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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 18, 2006 23:30:17 GMT
Hello, I've been interested in playing the Dizi for awhile now but I can't find a teacher or a store in my city. I don't want to order online either. Does anyone have any tips on how to buy one and where I can get instruction? I have played the piano for plenty of years.
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Post by jetz320 on Oct 19, 2006 1:12:13 GMT
If there is no teacher, no store, and internet is not an option, then huh? I can give you a simple lesson on how to play. But other than that, how are are you going to learn to plat without a dizi? What's your nearest major city? There's gotta be a store there.
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 19, 2006 2:25:52 GMT
Welcome to our forum twilgihtbliss (twilightbliss?). Presuming that you are from the USA, there are only a few cities that are likely to have music stores with even moderate quality dizi's available. If you don't want to purchase online, then your only real option is a trip to Asia. If you decide to consider purchasing online, then let us know. There are some excellent options from Singapore. I have a lot of good experience with one of them. I got started in Chinese music with a method and dizi from Tim Liu at www.2measures.com. It is expensive, compared with self-study courses in Chinese, but I found it effective. It also has the advantage of being in English. I appreciated that the tunes are notated both in staff notation and jianpu, the Chinese numeric notation. If you do jump into playing Chinese music on the dizi, I highly recommend learning the jianpu notation. It is actually pretty easy. Another possibility that comes to mind is the "Database of Chinese Artists" at: www.melodyofchina.com/01artists/mian_01.htmlPerhaps you will find a Chinese musician in a city near you. Even those on the list who do not play dizi may know someone who does, so the goal is to find the door to the Chinese music community in your area. Check Chinese and Asian cultural organizations. You would be surprised where Chinese music lovers turn up. <g> Good luck! Best wishes, David |
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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 19, 2006 3:20:55 GMT
I'm up in Canada. The nearest place to study is in Toronto, ( www.rcmusic.ca/ContentPage.aspx?name=Traditional_Chinese_Instruments ) but thats quite far away. I know chinese and I have studied chinese music notation. As far as ordering online I simply do not know if certain online stores that are reliable, pointing me in the correct direction would be appriciated. As far as ordering from China that is an option, I've never been but I know people who have buisness there, but they are in England. Simply shipping from China to England, than England to Canada for an instrument doesn't seem that necessary, if there are good stores in North America. For the 2measures site if I buy from there is the dizi provided worth the amount it costs? Should I buy the instruction from there and a dizi from a different location? If I buy I dizi what key/brand should I buy it in when I'm just starting? |
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 19, 2006 4:39:04 GMT
That you already know Chinese and jianpu are big advantages and open up the possibilites for resources. I have good experiences with Singapore-based Cadenza Music and trust they would treat you right. I have not ordered from Eason Enterprises, also in Singapore, but have heard good things about their reputation as well. Contact information for either is easily available by searching with Google.com. Yinhao (YouLanFengChune) from Cadenza regularly posts on this forum, and Sung Wa (Song) from Eason contributes as well. As I mentioned, the method from 2measures.com is good and I found it useful. You can purchase it separately. The di is priced quite dear compared with Asian sources. More options are available now such as through Cadenza and Eason, so that is reasonable to do. You will need to get a C flute (note with the three left hand holes covered) to play along with the audio CDs in the course. The best dizi for starting on depends on the method you will learn from, so you might want to choose that first. I suggest contacting one of the gentlemen above and getting their opinions. Tim Liu of www.2measures.com is also very responsive to questions. Best wishes, David |
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Post by jetz320 on Oct 19, 2006 22:05:36 GMT
Yeah. I recommend Eason. The person is really nice and a good communicator. He explains your questions really well. If you go to Toronto, I know a shop that sells intermediate grade Dizis from Suzhou for only about 25-30 Canadian. It's located in Scarborough. Midland and Finch avenue. I think it's in the Midland Plaza. It's called Harmony Music Inc. The people are really nice, and the dizi's are excellent. I wish I bought more dizis there.
