Hulusi

Zhu Baohua

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Beginner

Zhu Baohua, a famous Chinese Hulusi performer, invites you to discover the secret of this traditional Chinese instrument.

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THE PROGRAM

The Hulusi is a 2000 year-old Chinese instrument meaning “living fossil”. It has a unique timbre and musical expression as well as a delicate sound. Hulusi is pretty easy to learn and has become more and more popular these last years. The sound is the same as that of the bawu, one of its Chinese cousins, and very similar to the one of the clarinet, more squeaky in the bass and softer in the treble. Generally, those who are familiar with reed instruments will quickly understand how to extract from this object the range it can offer.

LESSON PRESENTATION

In collaboration with:iartschool-logo imusic-school

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The main concepts taught

Structure

Scales

Legato

Yiyin (appoggiatura)

Dayin (hitting note)

Dieyin (acciaccatura)

The program proposed by Zhu Baohua

This course is divided into four parts. You will first see an introduction about the instrument, its structure, the posture, the breath control etc. In the second part, you will learn the basic notions and techniques to play the Hulusi; followed by a section dedicated to the demonstration and explanation of hulusi music pieces. Finally, in the last part, you will be explained how to maintain your instrument properly.

Chapter Detailed Notions

Introduction

Introduction
Basic Structure
Playing Posture
Fingering and Scale of All Holes closed as Sol
Sound Making and Breath Control; How to Avoid Coo Sound

Basic skills

Scales Practice
Long Tone Practice
Legato Practice
Proper use of breath
The practice of basic techniques – upper glissando; lower glissando; mixed glissando
Tonguing: Single Tonguing; Disconnected and connected tonguing; Double tonguing; Triple tonguing
Yiyin (appoggiatura)
Dayin (hitting note)
Dieyin (acciaccatura)
The blurring finger trill
Diaphragm tremolo
Boyin (mordent)
Trill

Hulusi Music Piece

“Marriage Vows”
“There’s a Beautiful Place”
“The Fernleaf Hedge Bamboo in the Moonlight”

Maintain Hulusi

How to maintain Hulusi

Chapter Detailed Notions

Introduction

Introduction
Basic Structure
Playing Posture
Fingering and Scale of All Holes closed as Sol
Sound Making and Breath Control; How to Avoid Coo Sound

Basic skills

Scales Practice
Long Tone Practice
Legato Practice
Proper use of breath
The practice of basic techniques – upper glissando; lower glissando; mixed glissando
Tonguing: Single Tonguing; Disconnected and connected tonguing; Double tonguing; Triple tonguing
Yiyin (appoggiatura)
Dayin (hitting note)
Dieyin (acciaccatura)
The blurring finger trill
Diaphragm tremolo
Boyin (mordent)
Trill

Hulusi Music Piece

“Marriage Vows”
“There’s a Beautiful Place”
“The Fernleaf Hedge Bamboo in the Moonlight”

Maintain Hulusi

How to maintain Hulusi

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A word from your teacher

"To avoid the front note, you can use tonguing to give a pure start. And if you want to avoid the tail note, you can open your mouth quickly, to release the pressure, or you can use your tongue to block the blowhole."

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