north american guqin association - chinese culture · 2. 10 weeks hands on group lessons:...

North American Guqin Association, P O Box 7113, Fremont, CA 94537-7113 Web site: http://www.guqin.org/, email: [email protected], voice/fax: 1-866-841-9139 ext 1555

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North American Guqin Association

Guqin Workshops with Wang Fei Asian Art Museum

September 20-21 and 27-28, 2008

Class Resources • Class materials:

- Week 1: handouts 1 and 2

- Week 2: handouts 3 and 4

• Guqin Video and Audio Appreciation: NAGA Library of Guqin Music from NAGA web site http://www.guqin.org, listening room.

• Art Appreciation: Guqin in Chinese Art, http://www.guqin.org/qinslides.htm

• Want to reach guqin friends? join the North American Guqin Association to receive guqin-related news http://www.chineseculture.net/guqin/joinus.html. NAGA also on Facebook at http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28237180454

• Upcoming guqin class information:

1. 3 hour Theory Class: Appreciation of Chinese Culture through Chinese Guqin music

2. 10 weeks hands on group lessons: Introduction to the Guqin

3. Registration Form

• Class survey

• About the North American Guqin

• Teacher/student tree: the guqin was taught orally by masters from generation to generation. It is very important for students to know who you inherited the tradition from and that you belong a tradition that goes back at least 3 generations.

This workshop is co-sponsored by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) and the Chinese musical specialist beijingers.com.


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Professor Li Xiangting is one of the greatest living qin masters of this century. Zha Fuxi, Wu Jinglue and Guan Pinghu were the three greatest qin masters of the last century. Pu Xuezhai was the cousin of the last emperor.

• Guqin product recommendations: • Store: http://www.beijingers.com

CDs, any CDs from the players above you in the teacher/student tree.

The guqin is a unique Chinese musical instrument. Making it is a very complicated process, and a good guqin can last thousands of years. A guqin must be hand made by specialists using special wood and lacquer. There are currently less than 10 qualified guqin makers in China. Each can probably make 20 or fewer guqins each year. Many of them own small home factories. First choice is guqins hand made by those makers. Second choice is guqins from their factory. These guqins can usually only be found in private guqin schools or guqin shops. If you try to find a guqin made by a big factory or brand in a public store please be careful, and preferably take a specialist to look at it first, since most them are probably unplayable.

Here are some of my recommendations from our sponsor, the Chinese music specialist beijingers.com. There are some discounts for the class participation and continuing students.


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CD title Artist Price

Favorite Qin Pieces of Li Xiangting 幽居 Li Xiangting 李祥霆 $15

Collection of Extemporizing Works of Qin and Xiao 唐人诗意

Li Xiangting 李祥霆

Inspiration from poems of Song Dynasty 宋人词意

Li Xiangting 李祥霆

Yuan Qu Gu Yun 元曲古韵 Li Xiangting 李祥霆

$22.50 each set or $60 for 3 sets

Tao of Peace Li Xiangting & Dean Evenson $15

Sleeping Lotus Li Xiangting 李祥霆 $15

An Anthology of Chinese Traditional and Folk Music – A Collection of Music Played on the Guqin 中国音乐大全– 古琴卷 (8 CD set)

Zha Fuxi 查阜西, Guan Pinghu 管平湖, Wu Jinglue 吴景略 and other masters of the mid 20th century

$65

Guqin Masters 古琴大师 Some masters of the mid 20th century $12

Guqin solos by Guan Pinghu Guan Pinghu 管平湖 $12

Guqin solos by Wu Jinglue Wu Jinglue 吴景略 $12

English - Chinese Dictionary of Guqin古琴英汉词典

book $20

Guqin Instructional Material Set Comprises: 1. Li Xiangting Guqin instruction

book 2. Set of 2 instructional VCDs with

booklet 3. Audio CD-Favourite Qin Pieces of Li Xiangting 幽居

4.English - Chinese Dictionary of Guqin 古琴英汉词典 5.Wang Fei Guqin Demo Audio CD or DVD

If you do not have a teacher but wish to learn the guqin, use these to teach yourself as many people, including non-Chinese speakers do.

If you have a teacher or know how to play the guqin, use them to follow masters for review.

If you plan to take guqin classes with Wang Fei, these are required textbooks and materials.

The books are printed using simplified Chinese characters, and the VCDs are taught in Mandarin.

$70


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Price Maker Material and features Recommendation Selected?

$650 Factory made. At least more friendly to play and with better sound than a guqin from a general music store.

New tong wood, unknown lacquer, traditional tuning

Beginners who are curious about guqin and who might only study it short term, and with limited budget

No

$1200 Hand made by a qualified maker

New, good quality tong wood, 100% nature lacquer (the right lacquer for making guqins); traditional tuning; makers signature inside

Serious beginners and intermediate students, and people with musical background. This is a good model that can keep your interest.

