Beginning the guzheng journey...

[jeannie]

Hello, everyone!
大家好！

It's been a while since I've posted in this forum. I remember signing up three years ago as a beginning dizi player asking about breathing techniques. Since then, so much has happened. I've been accepted to my dream college, and I've begun my journey studying Chinese! In fact, if all goes well, I may be heading to Beijing this summer as part of a study abroad program to improve my language fluency. However, I return to this site after all this time not to talk about learning Chinese or playing the dizi but to ask advice on how I should begin my guzheng journey...请你们帮我开始！

A. Purchasing a Guzheng

In all honesty, I have no idea where to start with this one. I'm looking for a fairly nice quality guzheng that is beginner/intermediate level that will last me through my primary stages of learning and up to intermediate/advanced stages. Looking around, I've heard a few names tossed around here and there, mostly people insisting on the Dunhuang brand...I've browsed different websites such as musicoftheorient.com, soundofasia.com, chinesezither.net. I'm willing to invest up to $500 in a nice guzheng, and on musicoftheorient.com I've seen a Dunhuang guzheng 696D that (with shipping) will be around $480. Sounds like a good deal to me, but I'm not familiar with the credibility of these websites and of their claims of Dunhuang authenticity. I'd really appreciate it if anyone can advise me on navigating the world of guzheng online shopping.
Alternatively, I briefly pondered the idea of buying a guzheng in Beijing and taking it back to the US with me, but I'm not sure if a.) they're cheaper in China, and b.) how I would take it on a plane and through customs...

B. Guzheng Lessons
Although I'm currently studying in Providence, RI I am originally from Houston, TX. Based on a google search ("guzheng lessons houston"), I've found some potential guzheng teachers in my area of which I can learn from when I'm back in the winter and summer. If anyone knows of any other resources to find guzheng instructors, please let me know! I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for reading this far I look forward to reading your responses and am happy to clarify anything that was unclear. I am grateful for any response that may help, even if just a little!

谢谢你们！

[davidmdahl]

Hello Wang Peng,

I have purchased two Dunhuang guzhengs from Carol at Sound of China/China. Based on my experiences, I suggest that you can buy from Carol with confidence. $500 for a guzheng will get you in the door, but it will be a fairly basic model. I doubt that a beginner could purchase and ship a guzheng from China, and save any money. It might be the thing to do when you are experienced, and want to pick out a special instrument at the yearly show in Shanghai. For myself, I am completely happy with what I got from Carol.

As for teachers, Carol has an extensive list posted on the Sound of Asia website at chinesezither.net/resource.html . You might check with whatever teacher you plan to study with about getting a guzheng, before spinning your own wheels. You might be able to get something inexpensive to use until you decide on something better.

Best wishes,

David

[jeannie]

Hello David,

Thanks for your response. I have to agree that Sound of China may be the vendor I end up purchasing from - I've been obsessed with their videos featuring all their guzheng models. I like that I can hear the guzheng before I purchase it - some have a certain timbre that I really enjoy. I also am leaning towards a travel-size guzheng (specifically the Praising Lotus model) so that I can take it with me back and forth between Providence and Houston. As you said, once I become better at playing, I will know more about better types of guzheng to purchase!
Thank you also for the list of guzheng teachers - it's actually the same link I posted above, so I'm glad that you think this is a good resource to use.

I appreciate all the advice you've given. Have a wonderful day.