艳艳 was on my list of song to master but maybe it will be long long time from now. I had prob with the guqin link. For some reason I keep getting failure to dload. Anyway I will not miss a thing. I most likely cant hear their mainland mandrin.

Darielle,
DunHuang duo crane is an entry model. Price above 2.5k these days. I had a class mate who bought better set. The newbies offer to buy her duo crane but she will not sell. Sentimental reason is the main issue. She also said 1k+ what can I do. Before I know it, it is gone. Keep the set, it will still be there. Although I may one day get a custom made scarlet bird, I dont think I will sell my DunHuang Spiritual Connection (mid range model). The plus side is some duo cranes has the quality of mid range model especially the older ones. A 20 year old duo crane is a must see.

This post has been edited by faceless: Nov 30 2011, 02:09 PM

I took awhile to figure out how to multiquote stuffs haha, since I'm new at this forum.
Firstly, I wanna say thanks to everyone, especially subangman, for giving such detailed and enthusiastic reply to my questions.

I'm guessing by 'doing something for our grandchildren's children', you mean you're doing something related to helping our future generation.

Your 'daijek kwai lou' buddy playing the guzheng, it's a very contrasting image, with soft guzheng sounds coming from under his tattooed arms haha. But it's nice to see that he enjoys it, just goes to prove we can never judge a book by its cover

Yes I'm a girl. But if I were to choose between guzheng and erhu based on my current situation for the next few months, I think I would probably pick up Erhu first. 'Cause I'll be paying for the instrument and classes by my own, after I land my first job. Don't want to ask parents to support lah since I graduated d, summore they've spent alot on my piano and my education and now they're nearing retirement age. Compared to Erhu, GZ would be a much bigger investment and also it's less convenient to bring around. After learning piano (can't bring out), I've always wanted to learn something where I could play anywhere I am, when I'm in the mood haha... (of course after I'm more well acquainted with it la. Until then, I'll limit my practising noise to my own room with curtains tightly shut )


It's funny that you mentioned 马头琴, 'cause I wouldn't what it is before this but yesterday night I chanced upon this Taiwanese talk show interviewing a Taiwanese girl who went all the way to Mongolia to learn 马头琴 from this man 齐·宝力高. Seems that he's a world-known performer for 马头琴. Both of them performed some songs during the interview. I was captivated and think that its sound is like a less sad version of erhu, but touching nonetheless. But they said that 马头琴 only came from Mongolia and other countries rarely sell or teach it. I wonder if you actually know someone teaching it here in Selangor? Or you mean you prefer listening to this instrument over Erhu?

Your daughters sound amazing, especially the second daughter. Learning AND doing so well at SO MANY things AT ONCE!!! I'll probably go crazy if I have to juggle so many things! Hahaha... They must be great at managing time and self discipline, not to mention multi-talented. But having you as their father is undeniably a blessing as well, being so supportive without pressuring.



Thanks for your kind information bout the RM1000 GZ. But since I prefer Erhu at the moment and can't be sure that I'll be able to master it within 2 years, I can't just buy the GZ because it's such a good deal then having it end up collecting dust until I manage to find time and practice it. That'd be a shame for such a good GZ and not what the pastor would expect for his "chee yam yan".




So these places have good teachers instructing Erhu as well?
Uncle Faceless (or Faceless Gorgor? idk his age so...lol) said there're no Erhu instructors/schools in Wangsa Maju wor. So maybe I should look at these places you mentioned. Can you possibly message me the names of the centres for these places? So i can find out further information later. Thank you!




I'm still looking up for his real name. But I assume his solo songs are those incredibly hard, emotional, and traditional kinds? The kinds where it's already incredibly heartwrenching just on its own. That'd be Master level. haha...
When I asked whether erhu solo will be not as nice without accompaniment, I actually meant those more modern songs played on erhu.
Example this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJdJdvNYU8...ture=plpp_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oge5T_JiZq4...ideo&playnext=1

Most of the Erhu performances are accompanied by some form of instrument like piano, flute, or others to create the supporting ambience. So I'm wondering if I play it alone would it be 单调？
Maybe since Empire has been playing it for long time, he could also enlighten me on this?



Thanks for such warm welcome. I've read that you guys organize gatherings every now and then. It seems like it's very fun. But I might disappoint 'cause my skills is nowhere nearly as accomplished as all of you. So if I go, I'll probably only be an eager audience and student haha. Even after completing G8 piano, my piano skills remains at the level for self entertainment only, nothing near performance level... I get nervous with playing in front of audience, even when it's close friends. Don't know why I have such psychological obstacle...

Darielle..regardless of your current musicla ability...you are still welcome to join our small community of chinese instrument lovers.

We let those less mature kids rave about how cool their electric guitars are in other threads. Guitars are soooo common...no one will be surprised when they see one.

However....Erhu and GZ are 2 totally different animals. They are far less common. They are seldom seen in public compared to the over rated and boring guitar.

That was one of the reasons why I created Shanghai Angels Band. I saw that Malaysia welcomes things that are not of the norm more than the norm.

I really admire tis Kwai Loh buddy.. he is italian and normal profession is below clip. the guy in black T-shirt is him. hahaha




sori .. slightly out from topic. ... and the worst is he learning GZ thru net and little guidence from fellow net GZ lovers and he is now
testing his endurance and skills on tis song which is one of the tok-kong in G8 syallbus.



am waiting for his postin after he master it...


best solo erhu song i heard couple of years ago done by a buddy frd....just a solo erhu.. middle of day , having a sip while listening to it... really MABUK !



This post has been edited by subangman: Nov 30 2011, 05:42 PM