instruments guzheng (Chinese Zither) Also known as zheng. The guzheng is a long-bridged instrument with varying sizes and differing numbers of strings. The lilting and evocative sounds of the zheng make it one of the most popular of Chinese musical instruments. It is most often performed solo, or used in folk ensemble music and large orchestral compositions. Literary references trace the zheng to the 3rd century B.C. in the northern Qin region (today's Shanxi province) . Today, most instruments have from twenty-one to twenty-five strings. These strings pass over individual bridges, which can be moved to adjust pitch. In general, the right hand plucks the strings (using fingernails or artificial nails called plectra ) while the left hand executes vibrato or presses the strings to change pitch or create sliding notes. Music of the zheng is differentiated into regional styles, the most notable of these being the Shandong, Henan, Zhejiang, Kejia and Chaozhou styles. pipa (Chinese Lute) A plucked lute with four strings. Originally imported from Central Asia, it was assimilated by the Tang dynasty,which presided over one of the great ages in world music (seventh to tenth centuries A.D.). It is used both to accompany vocal music and as a solo instrument associated with the literati; the latter repertory dates from at least the eighteenth century. yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer) The hammered dulcimer was brought to China from the Middle East area during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, the yangqin is played with 2 bamboo strikes. Stops are used to provide semitones and to increase range, sliders and rollers are used to make modulation possible and to facilitate quick and accurate tuning. It usually has four octaves and is fully chromatic. The yangqin is now one of the principal instruments in the Chinese orchestra. dizi (Chinese Bamboo Flute) Wind Instrument with over 2000 years of history. Also is called "Horizontal Flute", or "Bamboo Flute". However, Dizi can be made of bamboo, wood, plastic and stone today. Dizi has one blowing hole ("Chui Kong"), one membrane-hole ("Muo Kong" ), six sound releasing hole, one front releasing hole and two back releasing holes (Chuan Yin Kong). Dizi is commonly used as an important accompanying instrument in many operatic genres. Today, there are two types of Dizi available in China, Bangdi (in northern China) and Qudi (in southern China). Bangdi is shorter than Qudi with higher pitch. It is used to accompany the Bang Zi operas and in ensembles. It offers sonorous and bright tone and makes full use of various tonguing techniques. It is used to express vigorous and uninhibited sentiments. Qudi is used to accompany the Kunqu opera and in ensembles. With a pure and mellow tone and attaching great importance to the breathing technique, Qudi is commonly played to express mild and implicit sentiments. erhu (Two-String Fiddle) or Gaohu (High-pitched Fiddle) erhu is a bowed lute with two strings tuned a fifth apart, between which the hair of the bow is threaded. It is perhaps the oldest bowed lute in the world, going back to before 1000 A.D. The Gaohu is a higher-pitched instrument developed from the Erhu in the 1920s by the Cantonese composer-performer Lu Wencheng, often using higher positions with expressive glissandi. ruan Round-shaped plucked instrument. Family of four types: di ruan (bass ruan),da ruan(large ruan),zhong ruan(medium ruan) and xiao ruan(small ruan), from low pitch to high pitch. The instrument has changed little since the Han and later dynasties. It shares the same playing techniques with the pipa. The zhongruan(medium ruan) and daruan(large ruan) are important instruments for ensemble music and accompaniment. liuqin (High-Pitched Lute) liuqin was named from its willow-leaf-shaped soundbox. It's about half of the size of Pipa. But it can produce extremely high-pitched, sharp and powerful sound. It has 4 strings, and shared similar playing techniques from Pipa. It can be played using a slender bamboo tube on the forefinger as a plectrum. Unlike Yuan, which is most commonly used to play accompaniment, today, Liuqin is frequently being used to play major melodies within an orchestra.		Performance Concert Recording Entertainment Demonstrations Education Private Lesson Group Lesson Lecture Workshop On site Instruction Demonstration
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