Better drive to Singapore and carry it back. I know the EASON boss personally. He's a fan of my Shanghai Angels :-D

I guess teacher need to make a living selling guzheng these days. My teacher also try to sell me an over priced guzheng. I end up buying a guzheng in Macau and it took a while to build a good relation with my teacher. He continue trying even when I had my own guzheng. He ask me to trade in mine and pay RM1000 for one that is much more inferior. By the way my guzheng cost RM5000 today base on Subangman buying a similar one recently. For you infor I bought it for RM3000 3 years ago. I guess it is the transport cost that had gone up due the the sky rocketing petrol pricess. Since you had a teacher like that you better do some research on how to evaluate a good guzheng. I had given some idea on this in the previous post.

The guzheng you mention is an entry level guzheng. It will at best last you two years. You should take a bus down to Singapore and shop for a better one if you have the budget.

I think all future Chinese instrument students (regardless of age) should view this thread b4 they are fleeced by dishonest music teachers.

Empire : u should go easy on the teachers / dealers.... they also need to make a living too Bru . Afterall willing buyer willing seller meh.
To me 30% profit not really steep lar as this is wat my margin normally .. eventhough sometimes I do enjoy obsence margin.
in my business.. ...depends how well i market it to my client.
I'm sure ur margin is more than 50%... right ..[deep inside ur heart will gives u the answer]

They have to cough out the initial capital and hoping for the 'promise' margin. The worse is they have to take risk when nobody
is willing to buy wat they have stock up.... the bank will pays interest ... the goods won't . and the worst unpredicted
incident such as fire, flood, etc.... total loss lar...

How often someone comes knockin his door for a guzheng ? Even Woh Fatt or Do Re Mi margin also about 20% or more when u look into
their price tags in details if comparing to the net price... esp. strings for instruments.

Goods purchase from Singapore will be subjected to 7% GST and cannot be refunded unless travel by air if I'm not wrong.
So after deductin bits and pieces here and there ... he only takes a cut about say 15% to 20% lar... quite fair .. on top
have to do after sales service such as tuning or sometimes help changing strings,etc.... just like our faceless bru.askin his teacher
to sharpen his blunt sword for free and not even shoutin a cup of tea to the oldman in return.... certainly the oldman will thinks must well
go and have a nap or 'blow water' under the raintree with the kakis also more syiok.
When i see doctor also need to pay consultation fees lar.
My humble opinion in business there is never such a thing right or wrong... it depends on which angle u r viewing.

If there is any store in KampungKUL tat sells any instrument i want example SB#10B I will definitely buy it from them even knowing
paying 25% extra.... tat's how i build my relationship wit Alan and Chin.... sometimes we can't be too calculative.

This post has been edited by subangman: Nov 18 2010, 09:01 PM

Hi subangman, empire and faceless,


Thank You very much for your feedback.

I started to learn gu-zheng two months ago. Actually, I have bought it with RM2.5K with my teacher and it's already at home since last week. I am feeling kind of down (feel like crying ...). My mistake, I did not do research and ask around 1st, because I trusted my teacher. My teacher come to my area (a small town) once a week only, and he already has a very tight schedule and may not be able to take me. But at the end, he adjusted his schedule and fit me in (I can only attend class after work @ abt 7pm). So, I am thankful because finally, I got the chance to learn gu-zheng and everything seems so conveninet to me (I do not have any musical background and long for learning one. Since I am working already, I can spend on my own). He actually did not push me to buy gu-zheng from him, but have mentioned that I can buy from him if I want to, and told me that I don't need to worry as he will settle everything and I may get a more expensive one if buy from shop outside. I asked him if I can get cheaper price, and he mentioned there is one with RM1.8K (but I did not ask him what type is that). Then, I decided to get the RM2.5K one as I was thinking it would have better quality (without asking him about much detail). The main reason that I was so in rush is because I get disappointed with myself when I do not play well or forget how to play (no practise as no gu-zheng yet). Nothing I can do about it now. Check with him or not? If so, he might think I am complaining and our relationship may get affected. Haiz ... sad

ok.. this going to hurt ... forgive me if i am too prudent.

Here it goes... it's not point of crying over spill water ! Just carry on, at least u have purchased ur precious guzheng with ur hard earn money.

U choose the easy way so u face the consequences now.... so as i said earlier there is not such thing as right or wrong ... just face the music and go with the tune.

Forgive and forget the whole incident ,.... tis could be better off for the teacher & student relationship... if he really put in the affort to
teach u so continue and excel it. Its very hard to find a good dedicated teacher; esp when u reach to a high level and away from Klang valley.
In addition teacher going to ur house to teach u... . u have to go to the well when thirsty.... the well won't comes to u.
Faceless might know wat i am tryin to say.....so u pay premium lar.

