Chen Zhi
Encyclopedia
Chen Zhi is a Chinese guitar
teacher (pedagogue) and promoter, who is today known for the exceptionally high level that his classical guitar
students reach. He is one of China's best-known personalities of the guitar in general (not just the classical guitar).
Chen Zhi studied Mathematics and Chemistry.
Chen Zhi learned to play the guitar privately from two Russian emigrates who came to Shanghai from Belarus. He did not receive a formal institution-based (e.g. conservatory) musical education/training.
Chen Zhi played acoustic "Western" and electric Hawaii guitar and made some recordings e.g. in the early 1980s. Only thereafter, since approx. 1982 did he begin to dedicatedly focus on teaching the classical guitar, which is what he is best known for today.
in Beijing
. In 1982 he founded China's first school of classical guitar, the Chen Zhi School of Classical Guitar. In 1986 he assumed the post as council director of the China Beijing Guitar Society.
As initiator and artistic director, Chen Zhi organized the first China International Guitar Festival in 1987 and numerous events since then . He is honorary council member of the CICEC (China International Culture Exchange Center).
He has hosted the radio program Classical Guitar Lesson Once a Week since 1984. Since 1993, he has hosted the CCTV
television program The Skill and Expression of Classical Guitar, which is broadcast three times per week. Since 1989 he has served as director, artistic instructor, and conductor of the China Broadcasting Guitar Orchestra.
Chen has written several books and many articles about the classical guitar, which were published in China.
He has lectured in Japan, Spain, Portugal, Germany and several other nations.
His teaching from around the 1990s is such, that based on his students' technical abilities, he is regarded as one of today's top classical guitar teachers (see Quotations below).
He primarily teaches young students (often ranging in age from 9 to 15) and some follow a formal track linking middle school, high school and conservatory; many reach a high ability at a young age. He stresses memorization and uses games, competition and rewards.
Chen Zhi is well known for using a metronome when teaching and encouraging metronome use:
"Chen, for example, always uses a metronome, making his students play at an increasingly quicker tempo".
In the available teaching videos, Chen Zhi is also always seen with a metronome.
A number of his students, notably Yang Xuefei
, Wang Yameng
, Su Meng
, Li Jie have won international competitions.
While he is well-known as a teacher, Chen Zhi is himself not an advanced classical guitar player, and no concert performer. In classical guitar demonstration videos, it is always his students that play; with himself just giving explanations, transmitting basic skills, relating how to approach technical aspects, methodology, etc.
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
teacher (pedagogue) and promoter, who is today known for the exceptionally high level that his classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
students reach. He is one of China's best-known personalities of the guitar in general (not just the classical guitar).
Chen Zhi studied Mathematics and Chemistry.
Chen Zhi learned to play the guitar privately from two Russian emigrates who came to Shanghai from Belarus. He did not receive a formal institution-based (e.g. conservatory) musical education/training.
Chen Zhi played acoustic "Western" and electric Hawaii guitar and made some recordings e.g. in the early 1980s. Only thereafter, since approx. 1982 did he begin to dedicatedly focus on teaching the classical guitar, which is what he is best known for today.
Guitar promotion in China and Career
Today Chen is professor of classical guitar at the Central Conservatory of MusicCentral Conservatory of Music
The Central Conservatory of Music is the national leading music school in Beijing, China.Founded in 1950, the Conservatory offers courses to both Chinese nationals and foreign students, and caters for all levels from primary up to postgraduate programmes...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. In 1982 he founded China's first school of classical guitar, the Chen Zhi School of Classical Guitar. In 1986 he assumed the post as council director of the China Beijing Guitar Society.
As initiator and artistic director, Chen Zhi organized the first China International Guitar Festival in 1987 and numerous events since then . He is honorary council member of the CICEC (China International Culture Exchange Center).
He has hosted the radio program Classical Guitar Lesson Once a Week since 1984. Since 1993, he has hosted the CCTV
China Central Television
China Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
television program The Skill and Expression of Classical Guitar, which is broadcast three times per week. Since 1989 he has served as director, artistic instructor, and conductor of the China Broadcasting Guitar Orchestra.
Chen has written several books and many articles about the classical guitar, which were published in China.
He has lectured in Japan, Spain, Portugal, Germany and several other nations.
Teaching
Chen Zhi is self-taught as teacher. 2008 marked the 50th anniversary of Chen Zhi's teaching career.His teaching from around the 1990s is such, that based on his students' technical abilities, he is regarded as one of today's top classical guitar teachers (see Quotations below).
