Post by vivathemoose on Jun 1, 2016 3:42:41 GMT
I have recently returned from an unforgettable two weeks at the wonderful Eason Music in Singapore. Anyone who is serious about the erhu should try to go there: In the erhu world, it is the equivalent of the Vatican!
My goals for the trip were to buy a concert-quality erhu and also to take the opportunity to have 10 days of intensive lessons at the Eason Music School. Both missions succeeded beyond anything I could have imagined.
In the West, we are grateful for scraps -- happy to find any Chinese instrument that makes it over the sea. At Eason, you are at a banquet! Tan Sung Wah, the proprietor (and demo video star!), has an amazing inventory of instruments in a large variety of woods, pedigrees and personalities, all carefully chosen for their particular qualities. As a true connoisseur, he is an expert in matching up an instrument with a customer's particular tastes. Being such an excellent erhu player himself, he knows the instruments as an artist and not just as a merchant. He is also extremely patient and understanding in working with clients. Though he is in charge of a large family business, one never feels rushed. The experience of being there goes far beyond listening to his famous sample videos: There is no substitute for it. Eason is a hive of activity not just for the erhu, but lots of other Chinese instruments as well, so you begin to put the instrument in context.
The best part of my visit was studying with the teacher he chose for me, Adrian Wee Kuan Chieh. Adrian is a fantastic musician -- but more than that, he knows WHY things sound the way they do and he is able to explain it and communicate it to his students (in extremely elegant British-accented English). Lessons are usually 45 minutes, but I took two double lessons a day, including Sunday (at very reasonable cost). It really jump-started my playing. If you are just starting out, lessons with Adrian will establish you on the right path. If you are more advanced, I can guarantee that you will leave Adrian's hands on a whole higher level.
Singapore itself was a very nice surprise. I knew it back in the 1970s, when it was a bit humorless and antiseptic. It has loosened up considerably and has turned into one of the most enjoyable places in Asia, full of atmosphere and personality. Those who know Asia will find it a pleasure to be in a place where everything works so beautifully -- the subway puts New York's to shame. Those who have not been to Asia before will find Singapore an excellent introductory sampler with its mix of Chinese, Malays, and Tamils from South India. It is as atmospheric as you could wish -- but also safe spotlessly clean! The food is some of the best in the world. Hotels are not the cheap, but everything else is (actually, the best food is found at street stalls, which are everywhere -- they are better than expensive restaurants).
So -- for anyone who is serious about the erhu, a visit to Eason is an experience not to miss. Here in the West, we are always on the fringes of the Chinese music world. Experiencing it at one of its centers -- with these expert teachers and guides -- is the best experience you can have. I'd almost go so far as to call it a necessary investment.
My goals for the trip were to buy a concert-quality erhu and also to take the opportunity to have 10 days of intensive lessons at the Eason Music School. Both missions succeeded beyond anything I could have imagined.
In the West, we are grateful for scraps -- happy to find any Chinese instrument that makes it over the sea. At Eason, you are at a banquet! Tan Sung Wah, the proprietor (and demo video star!), has an amazing inventory of instruments in a large variety of woods, pedigrees and personalities, all carefully chosen for their particular qualities. As a true connoisseur, he is an expert in matching up an instrument with a customer's particular tastes. Being such an excellent erhu player himself, he knows the instruments as an artist and not just as a merchant. He is also extremely patient and understanding in working with clients. Though he is in charge of a large family business, one never feels rushed. The experience of being there goes far beyond listening to his famous sample videos: There is no substitute for it. Eason is a hive of activity not just for the erhu, but lots of other Chinese instruments as well, so you begin to put the instrument in context.
The best part of my visit was studying with the teacher he chose for me, Adrian Wee Kuan Chieh. Adrian is a fantastic musician -- but more than that, he knows WHY things sound the way they do and he is able to explain it and communicate it to his students (in extremely elegant British-accented English). Lessons are usually 45 minutes, but I took two double lessons a day, including Sunday (at very reasonable cost). It really jump-started my playing. If you are just starting out, lessons with Adrian will establish you on the right path. If you are more advanced, I can guarantee that you will leave Adrian's hands on a whole higher level.
Singapore itself was a very nice surprise. I knew it back in the 1970s, when it was a bit humorless and antiseptic. It has loosened up considerably and has turned into one of the most enjoyable places in Asia, full of atmosphere and personality. Those who know Asia will find it a pleasure to be in a place where everything works so beautifully -- the subway puts New York's to shame. Those who have not been to Asia before will find Singapore an excellent introductory sampler with its mix of Chinese, Malays, and Tamils from South India. It is as atmospheric as you could wish -- but also safe spotlessly clean! The food is some of the best in the world. Hotels are not the cheap, but everything else is (actually, the best food is found at street stalls, which are everywhere -- they are better than expensive restaurants).
So -- for anyone who is serious about the erhu, a visit to Eason is an experience not to miss. Here in the West, we are always on the fringes of the Chinese music world. Experiencing it at one of its centers -- with these expert teachers and guides -- is the best experience you can have. I'd almost go so far as to call it a necessary investment.
