penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Apr 30, 2015 9:07:42 GMT
Thank you Don, you are wonderful! Great advice. Will persevere but do not aspire to be a musician at my age, just to pass time and enjoy the music.
Penny
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Post by davidmdahl on Apr 30, 2015 18:35:17 GMT
Penny, part of the art of a good teacher is knowing what the student is ready for. Learning technical skills equip the student to play more tunes in a satisfying way. Focusing too much on technical skills might result in the student getting bored and discouraged. If the basics are not mastered, and tunes are superficially learned, the student will take a long time to accomplish little. So, the good teacher allows an appropriate amount of time and energy on exercises and tunes to learn what can be learned. I have often spent weeks or months on a tune to get what I can done. When I hit the wall on a tune, I will usually put it aside for a while. When I come back to it later, I usually get further, especially if I have worked on the needed skills since on other tunes or exercises.
It helps me to not get discouraged when I go back to tunes I have put aside, and find that I can get them back and make better music than I had before. The hard work you do to learn to play well is returned to you. It is just necessary to keep on going to get past the plateaus. Have faith!
Best wishes,
David
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Post by edcat7 on May 1, 2015 0:02:05 GMT
There's more than one version of Sai Ma; the book I learnt from does not have the horse neighing part so I'm assume it's the easier, slightly shorter version. By the time I got around to attempting it I found it wasn't as difficult as first imagined.
It's very true when David mentions a good teacher will know what piece to include. My teacher long ago suggested I start on Sai Ma but when I recently suggested Wailing River he was hesitant. He played it without the embellishments just for me to hear and it sounded terrible. Then he added the embellishments and it sounded sublime. Now we spend a lot of time on technical exercises from the book: with a metronome and at various speeds.
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Jun 11, 2015 9:21:19 GMT
Thank you David and Ed,
I totally agreed wih mastering the basics first. It sounds so much better when the bowing technique is correct. Now knowing others also take a few months to learn a tune, I feel comforted to know that I am not the only one. I have been practising daily for an hour each time but my body is already protesting. The tendonitis on my left shoulder is hindering my progress and Dr said it is age related. Sign.....age is catching up with me! Thank goodness acupuncture and massage does relieve the pain.
At the moment I am re-learning tunes which I have learned before like Liang Siow etc. I notice the difference from the tunes which I played previously. They sound so much nicer now. Of course a good erhu also helps. Besides my HHR, I invested in a LLS limited edition. Please don't scold me for being so greedy, I just love the beautiful sound of this new erhu. I am sure it will sound much better when my skills improve.
Bye!
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Post by edcat7 on Jun 11, 2015 9:45:55 GMT
To learn Liang Xiao within just over a year from beginning is very quick. Liang Xiao is grade 4. I'm very curious about your limited edition LLS: did you get it from Eason; what wood is it made from?
My LLS took three years playing before I was satisfied with the tone. Even then I stood it against my hifi speakers for weeks.
Ed
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Jun 12, 2015 0:38:23 GMT
My teacher got the LLS Aged Rosewood (老红木) from China directly. Though he says the sound hasn't broken in yet it sounds beautiful to my ears. Perhaps I am still not up to the level of describing what is 'beautiful sound" in the ears of a muscian. As long as it sounds good to me I am satisfied though teacher did say it will take a while to attain that level. You can take a look at the photos. Don't ask me about the price but it is definitely cheaper than you can find commercially. Liang Xiao is considered a grade 4 piece in some exam centres but grade 3 in another as according to the Chinese syllabus. Students are taught grade 3 pieces when they are in Yr 2. Whether they are proficient or not is another thing but they are exposed. My 10 yr old classmate plays better than me.
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Post by edcat7 on Jun 12, 2015 9:56:17 GMT
Beautiful snake skin and aged rosewood; can you send a photo of the side of the resonator?
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Jun 12, 2015 12:28:53 GMT
I'm glad you also find it beautiful
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Oct 12, 2015 8:55:40 GMT
It's been 4 months since I last posted anything on my progress and durimg this period I am troubled with a left shoulder tendonitis and right triggered fingers. Despite of the pain I continued to practise daily but reduced the time to 30 - 40 mins with short intervals. Weekly massage and acupuncture sessions did not seem to alleviate the pain much. A friend has suggested I give up erhu for good. Of course I disagree as it is my passion. I do agree the incorrect posture (if any, subconsciously) or repetitive movements contribute to the problems. The friend also reminded me that the process of degenerative changes in my body is more evident now. How I wish I had started learning erhu earlier in life. We should pursue our dreams yet we must also listen to our body.
