This book will teach you how to play erhu, the Chinese violin, at the beginner level. No prior knowledge in Chinese music is needed. In addition, you will know the erhu's structure, the ways to choose a good erhu and the numbered music notation. A number of sheet music are also provided for your own practices. After reading the whole book, you should have a basic understanding of the erhu and can play some simple songs by yourself.
"Playing Erhu: Bridging the Gap" was written for English readers who are interested in learning how to play the erhu, but could not find any erhu instruction books in English. The book covers: Assembly of the erhu; Reading staff and jianpu notation; Fingering charts for all common keys; Music symbols, terms, ornamentation; Exercises in staff and jianpu notation for each key; Annotated regional folksongs in staff and jianpu notation for each key; Internet access to recordings of all music found in this book as performed by the author.
This Full Version is not merely a combination of the previous two books, but new chapters have been added and original chapters have been expanded to cover more information of the erhu. For instance, the chapter "How to Set up an Erhu" caters for readers in need, while the chapter "Alternative Open Strings" introduces different base tunes of the erhu. Besides, a collection of songs are included in a bid to provide necessary materials for readers who are interested to sit for the graded examination of the erhu. After reading the whole book, readers can gain a comprehensive understanding of the erhu , which helps them to master this elegant instrument.
This book will teach you how to play erhu, the Chinese violin, at the advanced level. Various fingering and bowing techniques, the uncommon key signatures, as well as the ways to maintain an erhu will be taught in this book with illustrations and external videos. Likewise, a number of sheet music will be provided for practices. After reading the whole book, you should know more about erhu and can play songs with greater difficulty by yourself.
The lute, ch'in or guqin is one of China's oldest and most revered musical instruments. Records indicate that it has been a favourite of the literary classes for more than 2,500 years; Confucius himself was a great lover of the instrument. Over the centuries, it became representative of the life, taste and pastimes of the Chinese literati. In addition to its contributions to solo and orchestral musical arrangements, a wealth of symbolic meaning accrued to the lute over time. Not only was knowledge of the instrument reserved for the literati; its study was believed to be conducive to meditation and to facilitate intellectual enlightenment. While a significant body of literature has been written on the lute in Chinese, the present monograph is the first to assemble a broad picture of the instrument and its cultural significance in English. The author, a renowned Sinologue and linguist, studied the playing of the instrument under one of the most famous lute masters of his age.
How to Play Erhu for Beginners Are you intrigued by the hauntingly beautiful sound of the erhu? Do you want to master this traditional Chinese two-stringed violin with ease? Are you looking for a comprehensive guide that will take you from beginner to proficient player? Would you like to unlock the secrets to playing the erhu like a pro and impress your audience? Description: Discover the enchanting world of the erhu with "How to Play Erhu for Beginners," your ultimate guide to learning this revered Chinese musical instrument. Whether you are a complete novice or have some experience with string instruments, this book is designed to provide a clear, step-by-step approach to mastering the erhu. Dive into the rich cultural heritage and musical possibilities that this unique instrument offers, and transform your playing skills with expert guidance. In this comprehensive guide, you'll find: Introduction to the Erhu: Understand the history, cultural significance, and the unique characteristics of the erhu. Learn about its role in traditional Chinese music and its place in modern performances. Getting Started with Your Erhu: Learn how to choose the right erhu for beginners, including tips on purchasing and maintaining your instrument. Discover the essential accessories you need to get started. Basic Playing Techniques: Master the fundamental techniques of erhu playing, including proper posture, bowing technique, and finger positioning. Follow clear, illustrated instructions to build a strong foundation. Reading Erhu Music: Gain proficiency in reading erhu sheet music with easy-to-understand explanations of musical notation and symbols specific to the erhu. Practice simple exercises to develop your reading skills. Essential Exercises and Drills: Enhance your technical skills with targeted exercises designed to improve your tone, intonation, and rhythm. Build your confidence with practice drills that gradually increase in complexity. Learning Popular Tunes: Start playing well-known Chinese melodies and traditional pieces. Step-by-step tutorials guide you through each song, helping you achieve a polished performance. Improving Your Sound: Discover techniques to refine your sound, including tuning tips, adjusting your bowing style, and enhancing your expressive capabilities. Learn how to produce a range of tones and dynamics. Troubleshooting Common Issues: Address common challenges faced by beginners, such as string tension, bowing difficulties, and intonation problems. Get practical solutions to overcome these hurdles and continue progressing. Expanding Your Repertoire: Explore additional resources for expanding your erhu repertoire. Find recommendations for further reading, online tutorials, and local erhu communities. Performance Tips and Techniques: Prepare for live performances with tips on stage presence, managing performance anxiety, and connecting with your audience. Learn how to make a lasting impression with your erhu playing. Elevate your erhu playing skills and immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Chinese music with "How to Play Erhu for Beginners." This book is your gateway to mastering the erhu with confidence and ease. Don't miss the opportunity to transform your musical journey-get your copy today and start playing like a pro!
