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Post by makumberu on Aug 19, 2016 7:04:59 GMT
Hey everyone, I'm in the middle of one of the biggest doubts I've ever had, so I wanted to ask you for help, if possible! So, I'll be traveling to China so spend a whole year there, which will provide me with the opportunity to learn a chinese instrument (besides my loyal zhongruan). The thing is, I thought I had decided which instrument to learn, but right now I really can't decide... In my opinion the pros and cons of them are:
Guqin -> pros: deep and peaceful sound
-learning it is also an opportunity of getting to know more of chinese culture
-can play after 10 pm (so I'll have time to practice it even when I can't do the same with my other instruments)
->cons: play alone, not a fun group instrument (I enjoy lone time, but I like to have the freedom of choice)
-pretty expensive
-restricted to chinese tunes
Xiao -> pros: -can play either in a group or alone
-not restricted to chinese tunes
-deep sound
-comparatively cheap
-after returning, easier to find guidance in similar western instruments
-very few flutists in the place I leave
->cons: can't play after 10pm so will get in the way of the other instruments practice (seems like not much but it is with my late ending lessons)
-not as meditative as the Guqin
-I have a hulusi, afraid I might forget about it after the bigger range Xiao comes in to the family
So, there you have it... can you tell me about your experience with any (or both) of them to help me, or give me any advice? Thank you all very much!
Disclaimer: My heart doesn't know which path to follow, so more of "follow your heart" will drive me off brink of insanity
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Post by billdsmall on Aug 20, 2016 1:09:14 GMT
Makumberu,
You already play zhongruan, so Now's The Time (as Bird said) to bust out of your stringed-instrument-comfort-zone and pick up a xiao. Portability is power, do you really want to be lugging a guqin around China? And don't kid yourself into thinking that a guqin is more meditative than a xiao. Musical instruments are not meditative, musicians can be. If you want to play xiao, use belly breathing, so don't follow your heart...play from your gut! Good luck whatever you do!
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Post by davidmdahl on Aug 22, 2016 16:20:46 GMT
Welcome to the forum, Makumberu. I am leaning toward recommending the xiao as well. The guqin is certainly all that you mentioned, and more, but it is very hard to learn on your own, and a year of lessons is barely enough to get started. As for the xiao, that will not necessarily be easy to learn either, but probably you will be fine on your own with a year of lessons with a good teacher. Don't sell the xiao short though in the contemplative department. Check out the videos on Youtube of Winson Donxiao for a reset on what a xiao can be.
In the end, between xiao and guqin, there is no wrong answer. Just pick one, and go with it. If you have another opportunity in the future, you can pick the other one. In a lifetime, there can be many such side trips.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by makumberu on Aug 24, 2016 22:19:18 GMT
Makumberu, You already play zhongruan, so Now's The Time (as Bird said) to bust out of your stringed-instrument-comfort-zone and pick up a xiao. Portability is power, do you really want to be lugging a guqin around China? And don't kid yourself into thinking that a guqin is more meditative than a xiao. Musical instruments are not meditative, musicians can be. If you want to play xiao, use belly breathing, so don't follow your heart...play from your gut! Good luck whatever you do! Thank you very much for the advice, also, the way you've written when making your (by the way very good) arguments, is very creative and amusing, definitely a point for the xiao there =) |
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Post by makumberu on Aug 24, 2016 22:29:25 GMT
Welcome to the forum, Makumberu. I am leaning toward recommending the xiao as well. The guqin is certainly all that you mentioned, and more, but it is very hard to learn on your own, and a year of lessons is barely enough to get started. As for the xiao, that will not necessarily be easy to learn either, but probably you will be fine on your own with a year of lessons with a good teacher. Don't sell the xiao short though in the contemplative department. Check out the videos on Youtube of Winson Donxiao for a reset on what a xiao can be. In the end, between xiao and guqin, there is no wrong answer. Just pick one, and go with it. If you have another opportunity in the future, you can pick the other one. In a lifetime, there can be many such side trips. Best wishes, David Firstly, thank you a lot also for the advice! The point you've made is actually one of my greatest fears in choosing the guqin... I've seen some good masters online offering lessons, but it's not the same thing as a live teacher, and it also tends to be really expensive for a university student. Also, I've seen Winson Donxiao videos, was even thinking on buying on of his instruments as a matter of fact (if I choose the xiao), since I've heard some really good things about them! Thanks a lot! |
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Post by meoweth on Oct 15, 2016 9:47:20 GMT
Definitely the xiao, and yeah i would also recommend winson, but more so to learn from, as opposed to buy a xiao from. Buying a xiao from him doesnt make you better, but learning from him will. Simple things like positioning and your lip shape, youd never really figure out on your own. Also Taiwan is alot nicer than China in general, the difference is night and day, goto Taipei you wont regret it.
Initially I learned from winson, and I have gotten decent at the tang xiao, but i spend time now playing other flutes, like shakuhachi, irish 6-hole, and soon the boehm flute. Also the bawu is awesome! The point is that, the technique you learn, if its a good one is transferrable applies to all types of flute, that one took me a bit to figure out...
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