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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 19, 2006 22:26:18 GMT
Does "Cadenza" cadenzamusic.biz/index.htm offer standard grade dizi? All their products listed are professional grade dizi. Besides 2measures is there another store that sells lessons like 2measures for a lower rate with good quality? If I buy my dizi from Cadenza, which one do you recommand? For Eason Enterprises they don't have any prices/products listed like Cadenza, which would be the best way to contact them? |
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Post by jetz320 on Oct 19, 2006 22:47:11 GMT
Easons are good. Just by looking at the dizi you can tell. Starting off, they sell an intermediate grade dizi that is $50 USD. That might be good. The ones on Cadenza are all pro dizis. So don't compare prices of pro ones to good quality ones. There are good ones for cheap prices. I bought a good C key dizi for less than 40 dollars and the sound and quality is really good. So if you wanna learn, you may have to consider. 2measuresatatime dizis are really expensive. I've never seen dizi's at that price before. The most I've seen was 200 max.
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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 19, 2006 23:18:47 GMT
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 19, 2006 23:39:37 GMT
For instruments, I always try to get the best one I can afford. It is just so much fun to practice and perform on a well-made instrument. Really good dizi's are not really that much more expensive than the cheap ones. Sometimes if you can take your pick from a bunch of cheap dizi's you can find a really good one for not much money. When you are getting one sent, you are counting on someone else to choose a good one for you. Cadenza has been very good to me. I think that both Yinhao and Sung Wah would treat you right.
Eason sells their instruments and other musical stuff on Ebay Stores. Search on dizi or gaohu and look for Eason. I suggest contacting Cadenza and Eason directly by email to get the personal touch. I am sure that Yinhao and Sung Wah would be happy to answer your questions.
I don't know of a cheaper version of the "Two Measures at a Time" approach but you could always rip a tune from a Chinese CD/VCD set and use an audio program to manipulate the sound file. Some audio programs can be used to slow down the music and loop though sections that you are trying to learn. I find this a handy technique regardless of the instrument or style I am learning. I don't have any recommendations for Chinese-language based dizi courses, so you will have to get that from someone else.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 19, 2006 23:56:41 GMT
In my experience, you cannot tell the quality of an instrument from a photo. I suppose you can tell if it is likely to be bad, but often times good instruments are indistinguishable from bad ones until you play them. Much of the quality of a dizi depends on how well the embouchure is cut. You can't tell that from a photo.
Best wishes,
David
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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 20, 2006 2:15:46 GMT
David you said you have delt with Candenza before. I looked at there order form and they said that they would contact you for the order. When they do, do they ask for a credit card number or another method of payment?
I looked up Eason Enterprises on eBay. It stated that they only accept payment via PayPal but I don't have a PayPal account. Is there any other method that is avaible?
Just to update I've been contacting local stores and other resources looking for a teacher and an instrument. Will post the availble instruments if I find anything because I would like opinions.
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Post by jetz320 on Oct 20, 2006 2:34:06 GMT
You can form a paypal. Have you asked Song? Maybe you could work something out with him. The dizi's on that harmonymusic website aren't that bad. Alot of those are professional grade. But if you want a good dizi that you really like, you should test it. Unless of course, it is a really popular model and it's been recommended by many people. I think I may have saw a teacher or something related to Chinese Music in Ottawa. I can check the web for you.
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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 20, 2006 2:38:22 GMT
I'm looking at this Dizi cgi.ebay.com/Shanghai-Dunhuang-C-Key-Dizi-Chinese-Bamboo-Flute_W0QQitemZ7423995919QQihZ016QQcategoryZ308QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem might have to copy and paste into browser. It seems like a good cheap flute for starting out. I'm just wondering about the copper joint in the middle. Does it change the sound produced? Is it better with or without the copper joint. Is it sensitive so if I accidently nudge the joint will it change the sound? First before buying the Dizi I would like to find a teacher in Ottawa, if possible. If you can find that site for me jetz that would be very helpful, I've tried searching in many places but with no sucess, still waiting for some emails though. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. |
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 20, 2006 5:09:22 GMT
Dunghuang is pretty good at guzheng and erhu, so I am told, but merely adequate for dizi. You are right that a dunhuang dizi would be a cheap flute for starting out. If you can spring for a little better though, like Ebay item # 230032584183, I think you will be happier.
In my opinion, Paypal is the safest and most convenient method for buying online. It avoids spreading your credit card number around overseas. For other payment options, you will need to contact the vendor. It is not hard to open a Paypal account, so I recommend that.
I have not made any direct comparisons between jointed and unjointed flutes. There maybe a slight affect of the joint, but I think it is more than offset by the tuning flexibility, and you are unlikely to notice a problem. Other aspects, such as the cut of the embouchure and tone holes, are much more important factors in the sound quality.