I read about Ed's (not Ed7) posting recently that he was about to give up because of the trouble (I think is in Sue's post). I hope he can persevere. At the moment doing my physio exercises and that helps.
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 12, 2015 17:40:12 GMT
Hello Penny, I suggest that you be very careful about playing erhu, or anything, in pain. Tendonitis is an inflammation of tendons that only gets better when the cause of the inflammation is eliminated. You could be continuing to irritate the affected tendons by continuing to play erhu, even a little. I hope you will work with your doctor and physical therapist to solve the problems. This is really a quality of life issue. Once properly treated, you probably could go back to playing erhu, but it does take longer to heal for those of us who are no longer spring chickens.
Good luck!
Best wishes,
David
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kc
Novice
Posts: 15
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Post by kc on Oct 13, 2015 0:55:36 GMT
It's been 4 months since I last posted anything on my progress and durimg this period I am troubled with a left shoulder tendonitis and right triggered fingers. Despite of the pain I continued to practise daily but reduced the time to 30 - 40 mins with short intervals. Weekly massage and acupuncture sessions did not seem to alleviate the pain much. A friend has suggested I give up erhu for good. Of course I disagree as it is my passion. I do agree the incorrect posture (if any, subconsciously) or repetitive movements contribute to the problems. The friend also reminded me that the process of degenerative changes in my body is more evident now. How I wish I had started learning erhu earlier in life. We should pursue our dreams yet we must also listen to our body. I read about Ed's (not Ed7) posting recently that he was about to give up because of the trouble (I think is in Sue's post). I hope he can persevere. At the moment doing my physio exercises and that helps. A bit sad to read about the trouble with your physical condition playing the Erhu. I always thought that nothing but pleasure or the opposite sensation would come out of learning to play a music instrument.The stressful part would be the time taken or the inability of old bones to complete a technique perfectly. Some aches here and there but nothing unhealthy or a source of bodily pains later on. A wake up call for me on a similar journey to be more careful . Like you says our body comes first. My best wishes ... kc
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Oct 14, 2015 9:17:59 GMT
Hi David,
Thank you for your advice. Yes, I don't practise when the pain comes and I do make sure I have enough rest. My physiotherapist has also done a great job and I am recovering. I need to practise in order not to lose touch as I will be taking the erhu exam next month. A certificate is not important to me but as my teacher says; it helps to gauge your progress. I definitely want to know how I fare after putting in so much effort.
As to KS's post; well aging is a natural process and is inevitable. Some are lucky who had started learning music at a young age and attained what you have now without much pain. But for those of us who have just started learning erhu at my age, you will agree with me that the joy is beyond description when you are able to play a complete song. It is like you have achieved something that you had wanted when you were a child. There is no gain without pain. However I must stress that we have to listen to our body and act accordingly. Have a nice day!
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Post by truckbuddha on Oct 24, 2015 2:32:28 GMT
Hi Penny, and everyone else. I've been away and seen this update and OMG I can't tell you Penny how sorry I am to hear about whats now going on. What crazy timing, having read how Ed had an injury, and I just spent over the last 10 or 11 months getting over a shoulder injury myself. Yes its bad when holding an instrument for only a few minutes can cause hours of pain afterwards. I would suggest the unconventional, and maybe even try sitting on the floor and place your erhu on the floor between your feet so your arm and shoulder are lower and perhaps in a more comfortable and perhaps even pain free position. Or else like the newest avatar pic I put up, where the guy has the base basically on the chair between his legs, while playing with his arm and shoulder lower. Good luck and I really do hope you recover and gain back some of what you lost. don b Attachments:
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Post by joyce on Oct 24, 2015 4:59:06 GMT
Hi Penny, I have been playing erhu for two years now and am also learning Liang Xiao. At age 76 I also suffer from some left shoulder pain from practicing more than half an hour at a time. I have arthritis in my right hand fingers, also, which limits my flexibility. I accept these limitations because I really enjoy playing. My teacher has given me CDs with full orchestra accompianment - like the old "Music Minus One" classical music records that I used to play piano 50 years ago. It really helps intonation and tempo control to play along. I am taking a hiatus from lessons to relieve the physical stress of having to practice every day. That has helped my shoulder.Surprisingky,although I am not playing as frequently, I am playing better. I am more relaxed not being in pain. By the way, physical therapy is a good way to treat the shoulder pain, but the body continues to age and that must be respected!
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Oct 24, 2015 22:54:33 GMT
Thank you truckbuddha and Joyce, I will certainly take your advice and rest for a while. Saw the Specialist and was told it is the calcium inside the tendon that is giving me the pain. Will be going for aspiration of the calcium and hopefully in my next post I will have good news to share with all. Have a nice day!
