Adult Music Lessons

A popular instrument amongst many adults as it is relatively lightweight and portable. When you are proficient on the erhu, you will discover that it is an extremely versatile Chinese instrument with a rich tone emulating that of the human voice . The Erhu also serves as the foundation for other Chinese instruments such as the Gaohu, Zhonghu, Banhu, and other instruments in the “Hu” family. However, the learning curve can be steep as compared to other instruments such as the guzheng, as when learning the erhu, you would need to spend more time on intonation and bowing techniques before being able to play tunes. If you have the patience and perseverance to put into establishing some groundwork, you will be greatly rewarded by the erhu’s charming tone.

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An iconic Chinese instrument, its shimmering celestial tones are familiar to the ears of many. The guzheng is one of the easiest Chinese instruments to pick up. Just in the first lesson you would be play a simple tune. One of the drawbacks is that the guzheng compared to other instruments take up quite a bit of room; it would easily take up two seats in a family car with its total length of 165cm, and would take up almost as much space as a piano when in your home. If you want an instrument that is easy to learn, and if you have the space for it, the guzheng would be a great choice for you.

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The guqin is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favoured by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as well as being associated with the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius. The guqin is not to be confused with the guzheng which has 21 strings, and is much larger. Guqin music is typically slower and quieter, and might not suit the tastes of learners who prefer to play more upbeat music.

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You will always know when your neighbour is learning the Dizi. It is loud and has a distinct tone. The Dizi is one of the most prominent Chinese wind Instruments. Made of bamboo, it is also one of the lightest and most portable Chinese instruments. Be it playing at home or overseas, the dizi’s small size and light weight makes it great for carrying around. The dizi typically plays beautiful and lyrical melodies, as it is commonly used as a solo or lead instrument within an ensemble or Chinese orchestra. It also serves as the foundation for other chinese wind instrument such as Xiao, Xun, Bawu, Hulusi, and more.

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The Pipa is the instrument with probably the most playing techniques, and its amphibious character and myriad of tones make it one of the most interesting Chinese musical instruments. It can mimic many instruments from the Indian sitar all the way to the Japanese shamisen. Leave your friends and family dumbstruck when you show the various techniques and tones of the pipa. One of the drawbacks is that it can be rather heavy, with some instruments weight north of four kilograms. If you can get past its weight, the pipa would a great instrument to jam with your friends or for your own enjoyment with a cup of tea.

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Both the Ruan and Liuqin have similar playing techniques, though they sound quite different from each other. They are easy to pick up and are portable, just like a guitar. The one drawback is the lack of repertoire for these instruments, making it a little more difficult to find scores and music for it. However, at Eight Tones Music, our teachers will go the extra mile to find you your scores.

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A descendent of the Indo-European hammered dulcimer, the yangqin is an instrument with many strings stretched out over a large wooden resonator box and a series of bridges, played with two lightweight bamboo beaters striking the strings. The range of notes that the yangqin can play is one of the widest amongst Chinese instruments, ranging slightly over four octaves from the bass register to the high treble register, making it a versatile instrument able to play both melody as well as accompaniment. Moreover, the tuning of the yangqin is chromatic, enabling it to move freely between different keys, enhancing its versatility in playing a wide variety of music across different genres from traditional Chinese pieces to jazz standards.

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