Quiet frankly, Guzheng is believed to be one of the easiest instruments to learn. With a little patience, self-confidence and positive attitude, learning the basic guzheng skills can be as easy as Step 1 ¨C 2 ¨C 3.

In the past decade, more and more people have come to appreciate the soothing sound of a guzheng and also agreed that it has profound therapeutic effects. It relaxes the players as well as their audiences.

It is particularly rewarding for me to be able to share my culture and my passion in Guzheng with you.

Guzheng is one of the most ancient Chinese musical instruments that have been recorded in written documents. Evidence has shown that Guzheng dates back over 3000 years even before the Qin Dynasty (897-221 BC).

Some traditional guzhengs have 13 to 16 strings, 21 to 25 strings is now considered the standard. Guzhengs are built with a special wooden sound body with strings arched across movable bridges. It is traditionally tuned to a pentatonic scale, many modern scales range from combinations of different pentatonic scales, to diatonic and semi-chromatic scales. The performer wears plectrum on three fingers of the right hand to pluck the strings, with the left hand manipulates the strings on the left side of the bridge to produce vibrato, pitch alterations or slides. In contemporary practice, the left hand often joins the right hand to play a counter-melody.

     Cindy(Zichan) Yang, a renowned Guzheng, Guqin performer, performing artist and professional Guzheng teacher. Cindy currently resides in the City of Ottawa, Canada. She began Guzheng discipline at a very young age. Her principle teachers were Guzheng performer Fan Wu and Nani Yang (a distinguished Professor of Guzheng art and education at Shengyang Conservatory of Music.) As a soloist, Cindy's intimate, expressive and passionate performances have earned her numerous awards in provincial and national competitions in China.

Cindy started her performing career at the age of 13. In 1993, Cindy was selected to host the Children's Art TV program for Liaoning provincial TV Station. Since then, she frequently performed as soloist in many concerts that were also broadcasted by provincial and national TV stations throughout China. Cindy has also recorded TV and movie soundtracks. She travels extensively on performing tours in China, Southeast Asia, Japan as well as in North America. Her performances have been described as "Transpiring the spirit of traditional Chinese culture through Guzheng music".

Cindy started Guzheng teaching when she was studying at Shenyang Conservatory of Music. She taught in a number of music schools including The Arts Institute for Youth. Her unique teaching method is well accepted by students and their parents. In year 2000, Cindy founded her own music school, Tianyi Guzheng Music for Young Children, in the Province of Shenyang. Cindy continues to have involvement with the school after moving to Canada.

In 2000, Cindy successfully held her own soloist concerts in Beijing, Dalian etc cities. These concerts have been recorded and published in CD and DVD. She also participated in the DVD production of Guzheng Conservatory Level Examination Curriculum as a performance demonstrator.

In 2002, after moving to Canada, Cindy has been very active in Chinese and other communities. She gives performances to art festivals, Chinese festival events, universities, museums as soloist and also as a member in ensembles with western musicians throughout the national capital. She is highly praised and well popular by audiences. These audiences included: the former Governor General - Adriene Clarkson, Canadian Premiers, Ottawa Mayor - Bob Chiarelli, Senator Poy , as well as the Ambassador of China in Canada, etc. Many broadcasting stations, television stations, media interviewed Cindy.

In the same year "Ottawa Tianyi Guzheng Studio" was established. The Studio has been attracting all age groups and different cultural background of people all over the nation capital. Cindy often encourages and coaches her students to perform for multicultural activities, seniors, fund raising charity and different community activities. Cindy also teaches at various private schools.

Since 2003, Cindy has had many invitations to perform at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and National Art Gallery of Canada, representing Chinese traditional culture as a valuable ingredient of Canada's multiculturalism.

In 2005, Cindy recorded her personal performance CD in Ottawa. This recording includes solo Guzheng pieces of Chinese and Western music as well as Guzheng with Western Orchestra ensembles. To help her teaching, Cindy has also produced a number of Guzheng DVD demonstrations performed by some of her "Ottawa Tianyi Guzheng Studio" students.

In 2006, Cindy published Yang Zichan Guzheng Curriculum in Chinese/English version. On March 23, Cindy was invited to perform at the welcoming event in the honor of Mr. Mark Rowswell. The event was hosted by the Ambassador of China together with the City of Ottawa Government. In the official ceremony on Parliament Hill on June 22, where Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the Head Tax once applied to Chinese immigrants, Cindy was also invited to perform and was interviewed by the media.

Today, Cindy continues to be the Principle and Director of "Ottawa Tianyi Guzheng Studio". She often travels back to China to help and direct students. It is her wish of flourishing the art of Guzheng in eastern and western.

Gu Zheng is a highly expressive multi-string Chinese zither of exquisite musical quality. In as early as over 2500 years ago (China's Qin Dynasty), Zheng, as a string musical instrument, has been popular in Shanxi (China's western region), hence the musical instrument was also called "Qin Zheng". During the Tang Dynasty, Zheng was introduced to Japan, Korea and other countries and regions.

With a tradition of thousands of years, Zheng is marked with crystal-like acoustic quality, noble-ness, elegance and euphemistic, pleasant and rich tones and is full of romantic charms. By sweeping the fingers slightly across the strings, the instrument gives a natural and smooth tone that sounds like moving clouds and flowing water, moving the fingers across the strings with some force, the instrument gives the sounds like the mountain breaking down and strong and fierce waves. In whatever tones, plaintive, vehement, high or low, Zheng is extremely expressive. The special playing techniques fully demonstrate the unique characteristics of the musical instrument. Zheng, as a string musical instrument of unique features, is fit for solo, concert and accompaniment. Up till now, Zheng has developed into a perfect musical instrument. With the unique musical quality and elegant shape, the instrument is specially favored by the players inside and outside China, and is renowned as "The Oriental Piano" outside China.

Zheng gives beautiful tones and is highly popular among people at all levels. Moreover, the playing techniques can be easily and quickly learned. Thus, it has been an instrument that is easily accepted by players. It is safe to say the musical instrument has a broad and promising future.

While music is popular among the people, may we wish Zheng, as a beautiful flower of the ancient arts, gets increasingly flourish.

• Private Lessons are offered on a one hour/once a week basis. Lessons structure is based on the uniqueness of individual student.
• Group Lessons are offered on a two hour/once a week basis. Group size is between 2-5people.

No registration fee. We offer lessons to Primary, Beginner, Intermediate and High level. Enrollment is on-going throughout the year. No age or gender restriction. Children must at least 5 years old.

For your convenience, we provide instruments in class. Flexible class time to suit your schedule.

For more information please contact:

Telephone: (613)-5265284

Email£º gtianyi@gmail.com

Address: 87 Silverlace PVT£¬Ottawa£¬ON K1T 3Z8

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