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Dec 12, 2015 1:30:44 GMT
Hi everyone just an update on the senior citizen's erhu journey,I have ž passed the grade 3 exam playing Liang Xiao and Pulling the camel. The oldest candidate was 69 and he was doing grade 7. It was a marvellous sight where old and young practicing in the room prior the exam. The youngest was 8 yrs and he played very well. Children pick up music much faster than adults. I am glad the exam is over and will be going for surgery on my triggered fingers next week. I will have to stop erhu for a few months. Thank you all for reading my post. Hope to have more to share in 2016 -the joy and difficulties in learning erhu as a senior citizens. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2016!
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Dec 12, 2015 1:36:51 GMT
Sorry for the typo error- a senior citizen and not citizens . My fingers are giving me problems and make it difficult to type. That's why I choose to update post before surgery.
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Post by truckbuddha on Dec 12, 2015 8:05:04 GMT
Penny, good luck to you and I am sure I speak for many of us when I say our prayers are with you.
don
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Post by vivathemoose on Mar 13, 2016 17:00:11 GMT
In general, I have found it easier to learn things now at 65 than when I was in college. I know how to organize tasks and master subject matter, which is largely strategy. Also, now I am learning because I actually want the information! That helps. In the words of a book title by the Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön, "Start Where You Are." ,
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Post by vivathemoose on Mar 13, 2016 17:00:24 GMT
In general, I have found it easier to learn things now at 65 than when I was in college. I know how to organize tasks and master subject matter, which is largely strategy. Also, now I am learning because I actually want the information! That helps. In the words of a book title by the Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön, "Start Where You Are." ,
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penny
Intermediate
Posts: 34
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Post by penny on Mar 22, 2016 4:47:48 GMT
Hi everyone, It’s been months since I was away from my erhu after the finger operation. Just got back to learning erhu and I must say it requires great effort on my side. Since I do not have a good foundation, coming back after a few months is like starting all over again. I have forgotten my finger positions on different keys. It was frustrating; then I read through the previous comments on my posting to get advice. Found Don’s comment most useful “It helps me to not get discouraged when I go back to tunes I have put aside, and find that I can get them back and make better music than I had before. The hard work you do to learn to play well is returned to you. It is just necessary to keep on going to get past the plateaus.”
And David’s: “Some musicians fall into the trap of just knowing the fingering and bowing, then proceed without really putting any more conscious thought into their playing, than they would while watching t.v. But being fully 'mindful' or 'mindfullness', being fully awake and aware is foundational to a good solid and steady success when it comes to learning and advancing in music.”
My fingers have recovered after the surgery but I am still no good at mastering the positions well to bring out the correct tunes. I am learning Pun Zhi at the moment. Hopefully with perseverance I will be able to play better but now I must build up a solid foundation first by going back to the basic steps.
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Post by willy on Mar 27, 2018 14:15:25 GMT
When i first started practising erhu, I had to close the door and windows of my apartment to avoid disturbing my neighbours as I lived in an apartment. The initial sound was so horrible that I was put off myself let alone others. I told my teacher and he said that the new erhu will sound better in time to come. He advised me to muffle the sound by putting a pencil between the strings and the box to solve the problem. Thanks once again Penny HI Penny I started Erhu not quite 2 years ago.. I be 74 end of this month.. Keep at it. Nice instrument you have... I would suggest you get a MUTE. little springy thing that you squeeze and goes on your bridge. The loudness goes to a whisper.. No kidding it works great.. I am in Canada so probably no where near here.. Get mutes at any Erhu supplier .. You won't even desturb your cat laying beside you it quiets down so well. Order one they are not expense.. Willy
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Post by pennybell on Mar 28, 2018 7:56:19 GMT
It's been 2 years since I lasted chatted in this forum. It's great to be back again learning and sharing on my erhu journey.
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Post by edcat7 on Mar 28, 2018 16:29:56 GMT
It's been 2 years since I lasted chatted in this forum. It's great to be back again learning and sharing on my erhu journey. Is Penny and Penny Bell the same person?
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Post by pennybell on Mar 29, 2018 6:57:23 GMT
Yes Penny and Pennybell is the same person. I had forgotten my previous password and was having a lot of trouble logging in. So decided to create a new account but unable to use same name. Thought it would be good to follow the same thr pmead instead of starting a new subject. Will share more about the last 2 years experience when I get back to my computer. It is very difficult to type on the mobile phone with my poor eye sight and stiff fingers.
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