Known for its slow, soothing melodies and meditative sound the Guqin is one of those instruments that helps you relax and take things at your own pace. If you’re an adult or even a bit older, learning the Guqin instrument can be quite fulfilling because it is not too fast or stressful, and you really get to enjoy the peaceful side of music. These days, more young people are also starting to learn the Guqin because of its unique tone and long history of 3,000 years. Its deep and calming sound has a way of staying with you, making it perfect for quiet evenings at home or when you just want a break from the busyness of city life.
*Trial Guqin lesson is chargeable
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What is the Guqin?
The Guqin (古琴: lit. “ancient zither”), a 3000 year old seven-string zither, is one of the oldest and most revered of Chinese musical instruments, and occupies a vital position in the history of Chinese culture. The Guqin was developed as an instrument of leisurely refinement and self-cultivation played by the nobility, the literati and the landed gentry, who played it either for a select group of friends or for oneself in an intimate setting such as a scholar’s study for meditative purposes, or in natural settings. Check out our YouTube Video below to find out more about what the Guqin is.
Click on the video above to listen to our Guqin teacher, Dr Hoh Chung Shih, share what the Guqin instrument is, while showing its structure and sound through an easy-to-follow visual and music showcase.
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Guqin in Singapore
Guqin has been sidelined for the past three decades as it is not a part of the modern Chinese orchestra. However, in Singapore today, the Guqin has gotten more and more popular, thanks to the proliferation of Chinese period dramas and movies. All our Guqin teachers are Singaporean, and hail from strong backgrounds in their own respective fields: Dr. Hoh holds a PhD in Music Composition, Dr. Khoo holds a PhD in Chinese History.*Trial Guqin lesson is chargeable
Our Services
Being a one-stop Guqin shop in Singapore, you can learn Guqin here, and also purchase your Guqin as well as music scores and accessories here. Furthermore, for a nominal fee, you can rent a studio at our music school to practice the Guqin before or after your Guqin lessons.
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What You Will learn
During Guqin lessons you will be able to learn classical pieces from the traditional Guqin repertoire as well as contemporary compositions such as movie theme songs, according to your preferences. Our Guqin teachers will keep you comfortable by teaching at your pace, depending on your commitment levels and learning needs.
In Singapore, our Guqin classes teach both pop and classical Chinese adult music lessons. Pop Guqin lessons include music by Mao Bu Yi, Fei Yu Qing and many other artists. Classical Guqin lesson offerings include traditional Chinese pieces such as Jiu Kuang, Mei Hua San Nong, Liu Shui and other ancient tunes and folk songs.
Two Guqin teachers from our highly dedicated Eight Tones teaching team in a group photo
Unsure of Which Chinese Instrument To Learn?
Do you know that Chinese Instruments are categorized to 4 main sections? 吹，拉，弹， 打, which translates respectively to – Woodwinds, Bowed Strings, Plucked Strings and Percussion.
Find out more about the different Chinese instruments in our weekly 60 minutes workshop, where you will be exposed to various Chinese instruments such as the Erhu, Guzheng, Dizi, Ruan and Pipa.
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Benefits of Learning the Guqin
How Guqin Lessons Are Conducted
On Your First Guqin Lesson
Our teacher will discuss your goals and expectations with you and design a suitable course curriculum, be it for leisure, foundation building, or examinations. Our teacher would also share a bit about the history of the Guqin, since understanding its rich cultural roots is an important part of learning the instrument.
If you do not have an Guqin and would like to buy one from our store, we will help you pick an instrument which is most suited to you.
Write-Up Of Our Guqin Teachers
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Why Choose Us?
The Guqin is not commonly found in Chinese orchestras, and is thus more rarely played than other Chinese instruments, with fewer teachers available. Eight Tones Music School is one of the few music schools in Singapore that currently offer Guqin lessons, with our strong teaching team of three distinguished Guqin teachers.
Beginner One-to-One*
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Individual Guqin lessons are recommended, with one-to-one teaching. This is to ensure that you receive quality instruction and a curriculum that is tailored just for you.
If you prefer, lessons can also be taught individually or in groups of not more than 4. However, the groups have to be formed on your own, with a minimum of 2 students.
All our teachers are fluent in both English and Mandarin.
Yes, our teachers can also teach both Chinese pop songs. However, do let us know in advance so our teachers can prepare the necessary teaching materials.
Trial Guqin lessons are offered one time per instrument and to be paid for after the lesson. If you are unable to come for your trial lesson, you would have to inform the school within 24 hours. Failure to do so will result in a prepaid trial lesson for your next booking.
The mode of payment we accept are cash, NETS, cheque, PayNow and bank transfer
