bagpiper
Novice
Bagpipes, Bodhran, Cello, Concertina, Irish whistle, Recorder, Erhu.
Posts: 2
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Post by bagpiper on Jan 6, 2007 2:03:51 GMT
Hey everyone!!! This site looks amazing, and Ive only looked around for a minute or two. (The questions I ask might already be answered, but please humor me) I recently went to Sanfrancisco, and hung out in china town. While I was there, I bought a nice Erhu from the Clarion Music center. Unfortunatly, The instruction books they had for erhu were in chinese. I bought them anyway, and I found a slight way to get by, with the halp of cello experience as well. Now, Ive come to the realization that I have a very nice musical instrument I can only dabble with because have ABSOLUTLY no Idead how to speak chinese. -Yes, my dumb mistake. I am going nowhere with this thing So anyway, what Im asking is if there is any good ENGLISH instruction books out there. OR is there anyway I can find instruction over this website? The first would be better (no offence) Looking EAGERLY forward to any answers. YOU WILL BE MY SAVIOR!!!! Thanks , bagpiper P.S. Sorry I made a new thread, but there were soooo many already that I tought I wouldnt get any attention.
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Post by jetz320 on Jan 6, 2007 4:12:29 GMT
Hi bagpiper! Welcome to the forum. There aren't many instruction books in English, which is the unfortunate news. But; there are many video cds that have English subtitles. Search online and you'll find a lot.
By the way everyone, I'm about to go home on Monday. China was AWESOME. SO CHANGED THAN 2003. I bought a new erhu that was about 3000 yuan, but luckily I got a discount to 2000. It sounds so good though!!!!!!! I'M SO HAPPY! I also got the dizi that I wanted. Anyways, I'm in Hong Kong right now. I still need a B flat (low) dizi. Anyone know of a music shop in Kowloon?
Back to bagpiper. If you can specify what help that you need, people can help you more easily. Some common mistakes for a begginer is that people don't hold the neck at a 40 degree angle. Your hand is always bent in an unpward angle to. Lastly, your fingers are curved and rounded up.
The posture, is that you first have the erhu leaning on your hand, not you leaning on it. So it's not standing straight up. And it's a little to the left.
The bowing, make sure that you are using your wrist!!! Don't use all your arm. Its all in the wrist so it is really natural. The hand from your arm is also in a straight line from the elbow to the wrist. That's about all I can think of so far. Need anymore, just ask!!
I wish I could have been in the forum in the past 2 weeks but the internet WAS SO DANG SLOW IN CHINA AFTER THAT TAIWAN EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!! >_< Luckily HK isn't slow!!!
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bagpiper
Novice
Bagpipes, Bodhran, Cello, Concertina, Irish whistle, Recorder, Erhu.
Posts: 2
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Post by bagpiper on Jan 6, 2007 4:29:08 GMT
Thanx thats all great help......... The main problem is that I have an issue understanding the music........ ummm....... howa bout this? Can you explain the different keys to me? G? F? Or is it just slighly different from the other keys? I can play D well, but most of my music is in G or F....... anyway, thank you that advice was very helpful! I LOVE THIS WEBSITE!!!!!
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 6, 2007 5:14:44 GMT
For a good writeup on the notation, look up "jianpu" on wikipedia.com. Until you really have a good handle on the notation and tunes in the key of D, I suggest postponing the other keys.
If you can make it back to the Bay area, I suggest hooking up with a teacher. That will save you a lot of time and trouble. Even one lesson will make a big difference. Until then, read through the threads in the erhu section of this forum. There are some excellent videos on the web that are well worth viewing.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by jetz320 on Jan 6, 2007 12:08:07 GMT
Jianpu is when you shift a bit of thinking. D key, is 1 equals no finger, the back string. Then, 2 is the first finger and then 3 is the second finger. Keep going. Then another like G key is 5 no finger back string. Then 6 is finger one.
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annk
Intermediate
Previously professional musician, now librarian ;-)
Posts: 38
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Post by annk on Jan 18, 2007 22:09:36 GMT
I bought the downloadable lessons from George Gao's site (www.georgegao.com) when I started. I have a long background playing western violin, and I found that his basic lessons were a huge help explaining the things someone who has played a western string instrument needs to know to get started. I just mailed him the other day with a question, and he says he will try to make more if he has time.
So since you have cello experience, I would suggest taking a look at those, till you can get to a teacher.
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Post by davidmdahl on Jan 18, 2007 23:31:20 GMT
It has been a while since I checked Mr. Gao's website. I have a teacher, so I don't need to purchase his lessons, but there is some pretty cool stuff there. I enjoyed watching the previews.
The entry photo to his website shows Mr. Gao in mid-leap in reminicent of Michael Flatley of Riverdance fame. What a hoot!
Best wishes,
David
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Post by calden on Jan 19, 2007 0:51:01 GMT
Second what David is saying. Definitely check out the wiki jianpu stuff. It's pretty self-explanatory.
And if you're into Irish music ( sounds like it) check out my band's website:
celticnots.com
Carlos
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