Guqin grade examinations?

[guzhenglover]

Dear all

Here's another topic for discussion: What kinds of grade examinations are out there for guqin, and what do people think about these examinations?

My impression is that guqin examinations have only just started in recent years, but I wonder if these are done to the same extent and at the same level of professionalism as, say, the Central Conservatory grade exams on the guzheng/dizi/erhu etc.? Do many guqin students these days prepare and sit for grade exams as do other Chinese musical instrument players?

Perhaps on a related topic, what does NAGA stand for? It's just that a few fellow guqin enthusiasts seem to have referred to NAGA. Please kindly fill me in?

[Charlie Huang]

NAGA = North American Guqin Association. It's run by Wang Fei; website: www.guqin.org

I have no experience of graded exams for guqin, they all go on it China.

[guzhenglover]

Thanks Charlie. So I take it that doing guqin grade exams is still not a widely pursued goal. Would you still happen to know who run these grade exams for guqin? Like, is it the Central Con?

[Charlie Huang]

Dunno. I think they're more guidelines. I've heard they do graded certificated exams in China, somewhere, a bit like ABRSM exams I suppose.

You do not have to follow the graded exam list to the T unless you're planning to do them.

[Si]

I think for guqin it quite a private instrument so you can just relax and learn at your own pace and for your enjoyment and if "mirical upon mirical" you actualy meet another home sapien that knows what a guqin is, then you can play and exchange tips and knowledge.

But I would not bother myself with official examinations - as your in sinagpore try to join a guqin group and while your at it - tell me cos i also want to know if one exists in sinagpore. And if there is no such group, then we, (well, you really, cos im in china) should start one!!!!!!!!!

[guzhenglover]

Well what a great idea, syburn, I'd love to meet fellow guqin lovers in Singapore! I'll see what I can find out about guqin enthusiast groups, though initially I don't know any. If not, then like you said we can always form one!

I don't particularly like exams. It seems like centuries ago when I once sat for music exams. And having examined many students myself, I must say that exams really aren't my cup of tea. Still, the reason why I'd even ask was that I was thinking this might be the only tangible way that I could monitor my progress. After all, owing to the nature of my job, I often have to move houses and so may not always have access to a guqin teacher. That's why I thought that if I know what my level is at, then I can continue to progress upwards knowing what the next level is, etc. But I don't HAVE to do exams, and actually I won't as you guys have been so good in reminding me that this is not what the guqin is about!

[Si]

Having not met many real peaple that i can converse with in english that are also guqin crazy (apart from on this forum - what a god-send) I learnt something when I visited the new guqin house in Shanghai the other evening.

Basicaly you are always leaning new pieces and have to keep up with the old pieces too. So even if you have been learning for 3 years, you will still be struggling on the lastest pieces (more technical ) and may have forgot some of the older (more simpler) pieces, so you will have to practice a bit to re-remember them.

I dont know if i make sence. But the important thing is to keep practicing your older favourite pieces continualy ......oh im rambling away and my chinese teacher has arrived now so i have to go.

[guzhenglover]

Yes you do make lots of sense. After all, I also play the guzheng and there are similarities between the guzheng and guqin practising strategies i.e. we are expected to go back to compositions earlier learnt and keep those up to an adequate stanard.

[wingplum]

Relax my friends, guqin is more feeling than technic, forget exam.