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Post by marigold on Jan 14, 2017 3:08:48 GMT
I am really interested in learning either a Xiao, Dizi or Erhu but cant decide what is best. I am left handed so am not sure whether this would effect the playing of these instruments. also what would you say the best place is to buy these instruments from? I live in the UK. The easiest instruments for me to get my hands on is by a make called Atlas (im not really sure if it is a brand or not) Please give me your recommendations, many thanks  |
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Post by edcat7 on Jan 14, 2017 6:19:16 GMT
Hi Marigold and welcome. I'd choose the dizi, mainly because you can get one for under a tenner inc. postage on eBay. If you find playing it too difficult you haven't spent too much money, also it's easier than the xiao.
Actually my advice is to start out on the hulusi, which is easier than the dizi. I would not get an erhu unless you get tuition.
Best wishes
Ed
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Post by ck2998 on Jan 14, 2017 15:58:01 GMT
Hi Marigold,
I found the advice given by Mr Ng Teck Seng very useful.
No point learning an instrument unless it pierces your heart
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Post by marigold on Jan 14, 2017 18:36:02 GMT
Thank you for your comments Its really hard to decide which i really like as the Xiao has a lovely deep relaxing sound, and the Dizi has a lovely almost violin like sound, and the erhu is like its telling a beautiful sad story. I would love to play them all or at least try them all but when i went to a music shop to look at an Erhu once they put me off saying its to hard and they cant play it themselves so i should look perhaps at something else like the violin. |
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Post by edcat7 on Jan 14, 2017 20:45:21 GMT
I first heard a hulusi in a street market in Shanghai, ten years ago and was instantly hooked. I didn't find a teacher until four years later, when I stumbled across UK Chinese Traditional Music Ensemble (or something like that). They are all professional musicians and my teacher lives some distance from me, he in Dartford and me in Barnet, North London.
He plays a variety of instruments: yangqin, hulusi/dizi and erhu, in that order of ability.
In general what I find about music tuition (I also have lessons on classical guitar by a RCM postgraduate) is that it not enough just to play the notes. A teacher will be almost anal about getting every nuance from the piece.
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Post by billdsmall on Jan 15, 2017 2:15:35 GMT
Hey Marigold,
Ed's suggested progression makes a lot of sense. If I were in your shoes I'd give it a go: 1)Hulusi - 2)Dizi - 3)Xiao. Have fun!
Bill
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 16, 2017 1:36:37 GMT
... I would love to play them all or at least try them all but when i went to a music shop to look at an Erhu once they put me off saying its to hard and they cant play it themselves so i should look perhaps at something else like the violin. That's rich. I would not rate very highly advice on the erhu from someone who does not play it. The erhu is challenging, as is dizi and xiao, but maybe not so much as violin. For all three of them, a good teacher is very important for success. For a first Chinese instrument, I would not recommend the hulusi, unless you have a love for the music and sound. The hulusi is a fairly limited folk instrument. It would probably be a good second or third instrument after dizi, if that is where your heart is. Between dizi and xiao, I would suggest dizi, especially if your hands are small. It will also be a lot easier to find a teacher. If you can't find a dizi teacher, an adventurous teacher of other six hole flutes, such as Irish, may be useful to at least get you started. Many of the basics are the same or similar among all six hole flutes. Once you have a good handle on dizi, you would be better prepared for xiao. The erhu is a wonderful instrument with a large and rich catalog of tunes. Provided you are patient, persistent, and take lessons with good teacher, I would not discourage you from learning erhu. Whatever instrument and music is your thing, the key to success in learning music is a good teacher. Some people are successful self-learning, but it is a difficult road. There are few good materials in English for getting very far in Chinese music and instruments, and a lot is not intuitive. Good luck! Best wishes, David |
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Post by marigold on Jan 17, 2017 1:26:12 GMT
Everyones comments are really helpful, thank you I think I will learn the Dizi first and then the Erhu. thank you everyone again for helping me |
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Post by onegod on Sept 30, 2017 5:40:32 GMT
Thank you for your comments Its really hard to decide which i really like as the Xiao has a lovely deep relaxing sound, and the Dizi has a lovely almost violin like sound, and the erhu is like its telling a beautiful sad story. I would love to play them all or at least try them all but when i went to a music shop to look at an Erhu once they put me off saying its to hard and they cant play it themselves so i should look perhaps at something else like the violin. I got the same thing. I went to a music shop(which they taught music lesson too) to look at an Erhu. They put me off by saying do you know how to handle or play an Erhu. When I say "No", they told its hard and ask me to signup to let the teacher to show it to me. I had took violin lesson before. I think its easy to learn but hard to master since both use the bow and strings. I own a Xiao, Dizi, Hulusi and Bawu. But if you got a chance to try out the Hulusi or Bawu(more simple than Hulusi) are easy to learn as well. Until now I still haven't got a chance to try out the Erhu. Cheers mate!!! |
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Post by meoweth on Oct 14, 2017 16:43:33 GMT
Dont go for a hulusi, instead go for a 'bawu' its a much more portable version. There are 9/10-hole versions available that have way more range. They sound amazing. I wouldnt suggest dizi, b/c it takes alot of skill to not sound really horrible. If you want to do transverse flute, go for the keyless irish flute, at a shorter key, its the same exact thing as dizi just without that membrane.
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