Studio Classes
Summer 2023 Registration is Now Open! Classes start on July 10, 2023.
Register by June 5 to receive $30 off tuition!
This summer, China Institute offers studio classes in the areas of traditional Chinese art including calligraphy, brush painting, as well as meditation classes including tai chi and qigong.
Our classes are not only designed to improve the tactile experiences and haptic perception of the students, but they also focus on enhancing students’ mental and physical strength that multiple researches have shown to provide long-term health benefits.
“Tai chi is often described as “meditation in motion,” but it might well be called “medication in motion.” There is growing evidence that this mind-body practice, which originated in China as a martial art, has value in treating or preventing many health problems. And you can get started even if you aren’t in top shape or the best of health.” – Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School
“Chinese calligraphic handwriting (CCH) has demonstrated a new role in health and therapy. Meanwhile, meditation is an traditional and effective method for coping with stress and staying healthy. This study compared the effectiveness of CCH and meditation as distinctive and parallel stress reduction interventions.” – National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information
All classes at China Institute are conducted and taught by accredited instructors internationally-renowned in their respective field of training. Browse below for detailed class descriptions and instructor bios.
Available Courses
China Institute will continue to provide online Chinese Brush Painting via Zoom. The instructor Ms. Sungsook Setton will employ a flexible and creative approach to teach her virtual Brush Painting class, integrating group instruction and individual tutoring.
This class provides training in the fundamentals of traditional brush painting, its principles, techniques, subject matters and styles. Themes covered include landscapes, birds-and-flowers, insects, fish, and others. Students are trained to master brushstrokes and taught the skills of capturing the essence of forms.
- Instruction and discussion.
- Communication with instructor for commentary on individual practice.
- The class will use a combination of communication tools, including Zoom, linked to a camera, recorded videos and email correspondence for individual guidance, etc.
- The instructor will provide the zoom meeting information, as well as a brief introduction on how to use Zoom.
To watch a demo of the class, click here.
Beginner: Friday, 9:30 – 11:30 AM
July 21 – August 18
Intermediate: Wednesday, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
July 19 – August 16
5 sessions (10 hours)
$175 member / $215 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
Registration
Calligraphy is the art of writing Chinese characters. Students are taught how to use the brush and given an artistic and etymological introduction to China’s system of writing, which is an important key to understanding and appreciating Chinese art, history, and culture. Students learn and practice basic brush strokes and characters in a meditative, relaxed atmosphere. Classes often begin with a demonstration, followed by time for individual attention, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Knowledge of Chinese or brush technique is not necessary. Materials are supplied for the first class only.
Class Schedule:
Friday, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Friday, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
July 14 – August 11
5 sessions (10 hours)
$175 member / $215 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
Maximum Number of Students: 7
Registration
Through a series of gentle movements, Tai Chi can greatly improve circulation, flexibility, and endurance. It is also a great way to relieve stress, tension, and aggravation accumulated from our busy daily life. This course teaches the philosophy and practice of Yang-style Tai Chi : a short form of sixty postures developed by Grandmaster William C.C. Chen. Intermediate students will learn the long form of the Yang style, which develops core strength.
Class Schedule:
Friday, 10:00 – 11:00 AM
July 14 – August 11
5 sessions (5 hours)
$130 member / $170 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
Registration
“Dao (or Tao) follows what is natural.” 道法自然 (From Dao-de Jing, 《道德经》, Chapter 25)
Without knowing how to be natural and be at ease 自在, one cannot glimpse the “Dao”– the “Way”: harmony with the natural and balanced order of the universe. One must first experience harmony and balance within oneself to live in harmony with the outside world.
Only in a calm and clear state can we live in the present moment with joy and make better decisions. In this course, participants will learn to practice calm-abiding meditation, starting with body relaxation and gradually letting go of any subtle holding in the body and mind. Participants will also train to rest their minds for clarity through practice of various focal points. Throughout the course, a special form of Qigong (气功), the Eight Pieces of Silk Brocade (Baduanjin 八段錦) will be taught. It is a set of medical Qigong with eight movements designed to improve overall health. These movements will work on internal organs and meridians in the entire body. The instruction will focus on enhancing spinal fluidity and the silken quality of the motion to create a greater flow of Qi (energy, 气). In addition, Standing Qigong (Zhan Zhuang 站桩）& basic Taichi movements will be introduced as well. This course develops harmony and balance within oneself for people of all ages.