I didn't blame anyone for buying a 23steel strings DunHuang ZITAN guzheng and turn to b furniture in my house now.... ITS NOT 白木 and at tat time i was a blur dog dog... just pay and b happy.....Think of the bright side... u r still one up than me/my gals ... at least u got the syallbus right ! LOL!

It took me years ... i can say at least 5yrs alridi doing research and scouttin around for all (world wide) info pertaining to guzheng since my gal loves
it. spending numerous hours in front of tis ugly screen searching and leaching for infos ...... sometimes i just transferred these info without much question asked to any person who request for it eventhough without a single TQ from them in return.

I wish i can read & write in Mandarin then i could be able to get more infos as most of the chinese instrument info is in Mandarin.

Do keep in touch here as we like to share infos regarding ur 'sword' and upgrading . .... me gettin veri 'cheong hey' lately.


P/S : He might be reading wat u wrote ....hahahaha.... u never know !


If u like to read .... read it for infos.

http://starvoid.proboards.com/index.cgi?bo...rint&thread=611



This post has been edited by subangman: Nov 18 2010, 11:52 PM

KLLee,
Somethings is better you dont know. Knowing the truth may cause unnecessary frustration. I dont see your reason for asking if you had made a good buy after making the purchased. For your info you not only bought a guzheng. You bought a guzheng and
It had taken me more than 2 years to mend the relationship with my teacher because I bought my own guzheng. As I said guzheng teacher need to make money selling instruments these days. Dont be too hard on yourself. We all have our share of making wrong choices due to our ignorance.

I can understand your decision making process. I had been in your shoes too. I started lesson without a guzheng for 3 months. I learnt nothing but ABC song, Twinkle Little Star, ... (I mean the guzheng version ) The passion to play continue to burn in you and it seem like nobody around can help you but your teacher. By the way my teacher also sounded like an angel when he tried to sell me a guzheng. He handled it just like your teacher too.

As to upgrading of instrument there is no end to it. Although I dont need to uprgade my instrument, my eyes were set on a custom made Zhuge (cost something like 10k today). Although I dont take exam, I know the syllabus from Subang. I figure if I can reach grade 8, I will buy my custome made Zhuge.

By the way, I am just curious how much you pay for lesson. I just want to know the rates in a small town and comming to your home to teach.

Subangman...your wise words coupled with your experience in life do carry a lotta weight around here. :-)

KLLEE83...it's time to move on. We humans will make mistakes we regret...and no one is exempted. Selling students guzheng for income is nothing wrong....cos as Subangmand said...willing seller...willing buyer" law applies"

I agree with Faceless. Your teacher is willing to go to youhse to teach you. Isnt' that great?

Say...where is your location?

Empire : Bru; u over praise me lar.... me just a cina ah pek tryin to make money worth spendin....
after all money veri hard earn one. kena kaw tou every now and then in order to make a few more !

KLLee83: Here is a few links to brighten u up while enhancing ur soul and nourshing thy spirit. LOL ! {if u like to read from the screen}

1. http://starvoid.proboards.com/index.cgi? my nick there is subangman. all sorts of chinese instrument

2. http://www.chinesezither.net/forum/ my nick is subangman too.... joined 2005... gosshh time flies.

3. http://www.qinzheng.org/viewthread.php?tid...6w5T0XtXOSp8_Yg ...... tis one
unkel struggling lar.... now ur turn to read and advise and update unkel everynow and then ..ok ?


the most important is keep the passion flame burning else kaput and ur guzheng will be a block of wood good for firing the oven !

for info :- there are few ways to touchup ur guzheng... like changing strings and bridges....sound will improve better... !
say after u completes ur G2 change ur strings, G3 change ur turtle nails to groove ones and say mayb G5 change the briges..
then finally G7-G8 change ur guzheng...


faceless :- bila pi havoc again ? tis time in chili KLCC... cheaper .1pint free another pint ....mayb during Empire rehearsal ... LOL !

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Added on November 20, 2010, 12:45 ambefore u play 寒鸭戏水 & 雪山春晓 u need to clear off 战台风.... u think ur mentor will teach u so easy without u kow tow to him !

tis is good ...



This is G8 song. The 1st 6:30 is she teaches u how to play... then the rest is the song... nice.
Empire : the 2nd clip is for u band.

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Added on November 20, 2010, 8:51 amdone a few rounds searchin thru youtube but couldn't find one purely done by guzheng.... mayb later i go into youku.com
and dig.... there got lots of goodies but the bad thing is it's in MANDARIN again.

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Added on November 20, 2010, 9:09 pm

The lady playin the song is Carol aka Yukina.

KLLEE83 : ur guzheng ok wat....

This post has been edited by subangman: Nov 20 2010, 09:09 PM

I am not sure about changing string making such a big difference. When I owned a Kapok, I thought changing strings can enhance it but a Kapok is a Kapok no matter what strings you get. 揉音 requires a good soundbourd. Lowest grade sound board have problems with it. Most of the guzheng at my school are like the model KLLee shown. As too bridge I had to do some experiment. Well, it seems like you already toyed with string, so I will take your word for it.

