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Post by Mairearad on Jul 3, 2020 12:26:32 GMT
HalΓ² everyone, thanks for approving my account! I've been lurking on here for a few days getting to grips with my new dizi and I figured it might be time to say hello. Thanks so much for all your previous posts and threads, it's been really helpful in pointing me in the right direction To quickly introduce myself: hi, I'm Mairearad, I live in Scotland, and I'm trying to pick up dizi and xiao. I play a few western instruments, but this is my first foray into woodwind which is fun! My dizi is a D key and the xiao an F key (though still waiting on that to arrive). So far my biggest struggle is squeezing out the lower two notes - I tend to accidentally veer into the higher octaves. But we're slowly getting there !
Looking forward to chatting with and learning from you all!
- Mairearad x
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Post by smoleasternheretic on Jul 6, 2020 4:12:55 GMT
Nice to meet you! I only mess around with dizi and I pretend like I'm making progress with my playing every once in a while (man it's still pretty terrible and it's rough when everyone's within earshot). The higher octave is iffy for me lol. Anyway, just dropping in to say hi!
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Post by edcat7 on Jul 6, 2020 21:54:58 GMT
Hi Mairearad and welcome,
It's been a long while since I played the dizi but the main problem is correct embouchure. If you look back at previous threads you'll find information on how to play on lower and higher octaves.
Specifically on the last two lower notes, try using the air from your lower lungs rather than just the top.
Best wishes, Ed
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Post by Mairearad on Jul 8, 2020 16:33:29 GMT
Nice to meet you! I only mess around with dizi and I pretend like I'm making progress with my playing every once in a while (man it's still pretty terrible and it's rough when everyone's within earshot). The higher octave is iffy for me lol. Anyway, just dropping in to say hi! Nice to meet you too! Aha, I'm sure I'm driving everyone in my household mad in lockdown as well, especially now I'm trying to brush up on that higher octave ! π
- Mairearad x
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Post by Mairearad on Jul 8, 2020 16:34:31 GMT
Hi Mairearad and welcome, It's been a long while since I played the dizi but the main problem is correct embouchure. If you look back at previous threads you'll find information on how to play on lower and higher octaves. Specifically on the last two lower notes, try using the air from your lower lungs rather than just the top. Best wishes, Ed Hi Ed! Thanks for your advice! I can pretty consistently hit those bottom two notes now
- Mairearad x
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Post by edcat7 on Jul 8, 2020 20:45:26 GMT
Nice to meet you! I only mess around with dizi and I pretend like I'm making progress with my playing every once in a while (man it's still pretty terrible and it's rough when everyone's within earshot). The higher octave is iffy for me lol. Anyway, just dropping in to say hi! Nice to meet you too! Aha, I'm sure I'm driving everyone in my household mad in lockdown as well, especially now I'm trying to brush up on that higher octave ! π - Mairearad x
My immediate neighbours and I'm sure those across the road could hear my dizi playing. At least with my erhu I can put a mute on.
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Post by Mairearad on Jul 9, 2020 2:51:13 GMT
Nice to meet you too! Aha, I'm sure I'm driving everyone in my household mad in lockdown as well, especially now I'm trying to brush up on that higher octave ! π - Mairearad x
My immediate neighbours and I'm sure those across the road could hear my dizi playing. At least with my erhu I can put a mute on. Ah, my poor neighbours! Luckily they're music teachers themselves, so they're understanding so far ! π
I love the sound of the Erhu! What got you started?
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Post by smoleasternheretic on Jul 9, 2020 17:07:04 GMT
Mairearad Xiao is quieter, right? So far no one around here has complained about my dizi but I know they can hear me Maybe I should look into getting a xiao haha The erhu is such an interesting-looking instrument! One of my friends was once gifted one years ago but I don't think she ever got to play it and it broke I was thinking it could be fun to gift her one at some point but she does currently have to worry about being more quiet she lives, too. I think it may even be too loud with a damper so that may have to wait.
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Post by Mairearad on Jul 10, 2020 13:58:12 GMT
smoleasternheretic my Xiao was just released by UK customs a few days ago (and will hopefully be here any day now) so I've yet to have a chance to compare !! But I think it will be, or at least less shrill. I'll update when it arrives π
Aw, shame about your friend's Erhu! I agree, it has such a cool and distinct aesthetic.