No

$1800 100% Hand made by golden award winning qin maker

NAGA supervised model , 400 old shan wood, 100% nature lacquer (the right lacquer for making guqins, good workmanship,; new tuning device; calligraphy and poem on the back as well as NAGA seal and maker’s signature inside.

Serious beginners; intermediate or even advanced; people with musical background and art collectors.

This is a good model to encourage you to play guqin long termly.

No need to upgrade until you notice the difference when you play at a certain level

Selected by Wang Fei

$3500 or above

inquiries please contact with Wang Fei for consultation

100% customized Guqins made by various master makers

Excellent sound and workmanship, silk string available on some models.

Suitable for all levels and all purposes: beginner, intermediate, advanced, concert performance, art collectors. These are great guqins that can inspire you for a lifetime. No need to upgrade unless you want to get another such qin for a collection.

Selected by Wang Fei

If you are a California resident, please add 8.75% sales tax when you pay check, check payable to: beijingers



NAGA Guqin Classes

Introduction to the Guqin (10 weeks group lessons)

It’s time once again for NAGA’s annual series of guqin classes. The number of places is limited, so please register now!

Time: Classes will start as soon as filled and subject to confirmation, Sundays 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Venue: Union City, CA. Address to be announced after registration.

Size: Class size is very small – 5-6 for a beginner-friendly group.

Class Summary: This series of hands-on classes will provide systematic coverage of guqin playing and performance techniques, as well as guqin history, tradition, theory, handbooks, repertory and a lot more. At the end of the course you will able to play 4 to 5 pieces, sing famous Chinese poems while playing, and will have gained a broader appreciation of Chinese culture. You will also learn how to appraise the guqin music you hear, how to observe a player's posture and hand gestures, and how to recognize different styles. It will also give you an opportunity to experience other aspects of Chinese culture and tradition, including philosophy, religion, opera, literature, poetry, calligraphy, painting, tea, and food. Guqin masterpieces you will learn:

1.长相思 Longing 2. 秋风词 Autumn Wind Song 3.凤求凰 The Phoenix Woos His Mate 4. 阳关三叠 Three Variations of the Yangguan Pass 5.酒狂 Drunken Ecstasy

Instructor: Classes will be led by NAGA Director and China Guqin Committee Council member Wang Fei. Wang Fei studied guqin under Professor Li Xiangting, one of the great qin master of this century, since 1985. She has inherited the traditions, styles, concepts and masterpieces of her “grand teachers” Zha Fuxi, Wu Jinglue and Guan Pinghu, the three greatest qin masters of the last century, and transmits them through her guqin teaching, performance and promotion in the western world. Wang Fei is one of the few qin teachers who offer guqin lessons in traditional form, covering both qin playing and qin study. She has won several awards for Chinese music, has toured internationally and has given speeches, lectures, workshops and seminars on the guqin at many prestigious universities including UC Berkeley, UCLA and the Central Conservatory of Music. She has also given presentations on Chinese culture to many Fortune 500 companies.. Instruments: Instruments can be either rented for the full 10 weeks duration of the course or purchased from the teacher. Good guqins will be provided for use during the classes. Students do not need to bring their own instruments.

Fee: $660 for 10 weekly sessions, total 30 hours. Who can participate: These classes are open to anyone who is interested in the guqin and would like to know more about it.

For details of any of these classes and to enroll, please email [email protected] or call 1-866-841-9139 ext.1555.



Appreciation of Chinese Culture through Chinese Guqin music

Time: Sunday 1:00pm to 4:00pm, subject to confirmation

Duration: One 3 hour lecture, subject to confirmation

Venue: Union City, CA or TBA

Fee: $60

Class Summary:

Confucius said: “To educate somebody, you should start with poetry, emphasize rituals, and finish with music”. The guqin is not merely a musical skill, it embodies the whole gamut of Chinese culture and tradition. So the guqin was a very important subject in his education system.

Wang Fei studied guqin under Professor Li Xiangting, one of the great qin master of this century, since 1985. She has inherited the traditions, styles, concepts and masterpieces of her “grand teachers” Zha Fuxi, Wu Jinglue and Guan Pinghu, the three greatest qin masters of the last century, and transmits them through her guqin teaching, performance and promotion in the western world. Wang Fei is one of the few qin teachers who offer guqin lessons in traditional form, covering both qin playing and qin study. She frequently uses the guqin as a vehicle to promote Chinese culture in mainstream universities.

