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Post by song on Jul 2, 2007 9:25:10 GMT
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Post by frogprince on Dec 23, 2007 15:10:46 GMT
Interested! I am one at least . It is true that not many are interested and especially Singaporeans. When I mentioned to my friends that I wish to pick up Pipa, they were all shocked. And all asked me why i am not taking up English musical instrument. Haha. What can i say. Its all personal preference bah. I love new age music. Those lyricless, instruments only music. Then there was once i watched Zhong yi da ge da and saw this lady teacher Wang Xiao Nan, she played erhu in a new age way. I was so hooked on and amazed. Then came the 12 girls band. I'll like to introduce some CDs where the musics are mixtures of East and West: 1) Shao Rong - Orchid 1 2) Shao Rong - Orchid 2 3) Missa Johnouchi (a few albums) You can find the series of albums in www.pacificmoon.com
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Post by Charlie Huang on Dec 24, 2007 22:36:14 GMT
Oh God, don't call pipa, et al. 'New Age', which is something completely different!
Also, don't you worry about your friends' comments. I've had similar being put to me and I said, 'Western music is not superior by default you know'. There has to be a term for discriminating against other musics; musicism/musicist?
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Post by jetz320 on Dec 25, 2007 3:45:17 GMT
yeah, a lot of people are like that. especailly being a teenager. i get remarks like that a lot. why do you not choose violin or piano. what in the world is a erhu? im not even going to go into what they say about the looks of the instrument >.> western music is ok, but nothing beats my love for traditional chinese instruments
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Post by frogprince on Dec 25, 2007 3:54:02 GMT
Maybe i am a more 'cheena' person. My interest in chinese musical instruments are stronger. Kekeke. Since young, I've had the urge to learn play dizi. I have one in my room now but i never play with it, cos i dont know how.. haha. But as i grow older, I find that i don't have enough 'qi' for playing the dizi. Luckily i still have pipa. Gonna take up lesson next year and hmm.. hopefully i am able to play some songs in near future Oh yea.. i dont give a d*** to my friends' comments lah. Like what the teacher told me, you must have the interest, and yes i do. I have friends that play clarinet, sax, harmonica, guitar, cello... prolly we can form up a east and west group! kidding.
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Post by frogprince on Dec 25, 2007 4:08:00 GMT
yeah, a lot of people are like that. especailly being a teenager. i get remarks like that a lot. why do you not choose violin or piano. what in the world is a erhu? im not even going to go into what they say about the looks of the instrument >.> western music is ok, but nothing beats my love for traditional chinese instruments Thats right. Well.. not only comments on the sound and look of the instruments.. i've got people around me that most have the impression that people who play pipa are mostly female. And when i say i want to learn pipa, they stared at me, want to laugh but dont dare to laugh.. kekeke. Well i do love western music too, for example this group Enigma, my favourite.
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Post by jetz320 on Dec 25, 2007 4:22:47 GMT
YOU DONT WANT TO EVEN KNOW WHAT I WENT THROUGH WANTING TO LEARN GUZHENG. i had teachers turn me down saying that the guzheng is only for girls and they were "helping" me by not accepting me. people laughed at me too. pipa, i know people who play it. the teacher in my orchestra is male, one of the best pipaist in the world. don't worry.
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Post by frogprince on Dec 25, 2007 6:50:47 GMT
That surprise me so much.... i didn't know that there are thinkings of that guzhen are only played by girls to some people. Probably those teachers are lazy to teach, thats why they use it as an excuses.
I've a Tang costum that i'll wear one day when i play with a pipa.. hahaha. That day will come!
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Post by Charlie Huang on Dec 25, 2007 9:51:41 GMT
Interestingly, the current master players of pipa today are mostly male, i.e. Lin Shicheng, Liu Dehai, etc. and maybe Zhang Qiang for the yonger generation. I've also heard that there are some male guzheng masters.
But yes, the idea that instruments have a 'gender preferrence' is utterly ludicruous. If pipa, guzheng, etc have, then violin, piano, etc have also and anyone who thinks so must be challenged!
Also, guzheng players who refuse to teach male students just because they happen to be male is nothing short of sexism in my book! Plus, it is against the 'musician's code' to refuse to teach to anyone who wishes and is capable of learning the instrument. It is this that is making the situation for instrument gender monopolisation perception even more worse and should be condemed.
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Post by jetz320 on Dec 25, 2007 22:15:08 GMT
yes, i agree with you all the way charlie. everytime someone uses the guzheng is for girls thought on me, i pretty much lecture them about all the males involved with the instrument. masters and also the famous guzheng master maker mr. guo and also about peter kahl. i don't see how an instrument can be gendered. why are only these gendered? erhu and dizi are just fine. in western society, people who knew i played the flute were also questioning me about that, saying flutes are for girls and if i was gay. O.o what a strange society we live in. sterotypes have even come into music. >.>
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Post by frogprince on Dec 26, 2007 1:35:59 GMT
I must be so fortunate to have found a male teacher who is so willing to teach me Pipa then Despite the fact that i have no background in playing any musical instrument. And both of you guys are far more experienced players. Well, i have someone to look up to now.. hehehe.