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Post by edcat7 on Jul 11, 2020 0:03:20 GMT
My immediate neighbours and I'm sure those across the road could hear my dizi playing. At least with my erhu I can put a mute on. Ah, my poor neighbours! Luckily they're music teachers themselves, so they're understanding so far ! π
I love the sound of the Erhu! What got you started? I was wondering around a street market in Shanghai when I was attracted to the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. A kid was selling hulusis but I only bought a cd. On my return to London I promised myself I would find a teacher. I did and now play the hulusi, dizi, erhu (and classical guitar). What's your story?
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Post by Mairearad on Jul 11, 2020 16:45:38 GMT
Ah, my poor neighbours! Luckily they're music teachers themselves, so they're understanding so far ! π
I love the sound of the Erhu! What got you started? I was wondering around a street market in Shanghai when I was attracted to the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. A kid was selling hulusis but I only bought a cd. On my return to London I promised myself I would find a teacher. I did and now play the hulusi, dizi, erhu (and classical guitar). What's your story? Oh nice, I'm very jealous you've heard the hulusi in real life! I actually stumbled into buying a dizi because a friend recommended a Chinese drama and I just really loved the soundtrack. I play a few western instruments and I like figuring out how to play soundtracks etc I've heard, but just couldn't get the actual tones of the dizi and the guqin out of my head. And then I promptly fell down the rabbit hole of traditional Chinese music
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Post by smoleasternheretic on Jul 11, 2020 20:57:34 GMT
smoleasternheretic my Xiao was just released by UK customs a few days ago (and will hopefully be here any day now) so I've yet to have a chance to compare !! But I think it will be, or at least less shrill. I'll update when it arrives π
Aw, shame about your friend's Erhu! I agree, it has such a cool and distinct aesthetic.
Exciting! Hope it's a lot of fun and let me know! Also, I listen to Jae Meng's channel on Youtube -- most of what I've heard on that channel isn't traditional music, but she has some videos that get me hyped even though I have nowhere near the skill to get there lol. She has mostly dizi but I think she uses xiao sometimes too. So that could be fun to check out!
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Hello! :D
Jul 11, 2020 21:33:51 GMT
via mobile
Post by Mairearad on Jul 11, 2020 21:33:51 GMT
smoleasternheretic my Xiao was just released by UK customs a few days ago (and will hopefully be here any day now) so I've yet to have a chance to compare !! But I think it will be, or at least less shrill. I'll update when it arrives π
Aw, shame about your friend's Erhu! I agree, it has such a cool and distinct aesthetic.
Exciting! Hope it's a lot of fun and let me know! Also, I listen to Jae Meng's channel on Youtube -- most of what I've heard on that channel isn't traditional music, but she has some videos that get me hyped even though I have nowhere near the skill to get there lol. She has mostly dizi but I think she uses xiao sometimes too. So that could be fun to check out! I love her YouTube channel! Amazing what she can do with the dizi and the xiao, especially all the flutter-tongue. Been finding lots of good music on spotify too; the daily mixes etc are really handy for finding new artists. I've been enjoying Shuishan Yu, Jia Peng Fang, and the Ming Flute Ensemble a lot lately
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Post by smoleasternheretic on Jul 12, 2020 20:33:40 GMT
Mairearad She's so talented, I get winded just listening lol. I've never heard of any of those three. I'll check them out! (I don't have spotify but that'll be a good starting place)
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Post by Mairearad on Jul 16, 2020 11:45:57 GMT
smoleasternheretic My xiao is here !! Although it is a touch quieter, but to be fair I'm still figuring out the proper embouchure for a consistent note
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Post by smoleasternheretic on Jul 17, 2020 4:31:10 GMT
Mairearad Ooh thanks for the update! and live your best Lan Xichen life (or maybe that's only in the drama version) How do you like the sound of it compared to your dizi?
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Post by Mairearad on Jul 17, 2020 12:35:59 GMT
It's really nice! Obviously it's lower/richer which I like and suits the kind of slower music I'm currently stumbling my way through haha. I can't really compare them fairly yet I think, because I'm still only able to get the first five notes out the xiao with any sort of consistency. If only I had the inherant musical ability of the Lan Clan ππ
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