Lunatic in Louisiana

[suzanneski]

Hello,

I was very happy to find this forum today. I have many questions. It is a long story, but I have a mad passion to play the erhu. Here is the crazy part.

I have never seen one in person. I have never seen one played in person, and because of where I live, probably will never see one played except in the mirror. And the closest teacher I have found is in Austin, over a day’s drive. Taking into consideration the associated costs of travel, Austin will probably be impossible. So, I will have to teach myself.

But, I have managed to teach myself other skills that I was told were impossible. So, my first challenge is how to buy one without disaster.

I live deep in Cajun country of Louisiana where it is very damp. And I spend a lot of time near water. I like alligators also.

I do not want a beginner erhu. I will be all alone, so I have to know if the erhu is sounding bad or if it is me. And since I am an adult, there is no question of this being a whim. How much should I be willing to pay? What kind of wood is good for my location. Also, I very much like a deep sound.

I was recommended to the Eason site. I listened to the sound files (I know this system only gives a rough idea) and seem to like the sound of the violet and black sandalwood.

After reading some of your posts, I visited the Cadenza site and was surprised to see the violet one with the lovely dragon head. I never even realized that one erhu can be prettier than others. Although I love its looks, I realize I must privilege sound.

Please, whom do I trust? How do I do this without breaking my heart?

Thank you

Suzanne

[jetz320]

I'd trust either. I've seen good replies about both of them.

For the erhu, the wood doesn't really matter. If you're looking for a intermediate or pro one, then buy one that is labeled that, there shouldn't be much lieing there. The erhu's only have a different sound because of the level of quality. Also, the wood plays one part. You need to focus on a lot more of the small things too.

I've never been to "Luzana", but based on China and hot humid summers, it shouldn't be a big problem. To keep wood instruments in good conditions, you should never leave it in direct sunlight, or in hot or cold temperatures. That can cause the erhu to crack or sometimes even deform it.

So good luck on finding an erhu. Just either go with Eason or Cadenza would be fine.

[calden]

Suzanne:

Jetz is right - just buy one of the intermediate - pro models and they will be as good as any. Either store is reliable. The proprietors both frequent this forum (as you've seen) and they don't want to offend someone here because they'll hear about it big-time! I've bought from both with good results.

I also concur with the comment about the climate. You're in the right place for most erhus, which are made in a warm, humid environment. You'd have to watch it if you lived in a place like I do, with fairly dry summers and bone-dry winters.

Good luck. I strongly urge you to go to Austin for a beginner lesson. I know it seems costly, but it will save you lots of grief and money in the long run, and you'll enjoy it much, much more. Besides, you can catch some great music, too. Austin is so cool!

Carlos

[suzanneski]

Thanks for the great info. I guess my decisions will depend on whether I can pick up a teaching gig at the local college this summer. I plan to try to hit Austin at least once. But doing it on a regular basis would be more than I and my chickens, dogs, and cats could handle. (We all like to eat) Besides, I think I would like to be less than a total idiot before I go there. Most of my friends here are Cajun musicians, some are fiddlers. Maybe they could be of some help even though most are also self-taught. Self-taught, but they play all over the world, so they must know something. I knew one who never learned to read and made his first fiddle from a cigar box and wire from the screen door. He ended up playing Lincoln Center. (Great Creole stylist) If he can do it, so can I. (No, not Lincoln center part. I would be happy if the chickens don't leave town when they hear me.)

I also understand that an erhu player, Xu Ke, was Artist in Residence at the School of Music at Louisiana State University a few years ago (Baton Rouge). I am hoping that he may have left a student behind. No luck there so far, but I haven't given up yet.

Thanks again,
Suzanne

[calden]

Suzanne:

You wouldn't need to have regular lessons. What we're advocating is something like a two-hour lesson, or a couple of lessons over a few days. If Austin is far enough away that you'd need to spend the night, you might be able to arrange one in the late afternoon and one the next morning.

It's best to go before you teach yourself very much. Really. This is a quirky instrument and as with most musical instruments it's better to learn a little bit of good technique from the beginning rather than try and undo bad habits.

I don't think that your cajun fiddling friends could teach you much about the erhu. When I first came back from China with mine I looked up a friend where I live. This friend plays high-level classical violin in our city's orchestra, and grew up in Beijing. I assumed she would be able to teach me something. She was happy to meet with me, but I quickly learned that I knew more about erhu technique from my three intro lessons in Taiwan than she did! I even brought a couple of instruction books with me that I had done some translation with. She could replicate how to hold it in her lap (from seeing people all over the place where she grew up) but really couldn't give me any advice on bow technique or fingering.

