Chinese Music: Guzheng Autumn Term 2026

This is a flexible course for 10 weeks, suitable for anyone who has an interest in Chinese music or culture.

Group sessions:

Thursday 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Location: RHB 253, Goldsmith / Online

1-1 Sessions arranged flexibly

The Art of Guzheng: Chinese Zither Performance and Musical Expression introduces participants to guzheng, one of China’s most representative traditional instruments, as well as its playing techniques, classic repertoire, and cultural traditions.

Through guided tuition and ensemble practice, participants will develop essential guzheng techniques, including correct posture, hand position, plucking patterns, pitch bending, vibrato, and ornamentation. The course will also introduce traditional Chinese notation and explore how melody, rhythm, tone colour, and musical gesture contribute to the expressive character of guzheng performance.

Using selected guzheng pieces as a gateway to Chinese music and culture, participants will learn to interpret musical imagery, recognise regional styles, and communicate emotion through sound. Practical playing activities will be supported by introductions to the history of the instrument, traditional aesthetics, and the cultural contexts associated with the repertoire.

Whether you are a complete beginner, a musician interested in exploring a Chinese instrument, or someone with a broader interest in Chinese culture and performance, this course combines cultural understanding with practical music-making in a welcoming and supportive group-learning environment.

Key Learning Areas

· The history, structure, and cultural significance of the guzheng

· Correct posture, hand position, and use of finger picks

· Fundamental plucking, pitch-bending, sliding, vibrato, and ornamentation techniques

· Chinese numbered musical notation (jianpu)

· Rhythm, phrasing, tone production, and musical expression

· Selected traditional and contemporary guzheng repertoire

Course Highlights

· Beginner-friendly, step-by-step tuition

· Practical learning through demonstrations and guided group exercises

· Traditional and contemporary repertoire

· Integration of musical skills with Chinese history, imagery, and culture

· Development of technique, musicality, and creative expression

· A supportive group-learning environment

Guzheng is a stringed instrument plucked with plectra attached to four fingers of one or both hands by tape. Traditional playing styles use the right hand to pluck notes and the left hand to change the pitch and produce vibrato by pressing the strings. Modern styles or advanced players use both hands to strike notes.

For online classes, you will need to have your own instrument, finger pick (plectra) and tape.

For in-person classes, you will need to your own finger pick (plectra) and tape.

If you are booking 1-1 classes, there is a 10% discount when you book 10 or more classes at once, this discount is applied automatically via Eventbrite when booking. No further discounts are available for 1-1 courses as they are tailormade sessions.

A minimum of 5 classes is required per student. You can add additional sessions using the 'Additional Sessions' ticket type. Please purchase your classes at least 1 week in advance. If you cancel/cannot make it within 24 hours of your session, you will be charged for this session. Flexible 1-1 classes are available until the end of term and will restart at the beginning of the next term.

We also group courses (maximum 3 pupils for group sessions).

Group sessions:

Thursday 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Location: RHB 253, Goldsmith / Online

*Please note if you are booking less than one week before the start of a course you must contact us about securing a place. Contact the office via email at [email protected].

The date and time scheduled for all flexible 1-1 classes can only be changed twice in a booking period. Refunds will not be issued to those who have changed class times more than twice and are unable to attend the new scheduled date and time.

Class times are decided between the student and the teacher and are flexible.

Please note, there are no classes during reading week or bank holidays.

DISCLAIMER - If you are undertaking an in-person course please note that we may need to move the course online if health and safety guidelines change. Please note no refunds are issued for moving courses online.