Empire's concert is about 3 weeks away. Are you confirm not going outstation? Havoc can do this Wed if you are free. I am not too worry about my mentor these days. I already know how to get around him. If I can play a bit of it he will be force to entertain me. It just one of those things. You can turn an inquiring student (who had done the homework) down. He was oblique to teach me 高山流水. Based on self assessment I my still in G4 but that is a G7 song (as I heard from you recently). To me is about getting a tape/CD and the score for the song. Try to play the song with that and ask him when stucked

This Carol is from Sound of China?

This post has been edited by faceless: Nov 22 2010, 10:14 AM

Definitely it won't be a vast changes after putting in the good strings or the excellent bridges but at least the best affort been made to it.
If miracle can be produced then u and me dun need to go for SB#10A or #10B ... save $ and we can 'tanni' a long long time.

This wed... i yet to know my sch. yet... keep in touch.

So now u r his pet student alridi so time to suck all out from the oldman before he change his mind.. mayb u need to do a tea ceremony
but instead or using chinese tea use St James Gate.... LOL !

u r right... tis Carol is the same Carol from Sound of Asia. ..... Carol Chang. Nice & sincere lady.

From the international forums I managed to make some frd... Vi-Ann, David, Yukina , etc... few outspoken guzheng master.

I may not be a pet but more of errand doer. If a string snaps, he will assign me to replace it. If someone guzheng is brought back for tuning, he ask me to do.

We just had a lunch gathering that was on the Sunday when Mei mei had the contest at Pudu. There was St James gate floating around Suck the oldman knowledge is for sure. I am not thinking of changing teacher. I think I can learn from Wang Zhong San (王中山) just watching his video. Carol is not bad too. She had written on the about us section that she had played before the PM of Canada. As it is I watch these people and try to imitate them then ask the old men where I went wrong

thank Subangman, but I am more looking for the full orchestra version. not a guzheng version. i think the music would be very different without the mouth flute in the beginning....

if you happen to come across a good orchestra recording do let me know.

My mom passed by and saw the slideshow pictures, said the Chinese flutist is very pretty xD

-----------

Hello, all, I play the di zi, yang qin, liu qin, zhong yuan and pi pa (last two I'm not very good at, just learned the basics last minute to help in school concert) but I don't know how to play the gu zheng...which my mom really wants to learn.

So I'm wondering if there're any handy tips about gu zheng that I can relate to with my other instruments so that I can help teach my mom how to play the gu zheng...(an old lady friend of hers just said she didn't want it anymore and gave us a really...really old 18-stringed gu zheng and I only have a rough idea about the notes...)

Dear me.. I've been so busy with the visa thingy and others that I've forgotten my good friends here.. ^^" Thanks for the Bon Voyage (I know I know.. it's very late.. LOL)




so touch when I finally have time to browse this forum again.. it's still up and running! and you guys still remember me.. ^^

so, I AM BACK..well.. to LYN though.. haha




HI!!!!





I guess I'm missing the fun part again... damn it.. make sure you do the same and better event when I'm back ya.. haha

Enjoy everyone and report it back here ya! ^^

Cassie,
It is nice to see you have settled into your new environment. It is good to hear that you have things under control and could now check out the pages in this thread. It had been nice that you would take the opposition at times. I kinda miss it as it make things more fun

Sure Cassie. Hope MPO will invite my Shanghai Angels band next year. It's all up to them who they think is suitable. After all, its not that easy for anyone or Band to be invited by MPO as they are very particular about quality.

Here is my FAIRYTALE FESTIVAL BAND during our full dress rehearsal yesterday, That's me holding the Zhongruan The pretty Dizi Player is holding her Clarinet. She plays 10 musical instruments.




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Wow, good luck!

And that's a lot of musical instruments...o.o

This our Violin and Erhu player.

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Added on November 26, 2010, 10:19 amThis is me ..having a ball with the concert grand Piano from Steinway & Sons. The amazing tone from this piano is freaking unreal!!

This post has been edited by empire: Nov 26 2010, 10:22 AM


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Welcome to this thread. It good to have more chinese music instrument lovers/players join us to share knowledge.

Getting the gift may not be a good thing after all. It is common for people developing the interest in guzheng because a friend gave them a guzheng. I seen one of these old 18-strings. A fellow classmate brought it to my teacher for comments. My teacher told her to give the guzheng back to the owner. The strings are hard to find locally. If you snapped one of the string then you will have a hard time finding replacement. Teachers for 18-strings are hard to find too. Could you post a pic here, please?

I like your mother. She is still interested in learning at this age. I certainly can relate it to the crazy passion that musical instrument brings out in people. What is your mother's background in music?

You should ask your mum to go for the concert

This post has been edited by faceless: Nov 26 2010, 10:58 AM