Contacting a teacher if one is available to you is good to do before buying an instrument. They may have a line on a dizi that you can at least start with. Watch the markup though. You could wind up paying twice as much for the Dunhuang quality. <g>
Best wishes,
David
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Post by YouLanFengChune on Oct 20, 2006 6:53:12 GMT
Hi!
I have affiliations with a group in Vancouver.
About the latest dizi. I actually promised a few shops to wholesale some. I Sold 60% in 2 days!
2 types, $40 and $80. The quality is different in only quality of bamboo. David bought an $80 one. The dizis are easy to play, sounds ebsolutely professional. Needs a lot of people to verify.
The pictures will go on Cadenza in 1 week. Will practise backordering.
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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 20, 2006 11:44:49 GMT
Those Dizis that David told of on eBay seems good. Im still trying to dig up a Dizi teacher. I have contacted a local chinese arts troupe in hope that they can lead me in the right direction. I know that the troupe has Dizi players but don't if they teach or have a teacher in Ottawa. Still waiting for the reply from them. If I buy from either Cadenza of Eason hope they have some stores which sell their items in Canada, the shipping from Cadenza to Canada is $33 and only $11 or so for the US. Not sure about Eason but I'll contact them if I can find a teacher.
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Post by YouLanFengChune on Oct 20, 2006 15:05:13 GMT
My contacts are in Vancouver.
I'll PM you the name of my friend. She'll find you a goiod teacher.
she is one great Chinese Musician in Vancouver, and she organizes exams for Canada.
Maybe she can help!
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 20, 2006 17:36:03 GMT
Every instrument that I have purchased from Cadenza has exceeded my expectations, and my standards are high. I can hardly wait to try out my new dizi. Hey Yinhao, where is it?  Best wishes, David |
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Post by jetz320 on Oct 21, 2006 0:12:14 GMT
No offence to Dunhuang or Song, but the dunhuang C key dizi on Eason is good for a beginner. The sound is clear. But it isn't the best of Dizis.
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Post by YouLanFengChune on Oct 21, 2006 0:34:01 GMT
Dude, Your stuff are packed and waiting for monday.
Here's the result. My latest dizi SOLD 70%, and i have weird back orders already. bB violet bamboo etc
I have 1 more batch in this coming week. Traditional designs from HUANG WEIDONG, esteemed maker of Yu Xun Fa and Jiang Guo Ji. This new maker of mine (witrh the new designs) have proven successful.
BAD NEWS: Violet bamboo is hard from my side. My new maker has difficulty procuring high quality violet bamboo. Due to its high popularity, price is about USD 120 Per piece, and thats sold in SG, and IT STILL SELLS OUT! For the Ng Teck Seng version, please contact EASON. I studied under Ng TS months for a few years. He has a respectable sense of music and making.
GOOD NEWS: $40 dizis sound like $80 dizis, and $80 dizis are divine!!!!!!!! sell out in 2 days, by teachers and I will order more. You guys need to try it out!
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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 21, 2006 0:41:06 GMT
For the red violet bamboo are you talking about this one cadenzamusic.biz/zz_qd1.htm ? As for the $40 or $80 Dizi from Candenza are this listed on the site? Also YouLanFengChune, how does Cadenza accept payment? Credit card, Paypal, Check, Money order, etc? Also if you have contacts in Vancouver how about if you do ship there and I buy around the same time could you reduce the $33 S&H from Singapore to Canada? If not it's alright too. How long do you expect to still have those Dizi made by Ng TS still in stock? Hopefully I can find a teacher soon and snag one of them  . Thanks. |
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Post by davidmdahl on Oct 21, 2006 4:47:43 GMT
The photos on the Cadenza site are of the Ng TS line they used to sell. Youlanfengchune wrote in another message in this thread that photos of the new dizi line will be on the website in another week. If you want a Ng TS dizi, then order from Eason. I am sure that you would be thrilled with them. For my part I am looking forward to my new dizi from Cadenza. Hey Yinhao, I hope that customs finds a few CITES licenses in my shipment. Best wishes, David |
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Post by twilgihtbliss on Oct 21, 2006 21:10:44 GMT
I've emailed the person Yinhao mentioned, just waiting for a reply. Once/if I find a teacher, hopefully in a week I will be able to order the new Dizi from Cadenza that will be posted in a week or so.
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Post by song on Oct 23, 2006 1:39:09 GMT
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. Thanks.