Haha... everyone has their own preference when it comes to music. Guitars are nice also, like Sungha Jung is a great classical guitar player.
It really depends on personal taste.
Traditional instruments are less common in Malaysia, maybe 'cause less exposure in the music we hear on radio and chance for kids nowadays to learn. Teachers for these instruments are harder to find compared to western instruments.

Talking bout that,



Subangman

I wonder if this is the Maluri centre you're talking about?


PCCO 专艺民族乐团

https://www.facebook.com/pages/PCCO-%E4%B8%...0037181?sk=info

I uncle liao. In fact I am older than Subang. There is no school in Wangasa Maju. Subang is actually saying ask me to teach you. People think I am a good teacher because I express myself well. But I am not qualify to teach for a fee

华彦钧 is the master erhu composer I mentioned http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abing
I got my story from wiki but the current write up seems different from the one I read previously. The article use to have a list of his composition. Anyway since you know chinese and have the name I am sure you can look up more stories of this guy and his compositions.

yeap... PCCO.

opposite oldtown kopitiam and its on the top floor via lift.

I can show you some Erhu basics la. I am nowhere at all near those world class erhu players from CHina...but I am good enough to play some popular tunes without looking at any score.

I was trained intensively in Classical Piano during my schooldays. I was supposed to further my quest to be a Professional Classical Pianist after form 5....but lack of finance put a damper to that. It's not cheap to study music in Boston!

Faceless and Subangman know the gist of my background. I was never into traidtional Chinese instruments...until in 2007...MCA asked me to get a group to perform for MCA's CNY Open House in Dewan MCA. (Fyi...I HATE MCA!! Malaysia'c cakap association! Talk saja pandai...!..lain takda guna!)

That make shift BAND comprise of 1Erhu Player, 1 Violinist and 2 Keyboardists. I was one of the keyboardists.

After that performance....many people shook our hands and said they enjoyed it.

We were really surprised...and after I got home that night...I started to like chinese instruments. I roped in 3 lang lui's who can play Dizi, Erhu, GZ with me. That was how Shanghai Angels was birthed.

tis is one of my fav. ... but i prefer the 馬頭琴... not even one been seen perform by my kampung mates as far as i know. Mayb Empire can do something
about it .. he is very good in self learn ... then u pass the trick to my son as he is a Jr. cellist.

understand that is a more or less an asian version of cello.

This post has been edited by subangman: Nov 30 2011, 08:27 PM

Playing the Morrin Khuur is hard on the left fingers. Unliek Cello where you place your ifingers on TOP of the string....you have to use the delicate and weak part just above the nails!

Torture! Very painful to play.

Great! I think I can locate that place. I'll go enquire after I get a job hehe. Thanks Subangman!



Ohh i came across his 二泉映月 in Youtube as I was listening to various erhu videos, but didn't know it was him. Yea his was Master level indeed. Seems that he can mimic the voices of man and woman having conversation and chickens using erhu. Amazing. I'll go read more bout him after exams....




Wow Empire, that means you have only been playing Chinese instruments for 4 years? Then you pick up really fast... and mastering so many instruments at that. So that's what you mean by the 3 Angels I've seen you talking bout in previous posts. Haha... was thinking they are your talented students or daughters like Subangman.

Thanks for offering. I might take u up on the offer and ask you some questions here if I am stuck somehow after I start learning erhu.

Sorry out of topic abit, but would you have preferred a career path as a professional pianist, if given a choice?


btw I came across this one... sounds very nice so I thought to share.



i think i must leave the exploration of music until after exam next week.... PRIORITY => PASS it ALL AND start working!!
Then only can enroll in classes hahaha.

This post has been edited by darielle11: Dec 1 2011, 07:17 PM

Darielle..I am no Master...but I do have the ability to learn musical instruments faster than a lotta people.

It's not easy learning so many instruments...butit's fun if you have fun learning it from people who are generous with their advice.

Like that means master lor.

hehehe...master of none...jack of all trades nia la.

performed by a high caliber young guzheng lover from Kuching.

This post has been edited by subangman: Dec 12 2011, 10:18 PM

浏阳河.. that brings back memory. That's the song that I'd been playing before I left for UK. Haven't really master the piece.. now after 1 year..more teruk. :x And I really agree. The rain drops part is really frustrating.

Yah it was that long ago. What you doing now, graduated already?

I am sure people here know what is this device and how to use it.

It will save me the trouble to open a thread on the subject. I seen LittleIce use it on his violin bow. He always rub his bow with it. How does it work? It just seem like a piece of plastic to me. Anyway it came with my erhu.

This post has been edited by faceless: Dec 14 2011, 08:49 AM

Faceless...it is called a ROSIN. It is applied to the bow hair so that it can grip the strings when you bow across the strings. Without ROSIN...there will not be any sound at all when you try to play it.

rosin is made from tree resins (go and make a scratch on a mature tree and you'll see those sticky liquids flowing out), when it's processed and harden it'll become rosin solid. rub horse hairs over it, the rosin will rubbed into white dusts and the horse hair will pick up the dusts. brand new horse hair on the bow is silky smooth, it'll skid on the strings rather than gripping it, so you need the rosin.

This post has been edited by little ice: Dec 14 2011, 02:28 PM

Yup! Graduated adi. Going to pick up all my music again.. xD

Empire,
Thanks for the brief explanation on rosin. I thought rosin was a brand. I guess I can search it on wiki for more detail explanation. Although I think LittleIce explanation is good enough already.

When want to do gathering? This time I come with erhu lor. Anyway, I need to see you for some tips on getting started with erhu. Believe it or not I dont even know how to tune it. How to position the bow between the string I also blur. These things cannot find online wan wor.

That means you are back in KL. So, can join our gathering. I am looking forward to see you violin. LittlleIce had given me an intro to violin classics during our gatherings. Now I am keen to hear more violin.

Faceless...you are welcome. Sure...let's meet up soon...dont knwo when la...and let's see your Erhu.

yep! I wan to join the gathering as well..xD.. But my violin sucks..xDDDD..

Okay we fix meeting by phone.

By the way for the third gathering at your home, just put a date down.
Good, we miss you for the last two gatherings. You just show up will do. Guzheng you must play already. Violin, will see if we can encourage you. One thing about gathering at Empire house is there is no worry of lack of instruments. more than 20 different instruments sitting there

This post has been edited by faceless: Dec 16 2011, 08:43 AM