There is a book and CD available that has some English translation. It's not great English, but it's passable. The nice thing about it is that each exercise in the book is demonstrated on the CD, as well as each tune. I've never seen it available on the internet, but I might be able to dig up a copy from my friend in Taiwan. But even using this book on my own I wasn't playing properly.

This is a great instrument. I don't mean to sound discouraging. I just want to help you get started right so you can really get into it deeply. I can hear your passion for this. I teach erhu and old-time clawhammer banjo, and both these instruments have several techniques that are very counter-intuitive. Sitting down with a teacher for 30 minutes explains techniques that are next to impossible to write about or even demonstrate on a DVD.

Carlos

[song]

Dear Suzanne,

I see you have found your way to my online store. Please feel free to drop me an email([e-mail]) or PM if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Sung Wah

[calden]

Song:

Here's an idea - maybe you could carry that book I'm talking about. It's

ÔõÑùÑÝ×à¶þºú
ISBN 957-9560-24-2

I can get you more information if you need it, but I'd have to resort to pulling out my dictionary.

This is the book I was advocating - comes with a CD, and is translated into passable English.

Carlos

[YouLanFengChune]

Guys, thanks for remembering me. Super BZ these days. I'm still in charge, though my assiatnt is more in charge of the Cadenza stuff these days.

I'm kinda into erhu wholesale these days. The Erhu market in China is STILL the best, and they pay EVEN HIGHER prices than Cadenza. My latest customer is MR Zhang Lian Sheng, Central Traditional Music Orchestra Concermaster, after Wang GuoTong. He is my latest advocate and we are changing some stuff on Cadenza soon. Being recommended by him is like, having Jimmy Hendrix endorse your guitar. Hence, the price through professors in the conservatory in beijing is equal to the list price u see on Cadenza, along with the shipping included.

Nevertheless, in Singapore, we owe much of what we have to Eason. Sung and his dad have been extremely supportive of me in many things. I think Eason is one of the most reliable stores online. Really. They have been there since 1978, and i bought many of what i used when i was a student there!

[calden]

Okay, now that Yinhao has chimed in, I'll ask him, too.

If one of both of you could carry that book and CD combination:

ÔõÑùÑÝ×à¶þºú
ISBN 957-9560-24-2

It would be a great tool for us round-eyed big-nosed foreigners to learn erhu. It doesn't have the very best exercises, but the fact that it's got a CD demonstrating all the exercises from long whole-note open string bowing to very complex patterns, and that it's in English (as well as Chinese) makes it valuable. You'd sell a million of them. Well, maybe not a million.

Carlos

[suzanneski]

Thanks again for all the info. All points are well taken, and I certainly will do my best to get to Austin.

And I would love to get my hands on a book with a CD.

Is there a place on this form with a list of links to info in English? Sure would save time.

Suzanne

[calden]

Suzanne:

I know that George Gao, in Toronto, has instructional materials in English. I had one of his introductory DVDs (might have been a VCD) but it was way too elementary for me. Perhaps he has developed some more materials:

www.georgegao.com

His CDs are worth getting. Great artist.

Carlos

[song]

Hi Carlos,

Can you get an image of the book/CD you're talking about?

Sung Wah

[YouLanFengChune]

CArlos:

i need the author

[calden]

Author is 赵砚臣。

Cover:


page sample:



Carlos

[YouLanFengChune]

My Games-Arcade Buddy (she sux in arcades like me....) Sun Huang had just gradutaed from Central Conservatory, Beijing Masters' Degree in Erhu. She made one VCD Set produced by Tian Tian Arts, featuring advanced techniques. It is very focused on advanced techniques, so focused that its like a huge mini-lecture. It comes with some scores and etudes to practise.

I usually give it to teachers for reference, and all teachers in my schools, though being AT LEAST erhu diploma holders, marvel at how much techniques have improved.

Critics, however, think that she has taken the "traditional Chinese Beauty" out of erhu. I BEG TO DIFFER! think! 1920s, Liu Tian Hua did a similar thing, and was thrashed as similarly. however, today we think that Liu Tian Hua is one of the best musicians ever for erhu. ANYONE who can perform his 10 pieces well is surely a great player somewhere. NO JOKE. today, we we have progressed, i beleieve that we should carry on this technical improvement of erhu!

As i said, I sually give the VCD away FREE to my teachers.!

[jetz320]

Why don't you get the instructor in Austin for 1 lesson? The erhu will get very challenging at a certain point, and there may be things in confussion that can lead to wrong techniques and playing. You should also get the things such as instructor books and cds. CDS have subtitles so that is more recommended. Good luck!