Beginning erhu, teacher found, questions

[yip]

Hi

I recently started erhu. I have questions about the instrument though. Right now, I'm renting one from my teacher. He says that it was a quality erhu, but is quite old and isn't that great now.

It seems that some bits of the snake scales have fallen off.
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It is perfectly fine for now, and sounds fine to me. But, I was thinking that I might try to buy a new-ish one in a few months or something.

I know that eason is quite a reputable vendor, but my father travels to China often. Do you think that having my dad buy one in China would also be a good option?

[davidmdahl]

If your father plays erhu and knows how to choose a good one, then that might be a good option. If he knows someone he can trust in China who knows how to select a good instrument, that could also be a good bet. My teacher has students whose parents spent a lot of money on erhus in China only to find the quality did not match the price.

You can't choose an instrument by the price. In other words, you don't necessarily get what you pay for. I would not trust the word of a clerk in a music store regarding quality. They might not even be misrepresenting the truth, but not actually know any better.

My best erhu was brought back from China by my teacher who got it from an old friend who makes erhus, and who happens to be very good. You could not buy his erhus in a music store. He only sells them to select teachers and accomplished players. My teacher could manage this, but I would not ask someone who does not know how to choose a good instrument.

My best erhu from Eason is also a wonderful instrument. I would not hesitate to recommend them as a source. Over time I have found Sung Wah, the proprieter, to fairly represent the quality of his instruments. He will work with you to find an erhu in your budget that suits your taste and needs.

Best wishes,

David

[dsouthwood]

My two erhus were roughly the same in price, but the first one was bad and the second one is excellent. The difference is that I bought the first one from someone who is experienced in playing other Chinese instruments, but not erhu, and therefore could not judge the quality. The second was purchased for me in China by my erhu teacher, and he has several times asked to borrow it when he has a performance. I think it is necessary for someone who plays the instrument to actually have his hands on it before you buy it. Sung Wah at Eason seems to fit that category.

[yip]

Okay thanks, that is good advice

How do you make a judgment between a better or worse erhu?

[davidmdahl]

Aug 10, 2010 18:39:32 GMT yip said:

How do you make a judgment between a better or worse erhu?

Here are some things that come to mind:
- sensitivity: does it play easily?
- balance/evenness: do different registers sound very different
- playability of higher positions
- richness of sound
- ability to play both soft and loud
- overall workmanship
- quality of snake skin

Best wishes,

David

[yip]

Thanks David

I have segments of bow, both on the inside and outside, towards the "frog" that are scratchier sounding than the middle and tip.

I tried rosining these sections more, but they seem to lose their rosin more quickly or something. Could it be the bow?

The rosin that I was given seems like an old cracked rosin cake, since it is in a few pieces. It is black.


Also, is it safe to clean the strings with rubbing alcohol? Up until now, I have just been wiping off the excess rosin with either my shirt or toilet paper, but I think there is some old rosin that is stuck on the strings.

-Yip

[davidmdahl]

Hello Yip,

Your rosin might be too sticky. If you are working that hard to clean your strings, I suggest getting some good quality European violin rosin. I have noticed that some erhus come with dark viola or cello rosin, but neither are suitable for erhu. I use Pirastro Obligato. Rosin should be available at music stores, but it can also be ordered online.

If your bow is worn out in spots, it won't take rosin evenly. A new bow can make a big difference in ease of playing, and a good one doesn't have to cost very much - maybe $20 - $30 plus shipping. The bow should have white horse hair.

I don't see any problem cleaning your strings with alcohol, but be careful not to get it on other parts, such as bow, snake skin, or wood. If you are using the right type of rosin, and wiping off the excess regularly, you should not need to use alcohol on the strings very often.

Best wishes,

David

[dsouthwood]

I use alcohol to clean my strings--not just the rosin, but also the oils from my fingers that might corrode the strings. To simplify things, I bought a package of those cotton disks that are used for removing makeup, put them into a zip-lock bag, and splashed in enough alcohol to dampen them. When I use one to wipe my strings, the rest of the instrument is safe from the alcohol.

[ed]

Hey Yip, you might be putting on too much rosin - yes this is possible! - I had a problem when I first started with the erhu similar to the problem you are having. I was putting on the rosin so heavily that the instrument made a rumbling sound as the bow caught on the strings! This was particularly evident at the ends of the bow, just as you describe. I now use rosin quite sparingly - but more frequently.

Incidentally, even when using rosin quite sparingly, I still find that the instrument sounds better and better as the rosin wears off (anybody else find this?), although of course it does eventually become hard to play and begin to sound rather thin.

I was advised by my teacher, when I had one, that rosin requires a period to "sink in" before the instrument plays at its best, and I used always to put it on the night before going to a lesson order to sound at my best in front of the teacher!

Ed