Guqin Beginner
This Beginner course is designed for adults who have not studied the Guqin before. The class will explain Guqin tablature (notation), basic fingerings, and the three tone colors: open strings, pressed tones, and harmonics. Following the introduction of these fundamentals, students will learn to read tablature (notation), practice some simple exercises, then learn two to three short pieces: “Immortals’ Chant”, the traditional piece “Autumn Wind”, and the modern piece “Laughter above the Turquoise Sea”. History, aesthetics of the Guqin and its cultural aspects will be presented.
初级班：面向不需任何音乐经验的初学者。 初级班课程包括认识减字谱、左右手基本指法（吟、猱、抹、挑、勾、剔、绰、注）及散、泛、按三种音色。把握以上的基础后将学识“读谱”、练习曲、然后弹奏小曲“仙翁操”、传统琴曲“秋风词”与流行曲“沧海一声笑”。除技巧外，也会讲授古琴的历史、美学及其文化内涵。
Fees
10 Sessions (15 hours)
$630 member / $670 non-member
Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $30
* Instruments will be provided for in-class instruction.
* Maximum Number of Students: 6
Instructor
Mingmei Yip
Mingmei Yip, PhD in musicology from the University of Paris (Sorbonne) on a full scholarship from the French Government. A master performer on the Qin, she has given lectures and performances at venues such as Metropolitan Museum of Art, Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic, Columbia University, Oxford University, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Beijing University, the University of Paris, Amsterdam University, Oberlin Conservatory, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the China Institute in New York. Mingmei has served as consultant for Beijing’s Chinese Qin Association 北京中国古琴会, director for Chinese Kun Opera and Guqin Research Association 中国古琴昆剧研究会理事, artistic consultant for New York Cultural Art Association, as well as on the academic board of the Chengdu International Qin Conference.
Also a writer, Mingmei has published fourteen books, with two on the qin. Her latest being her 7th novel The Witch’s Market (Kensington Books) which received a glowing review from the New York Times. She wrote columns for seven major newspapers and has appeared on over 50 TV and radio programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and the United States.
Mingmei is also accomplished as a painter and calligrapher. A one-person show of her paintings of Guan Yin (the Chinese Goddess of Compassion) and calligraphy was held at the New York Open Center Gallery in SoHo in 2002. Mingmei was lecturer and senior lecturer (associate professor) of music at Chinese University of Hong Kong and Baptist University respectively, and in 2005, an International Institute of Asian Studies fellow in Holland researching on the qin. She has taught qin playing and calligraphy at two major Hong Kong Universities.
Click here to listen to Guqin audio.
The Raven’s Night Cry (乌夜啼), a celebrated Guqin piece from Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) by Mingmei Yip