Journey of a Thousand Miles tells the remarkable story of a boy who sacrificed almost everything – family, financial security, childhood and his reputation in China’s insular classical music world – to fulfil his promise as a classical pianist. Lang Lang was born in Shenyang in north-eastern China just after the end of the Cultural Revolution. He began piano lessons at three years old and by age ten had been awarded a place at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. In order to continue his studies he moved thousands of miles from home, living with his exacting father in a cramped, shared apartment, while his mother stayed at home to earn the money to pay his fees. At fifteen he moved to the United States to take up a scholarship at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia; by nineteen he was selling out Carnegie Hall. His tutor and mentor Daniel Barenboim was perhaps the first to describe him as ‘extraordinarily talented’; today his assessment is shared by millions. Now in adulthood, Lang Lang tours relentlessly, delighting sell-out audiences with his trademark flamboyance and showmanship. Journey of a Thousand Miles is a tale of heartbreak, drama and ultimately triumph. His inspiring story demonstrates the courage and self-sacrifice required to achieve artistic greatness.
Move beyond Coping and Surviving to a Rejuvenating Place of Soul Rest How many of us find ourselves exhausted, running on empty with no time for rest, no time for ourselves, no time for God? Bonnie Gray knows exactly what that's like. On the brink of fulfilling a lifelong dream, Bonnie's plans suddenly went off script. Her life shattered into a debilitating journey through anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. But as she struggled to make sense of it all, she made an important discovery: we all need spiritual whitespace. Spiritual whitespace makes room--room in one's heart for a deep relationship with God, room in one's life for rest, room in one's soul for rejuvenation. With soul-stirring vulnerability and heartbreaking honesty, Bonnie takes readers on a personal journey to feed their souls and uncover the deeper story of rest. Lyrical writing draws readers into Gray's intimate journey through overwhelming stress to find God in a broken story and celebrate the beauty of faith. Guided by biblical encouragement and thought-provoking prompts, Gray shows readers how to create space in the everyday for God, refreshment, and faith. She also offers practical steps and insights for making spiritual whitespace a reality, right in the midst of the stress-frayed stories in every season of life. "We live in a culture that brags and boasts about being busy. Into that reality steps Bonnie with a new idea. Whitespace is an important concept and Bonnie has captured it perfectly. If you're exhausted with being exhausted, read this book. If you feel too busy to read this book, then that's probably the best sign of all that you need it."--from the foreword by Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author of Stuff Christians Like
Published in celebration of the famous Yellow River Cantata’s 80th anniversary, this is the riveting history of how a young Chinese author and passionate militant fought using art to create a socially just China during the period of the struggle against the Japanese and during World War II. This is the fascinating story of how a young Chinese author, Guang Weiran, a passionate militant from the age of twelve, fought, using art, theater, poetry and song, especially the famous Yellow River Cantata — the anthem of Chinese national spirit — to create a socially just China. Set during the period of the struggle against the Japanese and the war against the Kuomintang in the 1920s and ’30s, this book, written and illustrated by Guang Weiran’s award-winning artist son, Ange Zhang, illuminates a key period in China’s history. The passion and commitment of the artists who were born under the repressive weight of the Japanese occupation, the remnants of the decaying imperial order and the times of colonial humiliation are inspiring. Zhang’s words and wood-block style of art tell us the story of his father’s extraordinary youth and very early rise to prominence due to his great talent with words. We see and hear the intensity of what it meant to be alive at such a significant moment in the history of China, a country that understands itself as the heir to one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known. The humiliations and social injustice the Chinese people had endured in the colonial period were no longer bearable. And yet there were major factional differences between those who wanted to create a modern China. Ange’s words and art paint the picture for us through his father’s story, accompanied by sidebars that explain the historical context. The book ends in a burst of glorious color and song, with the words of Yellow River Cantata in Mandarin, as well as newly translated into English. This great song turns eighty years old in 2019, and will be sung and performed by huge orchestras and choirs around the world, as the Chinese diaspora has embraced the cantata as its own. Key Text Features historical context sidebars illustrations lyrics Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2 Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
From the author’s preface: “This book was conceived four years ago, almost to the day, at a time when I was teaching fiddle and mandolin in New York City. It was my idea then, with my students in mind, to compile a book of the most often played, most important and most interesting fiddle tunes from the various Celtic and North American traditions. The tunes were chosen by cataloging a large number of recordings by tune title. A tally was taken to find out which had been recorded most often. This established a foundation of material that could not be left out. To this list I added the names of other pieces which had not been recorded as frequently, but which I knew were played regularly and with respect. I admit to sprinkling the collection with a few lesser known tunes which happen to be personal favorites, but I am sure they will hold their own when placed next to the old war horses of the fiddler’s repertoire. . . . Although I started out with my students in mind this book has turned out to be the book that I’ve always wanted and I hope that it will serve the advanced player as well as the beginner.”