The topics Wang Fei will cover include, but are not limited to, the following:

The Guqin in Chinese Art The Guqin in Chinese Poetry The Guqin in Chinese Philosophy The Guqin As a Musical Instrument

• Qin history, tradition, theory, handbooks and repertory • Introduction to qin masterpieces • How to appraise the guqin music you hear, how to observe a player's posture and

hand gestures, and how to recognize different styles • Dapu (reconstruction of early pieces from the original scores) and improvisation • Tips for playing and performance • Appreciation of qins from different makers: form, construction, sound quality etc. • Fitting strings, tuning, how to select a qin, and qin maintenance

These classes are open to all who are interested would like to know more about the guqin and Chinese culture. Classes will be interactive, consisting of lectures, audio-visual sessions, demonstrations and discussions.



NAGA Guqin Classes Registration Form Teacher: NAGA director Wang Fei

Name: _____________________________ Chinese Name (optional): __________________

Occupation: ____________________ Education: _________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________

City, State & Zip ___________________________________________________________

Telephone #: _______________________ Cell # ________________________________

Email Address: ____________________________________________________________

URL: ____________________________________________________________________

How did you learn about the program?

_________________________________________________________________________________

Please select enrollment preference:

Theory class $60

10 weeks group lessons $660

I have my own qin

I want to rent a qin ($100 rental for 10 weeks plus $500 deposit)

I want to purchase a qin (please email [email protected] to schedule an appointment with the teacher for advice).

Payment Information Full Tuition Amount $ _____________ Check# ______________

To confirm your class registration, please pay by check at least 10 days before the class starts. All tuition fees are non-refundable.

Please make your check payable to the North American Guqin Association and mail this form and your check to:

North American Guqin Association PO Box 7113

Fremont, CA 94537-7113



About The North American Guqin Association

Mission The North American Guqin Association (NAGA) is a nonprofit cultural arts organization dedicated to the public presentation and preservation of the art of the guqin, spreading community appreciation of Chinese culture through the traditional art of the guqin and building a bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the Chinese and American communities.

History NAGA was founded in 1997 and is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the only organization in the state whose sole purpose is the development of public programs designed to encourage increased levels of appreciation and awareness of guqin music. In the last ten years NAGA has grown in membership and has increased the number of programs it offers to the public. Its founder and director Wang Fei is an internationally known guqin performer, educator, and scholar. For more information about NAGA, please visit www.guqin.org. For more information about Wang Fei, please visit http://www.feiwang.com.

Program Performances

• Concerts • Recordings

Cultural Bridging and Artistic Productions • Organizing cultural events & gatherings • Collaborative productions and innovation

between eastern and western artists, modern arts and traditional arts; performance arts, literature and visual arts.

• Conferences

Education • Private guqin lessons – beginner, intermediate,

advanced, any age • Group guqin lessons – all levels and ages,

various class sizes • Guqin lectures, workshops, presentations,

demonstrations and seminars for colleges and schools

• Chinese cultural and business consultancy and classes in philosophy, religion, opera, literature, poetry, calligraphy, painting, tea, Tai Chi, cuisine, etc.

Support the Art of the Guqin! Give NAGA a Hand!

Please complete and print. Mail, along with your contribution, to:

North American Guqin Association PO Box 7113 Fremont, CA 94537-7113 We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. Donor Information

Name: Address: City: Zip: Phone : Email:

Contribution Level

$50.00 $100.00 $250.00 $500.00 $1,000.00 $ other


Guqin Workshops with Wang Fei Survey

1. Gender: Male Female

2. Age: under 15 15 – 24 25 – 34 35 – 44 45 – 54 55 – 64 over 64

3. Ethnic background: African-American Asian (non-Chinese) Caucasian Chinese Middle Eastern Hispanic Other

4. Education: Less than high school diploma High school graduate Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctorate

5. What city do you live in?

6. What is your background or occupation?

7. Where did you first learn about the workshop? Guqin demo at the Museum Email from the Museum Friends Email from the North American Guqin Association Other

8. What is your primary interest in this workshop? Learning to play History, tradition and culture Curiosity Appreciation of the music Research

9. Do you have a guqin? Yes No.

10. If not, do you want to buy one, and if so, what is your budget range? $1000 or less $1000-2000 $2000-3000 $3000-5000 $5000 -10000 over $10000

11. Will you continue to learn the guqin? Yes No Undecided

12. If your answer to question 11 was ‘yes’, are you interested in: Theory class(see description in your handout) 10 weeks group lessons (see description in your handout) Private lessons

13. If your answer to question 11 was ‘yes’, which location do you prefer: This museum Anywhere in this city Anywhere in the Bay Area Other

14. Are you interested in receiving information on any of the following: guqin relate news Concert/events/gatherings workshops/classes Guqin-related

product list updates (books, CDs, etc.)

15. What is your overall rating for this workshop? Very good Good OK Disappointing

16. What is your overall experience and challenge with this workshop?

17. Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future workshops?

north american guqin association - chinese culture · 2. 10 weeks hands on group lessons:...

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