Meet Hoh Chung Shih, the Guqin teacher! This highly experienced teacher is not only an expert of the instrument but also incredibly insightful and knowledgeable about the culture and history of the Guqin. During his lessons, he is very patient with his students and makes sure they understand every concept before moving on. Plus, with the ability to teach in both English and Mandarin, communication will not be an issue. With his guidance, you will be able to play beautiful melodies with the Guqin in no time!
Chung Shih is a true lover of ancient Chinese music. With a deep interest in the subtly varied fingering instructions of older music score notation, Chung Shih’s chief aim is to share the rich experience of rhythm, tempo, tone color, articulations, breathing, and ultimately the very expression of this music through his lessons.
After discovering Guqin studies at King’s College London, Chung Shih began learning the instrument in 1996 under Dr. Ji Zhiqun, who teaches the lineage repertoire of Gongyi and Wu Wenguang. This led to his deep interest in Chinese literati culture, which includes brush painting, philosophy, and garden design.
As a contemporary Guqin musician, Chung Shih has been invited to perform at important venues internationally, including the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, USA and the Singapore Esplanade Concourse, involving cutting-edge interactive multimedia technologies. His own creative works as a performer, sound artist, and composer involving the Guqin has also been featured in the Computer Music Journal for their annual DVD, and published by the MIT Press.
With a BMus Hons from King’s college London and a PhD in music composition from the University at Buffalo, USA, Chung Shih brings a unique approach to teaching Guqin music by emphasising its holistic nature and encouraging students to explore the larger cultural practice of the Chinese literati. His wide-ranging approach in music education stems from his own practices as a contemporary music composer, sound artist, and over 20 years of experience in music pedagogy.