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Post by Charlie Huang on Dec 27, 2007 12:27:23 GMT
"people who knew i played the flute were also questioning me about that, saying flutes are for girls and if i was gay."
Now that is madness on their part! Next, they'll be saying driving is only for boys! Always challenge them with a similar ridiculous example to show them how silly their claims are!
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Post by frogprince on Dec 28, 2007 7:35:26 GMT
Some of my colleagues heard about my interest in Pipa and actually they are quite encouraging towards me learning. Very glad to hear that indeed!
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Post by jetz320 on Dec 28, 2007 19:01:38 GMT
that is good. pipa is a great instrument, and very relaxing. you have found a teacher right? i hope you enjoy learning. people who are eager to learn the most are the ones that get the farthest. some people i know don't ever practice. they are pretty much forced to come to orchestra rehearsals. but others like me, who are willing to learn, can become some good players. in a while, you will start to pick up a lot of things. and that will progress you farther and farther. i was in your exact position. willing to learn, didn't really get a teacher until my neighbor brought me to one of her orchestra rehearsals. luckily, i got accepted. in a year, i moved up to the most advanced level, and now i can play solo songs. i wish you the best of luck in learning pipa.
-eric
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Post by frogprince on Dec 29, 2007 0:48:45 GMT
Hi Eric, Thank you for the encouragement too Yea, got a teacher but will begin my lessons only next year. Very excited about it. Have not really thought about joining orchestra though... don't dare to think so much for the time being. But who knows I really couldn't understand but is it true that its only through connections that we find a teacher? Or to join a chinese orchestra? Isean
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Post by jetz320 on Dec 29, 2007 0:52:22 GMT
a little. many times, these things like teachers and orchestras, really happen in the shadow. sad to say. many times it is because you know someone who knows a group or teacher able to teach. orchestra, don't worry. i'm a teenager, so its different, im in a youth orchestra. there are many chinese orchestras and teachers in singapore though am i incorrect?
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Post by frogprince on Dec 29, 2007 1:20:52 GMT
Quite a bit of chinese orchestra groups i believe. And there should be alot of teachers around. Just that need recommendations and connections to get to know them. Even in schools, for example Singapore Poly, they have cirriculum activities of chinese orchestra too and they do perform in some conference halls at times. Good that you are learning from young now See, i have to wait until so old then got the chance to learn.. sigh...
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Post by jetz320 on Dec 29, 2007 1:40:29 GMT
don't worry, its never to old to learn music. i know some people in their eighties just learning erhu. you're not that late. =]
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Post by frogprince on Dec 29, 2007 2:03:39 GMT
Luckily, my fingers are still flexible Yea.. still not too old I must live up to my chinese name.. you know... erm live until old, learn until old kekekeke.
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Post by kenpen165088 on Jan 3, 2008 4:37:02 GMT
Hi frogprince I am also taking up pipa besides learning guzheng, Erhu and dizi. Just started lesson recently at a community centre. Not surprising I am the only male learner and the rest (6 of them)are ladies. The teacher is a Chinese lady from China. Her teaching is systematic and she gots lot of patience with us. Yes there are not many pipa players around. I am a member of Singapore Action Group of Elders Chinese Orchestra Group and I play the erhu there. For a long time we still can't get any pipa player to join us and everytime when we need to perform, our orchestra trainer ( he is a male) will play the pipa with us. Well maybe when you have pick up enough playing skill you can come and join us.
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Post by frogprince on Jan 3, 2008 6:40:53 GMT
Hello kenpen165088, Thank you Keep in touch then. Cos i really don't know much about the community here in Singapore. It'll take me quite a while to get a hands on the playing I will be starting my lesson next week. Very excited about it and so looking forward. The only time i can practice on normal days, is after work at home. Think i'll lock myself up in the room when i practice. So worried that i will disturb other people. Renovate my room and change to acoustic walls hahahaha.
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Post by kenpen165088 on Jan 3, 2008 8:37:50 GMT
Hi frogprince practising the pipa in HDB flat is okay if not later than 10pm. The noise is not really that disturbing. You only really can't practise playing the dizi at home. Hope you have a good time learning the instrument and keep in touch.
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Post by frogprince on Jan 3, 2008 14:34:15 GMT
Thank you i will practice hard
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Post by jetz320 on Jan 3, 2008 18:14:39 GMT
yeah, pipa isnt much of that loud an instrument. dizi is super loud though.
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Post by frogprince on Jan 5, 2008 1:00:02 GMT
Went to watch Singapore Poly Chinese Orchestra performance at Singapore Conference Hall yesterday. Whow! True... in a group performance, you can't really hear pipa's sound. There are only like 4 pipa players i saw... flute is very loud yes! haha. And there are alot of erhu players. So envy those students! Sigh!
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