Thursday, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
July 13 – August 10
5 sessions (5 hours)
$165 member / $205 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
Maximum Number of Students: 10
Registration
Music Classes
Summer 2023 Registration is Now Open! Classes start on July 10, 2023.
Register by June 5 to receive $30 off tuition!
Guqin 古琴
The guqin is regarded by the Chinese as the most elegant of all their musical instruments because of the delicate music of its seven strings. With a 3,000-year history, the guqin has deep roots in Chinese culture, being long associated with self-cultivation, philosophy, and poetry. Learning the guqin could help attain peace, nurture virtue, and enhance longevity. The interaction of the two hands while playing creates a harmonious choreography, a visual pleasure, as if a ballet of the fingers, resulting in subtle, pleasing, and relaxing tones. In addition to the fingering technique and reading notation, the aesthetic and cultural aspects of the guqin will also be introduced. No musical experience is needed to attend the class. Instruments will be provided in class.
Click here for student testimonial and here to watch instructor Mingmei Yip explain her philosophy in teaching guqin.
Available Courses
No musical experience is needed for the Beginner 1 class. Students will learn the basic fingerings, how to read qin tablature notation, and play two simple pieces, “Song of the Old Immortal” and “Laughter above the Turquoise Sea”.
初级班将学习识谱、弹奏基本指法及传统曲目 “仙翁操”与流行曲 “沧海一 声笑”，学生不需任何音乐经验。
Sunday, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
July 16 – August 13
5 sessions (7.5 hours)
Tuition: $300 member / $340 non-member
Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $30
Registration
For the Beginner II class, students should possess basic knowledge of fingerings. Students will learn more advanced fingering techniques, tablature reading, and two pieces “Remembering Playing the Flute on the Phoenix Terrace” and “Lament on Antiquity”.
初级II 班学生需掌握古琴指法的基本知识，本学期将学习曲目 “凤凰台上忆吹箫”及“慨古引”。
Sunday, 12:00 – 1:30 PM
July 16 – August 13
5 sessions (7.5 hours)
Tuition: $300 member / $340 non-member
Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $30
Registration
About the 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
Pipa 琵琶
The pipa, or Chinese lute, is an ancient instrument that is both elegant and playful, charming, and adaptable to both traditional and modern sounds. The origins of the pipa date back to the Han dynasty, about 2,000 years ago, when a similar type of stringed instrument was brought into China from Persia via the Silk Road. It has enjoyed wide popularity throughout its long history, especially during the Tang dynasty, and now again in our own time.
The pipa has four strings on a pear-shaped body and fretted neck. It is played by plucking and strumming much like a guitar, but is held upright with the base on the lap and the neck at the player’s shoulder.
Learning the pipa introduces the student to a wealth of tunes and an exciting solo repertoire. Pipa can also be played in Chinese instrument orchestras and ensembles, and has found its way into world music ensembles in recent years.
No musical experience necessary. Instruments are provided for in-class instruction and are available to rent at a small fee.
Click here to watch a clip of pipa performance by Instructor Zhou Yi
Available Courses
This online course is for intermediate students who are seeking an advanced skill level. Students will learn to compare the difference of imperial court, traditional and folk music, gain knowledge of pipa’s performance aesthetics of civil style, and understand the historical background of pipa’s famous repertoire. Some masterpieces will be touched upon, such as Spring, River, Flower, Moon and Night 春江花月夜. After finishing, students will confidently perform in front of an audience and get performance opportunities to join a professional group.
To participate the class online, students must have a Pipa.
Class Schedule and Tuition
Sunday, 3:00 – 5:00 PM
July 9 – August 27
8 sessions (16 hours)
$640 member / $680 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
Maximum Number of Students: 6
Registration
