All About Erhu

[phankao]

twilight:

I use rosewood erhu too. From what I remember about what my teacher told me, it's the wood, maker, and the quality of snake skin. Erhu made by different people will have different quality, but I can't remember which are the better ones. However, it has to be said that not every good erhu is suitable for everyone, and not every expensive erhu is good. My teacher gave me a selection of 3 erhu to choose from, and recommended one for me. But I didn't buy the one he recommended. The reason I chose the one I bought is because I am able to play it best so that it produces the best tone. When I played the other 2, including the one he recommended, I felt that I had to try harder to produce the sound, and the quality of sound wasn't that good. So if possible, get your son to try a few erhu, and he will know which one he likes, and which is suitable for him.


5k is too expensive. My erhu cost $300+, but it was with discount, so maybe around $400, and I'm playing at grade 6 now.

Ah... my ds with his vintage S$500 rosewood erhu is gr 9 and he's been using it for past 3 yrs, I think. So since about the time he was going to do his Gr 5 exam. Before that, he was using an erhu passed to him.

[twilight]

I used an erhu that is like $50 until about grade 2 I think. Then my teacher went to China and bought back a few erhu, so I bought one, and have been using it till now.


So basically, you don’t need an extremely good erhu for grade 3, unless your son also requests for one. I think I requested to have a better erhu, as I used my teacher’s erhu at times, and felt that it was much better than mine, and that I would be able to play better with a better erhu haha.

[MrsSeah]

So a few hundred erhu can go up to grade 9.


I don't mind buying $400 - $500 erhu for my son. But 1K to 5K erhu........OMG...... $1K is still on a lower grade of erhu......

Now I am thinking how to tell the tutor nicely that I would like to change a new tutor for my son because she is my son school chinese orchestra teacher. (The school employed her from outside.) I don't want my son to suffer during the orchestra lesson and make him lost interest in learning.:(

[peterch]

MrsSeah:

My son is learning 1-1 erhu recently. His teacher said that he can take grade 3 in November liao but he required to buy a GOOD erhu. She said a good one cost 1K+ to 5K+ :yikes: OMG... 5K+ I can buy a piano liao!!!


So I want to know what is a good ERHU? Is it the wood? Or manufacturer? Or country make? or Brand? So what is the famous brand and model for erhu? Which can take for all the grade exam.

Check with eason, hope you could get a good advice from them. http://www.eason.com.sg

BTW, I am not related to them in anyway. I bought a piece from them and I'm satisfied with their service.

[phankao]

MrsSeah:

So a few hundred erhu can go up to grade 9.


I don't mind buying $400 - $500 erhu for my son. But 1K to 5K erhu........OMG...... $1K is still on a lower grade of erhu......

Now I am thinking how to tell the tutor nicely that I would like to change a new tutor for my son because she is my son school chinese orchestra teacher. (The school employed her from outside.) I don't want my son to suffer during the orchestra lesson and make him lost interest in learning.:(

Doubt my ds will be changing to anyother Hu for diploma.

CO situation tricky. I will PM you on that later .

[phankao]

peterch:

Check with eason, hope you could get a good advice from them. http://www.eason.com.sg

BTW, I am not related to them in anyway. I bought a piece from them and I'm satisfied with their service.

Their service is very good and I often buy accessories from them, I find the instruments a little too \"mass-market\". I'm sure you can find something within your budget though. I'd advise not to get the S$200 erhu though bc of sound quality, bc Eason does have erhus below S$200 as well.

[Champagne1975]

MrsSeah:

My son is learning 1-1 erhu recently. His teacher said that he can take grade 3 in November liao but he required to buy a GOOD erhu.

phankao:

twilight:

Ah... my ds with his vintage S$500 rosewood erhu is gr 9 and he's been using it for past 3 yrs, I think. So since about the time he was going to do his Gr 5 exam. Before that, he was using an erhu passed to him.

May I know if u r referring to NAFA-China Conservatory exam or NUS exams? How's the grade progression like ie. how long before starting exams, at which grades, any grades that ur child skips and so on? There's very info on Erhu... thanks in advance.

[phankao]

Champagne1975:

May I know if u r referring to NAFA-China Conservatory exam or NUS exams? How's the grade progression like ie. how long before starting exams, at which grades, any grades that ur child skips and so on? There's very info on Erhu... thanks in advance.

Both Central Conservatory-Beijing(administered by NAFA) exams and NUS and even the Shanghai Conservatory exams that can all be taken in Singapore, and all have the same number of grades - 1 to 9, and then diploma.

The exams are only held in Nov/Dec each year. Your child can register for the exams at any point as long as he registers by end Aug. If eg. he just started in May, and teacher thinks he can take Grade 2 exam in Nov that same year - well, that could be done. You can skip any number of grades. Up to you. The only grade you can't skip is Grade 9 - IF, the child wants to take Diploma, as the pre-requisite for Diploma is Grade 9.

You would notice that the techniques required for lower grades of erhu are more advanced than that for lower grades of violin, by the way.

[candy2003]

[Moderator's note: Phone number is removed to protect personal privacy]


Hey, I am now taught by a erhu teacher. Her teaching is quite good and very patient with her students. Her name is 杜老师. She teaches in both 1 to 1 lessons and group lessons. She is both fluent in english and Chinese.

[ccll]

My dd Erhu nus grad 4, I want to buy one Erhu for her. What’s all your recommendtion? Where can we buy the Erhu?