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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 6, 2005 23:08:07 GMT
As has been mentioned already, things have been pretty quiet in the huqin section for quite a while. I admit that I have been practicing erhu while raising cain in the guzheng section. So in an effort to stir things up a bit here, does anyone know of any controversy in the erhu world? (just kidding!)
My practice sessions are driven by what I am assigned during my weekly lessons. That is as it should be. I am interested to know what and how others practice. Do you practice any technical exercises, such as scales, or just tunes?
I find that many of the tunes and technical exercises I do are more of a workout for my mind than fingers. Playing in all of these keys, and even switching back and forth in the same tune, does take some focus and mental energy. I am only playing in D, G, F, and C so far, but that is plenty to keep track of. Sometimes I find it challenging to play a tune in a particular key if I have been playing a lot of another key.
So, what are you practicing? What do you find challenging?
Best wishes,
David
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Post by calden on Dec 7, 2005 14:46:09 GMT
As has been mentioned already, things have been pretty quiet in the huqin section for quite a while. I admit that I have been practicing erhu while raising cain in the guzheng section. So in an effort to stir things up a bit here, does anyone know of any controversy in the erhu world? (just kidding!) My practice sessions are driven by what I am assigned during my weekly lessons. That is as it should be. I am interested to know what and how others practice. Do you practice any technical exercises, such as scales, or just tunes? I find that many of the tunes and technical exercises I do are more of a workout for my mind than fingers. Playing in all of these keys, and even switching back and forth in the same tune, does take some focus and mental energy. I am only playing in D, G, F, and C so far, but that is plenty to keep track of. Sometimes I find it challenging to play a tune in a particular key if I have been playing a lot of another key. So, what are you practicing? What do you find challenging? Best wishes, David David: I think we could start a flaming argument about oval vs. octagonal barrels, for sure. Ya wanna fight? I'll call you out! Just kidding. For practice I usually start with a series of exercises and drills given to me by Warren Chang. It certainly helps to warm up before I jump into things. I'll then usually play something for fun - some piece that feels good, just because I like the sound of this instrument. That is usually going to be Liang Xiao or Han Tian Lei. After playing that piece loosely (not worrying about fingering or bowing or dynamics too much) three or four times I'll get in and work it phrase by phrase, slowing things down and attending to little things like getting the fingering precise or cleaning up a spot where the bow changes strings while changing direction and fingering at the same time. THen I'll go on to play loosely, again, another two or three songs from my repertoire (maybe about 12 tunes in various styles and keys and positions) and repeat the process above with one of those, really taking it apart phrase by phrase. Sometimes I don't even get through the whole song, but have focused on one four-bar section only for 20 minutes, really getting to know what it's about. Then I might start work on a new tune - I've got a few in the hopper. By then it's been 45 minutes or an hour and I need to go get other things done. It feels like a good mix of hard core scales and exercises, playing for fun, keeping a repertoire active, and learning new stuff. My one dirty little secret is that if I feel bored while doing the scales I'll watch TV to occupy the over-thinking part of my brain, and let my hands do their job. This comes legitimately: Andre Segovia used to read the morning paper while doing an hour of scales each day. Carlos |
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Post by paulv on Dec 7, 2005 15:57:22 GMT
David,
Thanks for "reactivating" the erhu thread! I'm experiencing some of the same issues you have. I've also learned B-flat and A which gives me two more layers of headaches than what you have.
Carlos,
Would you be willing to share what those drills are? By the way, when I take a break, I tend to go to the refrigerator which is not helping my waistline! Maybe I should watch TV too!
Regards
Paul Valente
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Post by davidmdahl on Dec 7, 2005 23:02:20 GMT
I think we could start a flaming argument about oval vs. octagonal barrels, for sure. Ya wanna fight? I'll call you out! So, you're one of those wusses who plays an octagonal erhu? Oops, um, I guess my teacher does. Never mind. That's right, your new one is oval, right? My zhonghu is octagonal and one of my Vietnamese nhi is round like a gaohu. So I have the bases covered almost. I have not reached the point where I can feel comfortable about practicing without my mind in gear. I really have to focus to play somewhere in the vicinity of in-tune. Sometimes I play with my tuner sounding a drone. This is particularly useful for scales. For tunes I like playing with a recording, or at least listen to it a lot. By incredible luck, most of the books I am working out of have accompanying CDs. For other tunes, I record my teacher. I could be better about focusing on a few bars. I like to play a measure or two of what is giving me trouble and then keep backing up. Sometimes I am playing too long of a phrase to really get a handle on the tricky part. The vibrato is coming along, although I am tenser than I want to be. An effective vibrato not only sounds more musical, but helps to play a long note with one bow. It is funny how much skill it takes to play slowly with expression. Best wishes, David |
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Post by calden on Dec 8, 2005 16:46:06 GMT
Paul: Here are the warmups and exercises I do: eaglelake1.org/Chinese.htmlI have links to both jpg and pdf versions. Watch the fingering with the exercises - it gets funky. These were given to me by Warren Chang of Seattle and came from the Shanghai Music Conservatory (I think.) Carlos |
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Post by sanmenxia on Dec 8, 2005 17:08:37 GMT
I usually just practice whatever I feel like at the time. I don't have regular lessons so I don’t have any particular set of things I need to practice. Yeah, Liang Xiao is a good piece to loosen up with, not too fast, not too slow, 3 positions, some slides, even a harmonic.
I don’t play exercises or very often, but when I do I like to play a few by Liu Tianhua.
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