Traditional Chinese Music Classes in Vancouver

Absolutely. In many ways, this is one of the hidden traditions behind Chinese music, music being passed not only from teacher to student but also from performer to composer through conversation, rehearsal, experimentation, and listening closely to the instruments themselves. Many composers first discover Chinese instruments by hearing them live for the first time. The breath of the dizi, the bending tone of the erhu, the attack of the pipa, or the shimmering resonance of the guzheng often inspires entirely new ideas about melody, texture, rhythm, and storytelling. The Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble regularly works with composers interested in learning how to write for traditional Chinese instruments. One of the most exciting projects to emerge from these collaborations was Jasmine Jazz, a series where jazz musicians composed original music for Chinese instruments and improvised alongside traditional performers. Watching these musical worlds collide and evolve together has been one of the joys of the project. Our musicians can offer guidance on instrumental range, ornamentation, phrasing, notation, and the cultural aesthetics behind the music itself. We strongly encourage composers to attend workshops, rehearsals, and live performances to experience the instruments up close before writing for them. Our Composer Commission Project was created specifically to encourage new music and contemporary composition for Chinese instruments in Canada.