He primarily teaches young students (often ranging in age from 9 to 15) and some follow a formal track linking middle school, high school and conservatory; many reach a high ability at a young age. He stresses memorization and uses games, competition and rewards.
Chen Zhi is well known for using a metronome when teaching and encouraging metronome use:
"Chen, for example, always uses a metronome, making his students play at an increasingly quicker tempo".
In the available teaching videos, Chen Zhi is also always seen with a metronome.
A number of his students, notably Yang Xuefei
Yang Xuefei
Xuefei Yang is a Chinese classical guitarist.-Early years:Yang was born in Beijing in 1977, and began playing the guitar when she was seven. Three years later, she started studying under Chen Zhi, the Chairman of the China Classical Guitar Society. She made a public debut at the First China...
, Wang Yameng
Wang Yameng
Wang Yameng is a Chinese classical guitarist. She has studied with Chen Zhi.She has also performed in a quartet formation, Four Angels, with Su Meng, Li Jie and Chen Shanshan.-Discography:* 1999 * 2004 * by Quartet, 2006 -Video:...
, Su Meng
Su Meng
Su Meng is a Chinese classical guitarist. She started studying classical guitar in 1997 under the tuition of Chen Zhi of the Central Conservatory of Music.She has also performed in a quartet formation with Wang Yameng, Li Jie, Chen Shanshan....
, Li Jie have won international competitions.
While he is well-known as a teacher, Chen Zhi is himself not an advanced classical guitar player, and no concert performer. In classical guitar demonstration videos, it is always his students that play; with himself just giving explanations, transmitting basic skills, relating how to approach technical aspects, methodology, etc.
Phases of teaching
Chen Zhi notes that the guitar and teaching has been an extensive part of his life (teaching since 1958) and experimented a lot with different guitar technique and approaches. He identifies six different phases of teaching/instrumental approaches (changing various technical ideas, etc.), beginning in the 1950s with very basic rudimentary insufficient technique; through later phases in which he had contact with western concert performers (1980s), and began changing the technique he taught (e.g. with nails, different hand-position), up to the last phase, which stabilized around 1996, or later: when he slowly began to arouse increasing interest in the West, due to the high level of his students. He identifies different students who are representative of the various teaching phases.Quotations
- To be honest I didn't expect to hear a very high level of playing at the masterclass; up to that time I had never heard anything about the Chinese guitar scene - that was a big mistake. I've never seen so many great guitarists studying at the same conservatory. Their teacher, Professor Chen Zhi, must be one of the greatest guitar teachers ever.
- Alexander-Sergei Ramírez - [...] Chen Zhi, who is one of the finest teachers in the world today for guitar. His students play at an exceptionally high level, both technically and musically.
- Andrew York
Further reading
- The guitar World of Chen Zhi by Deng Ying (China reconstructs, Volume 36; edited by Zhongguo fu li hui; published by China Welfare Institute, 1987)
Publications
- Classical Guitar Masterpieces Playing, 古典吉他名曲指导 Performance: Li Jie - Pedagogue: Chen Zhi (Shine Horn, 先恒)
(VCDVCDVCD is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* VCD Athletic, semi-professional football team* Video CD* Voice command device* Value change dump * Vocal cord dysfunction* Visual Communication and Design...
, cover back) (info) - 古典吉他基础教程 名师教音乐系列 古典吉他基础教程 (广东东田文化企业有限公司, Guangdong Dongtian Culture Enterprise Co.,Ltd.)
ISBN: 7887240395 , ISBN: 9787887240392 (info, info2) - 古典吉他技巧与表现 (info)
- Guitar Art (吉他艺术) (info, info, info)
Early Publications
External links
- Guitarists strike the right chord at SZ Article : Chen Zhi + concert of students Wang YamengWang YamengWang Yameng is a Chinese classical guitarist. She has studied with Chen Zhi.She has also performed in a quartet formation, Four Angels, with Su Meng, Li Jie and Chen Shanshan.-Discography:* 1999 * 2004 * by Quartet, 2006 -Video:...
and Su MengSu MengSu Meng is a Chinese classical guitarist. She started studying classical guitar in 1997 under the tuition of Chen Zhi of the Central Conservatory of Music.She has also performed in a quartet formation with Wang Yameng, Li Jie, Chen Shanshan....
(News Guangdong)
Biography
- Biography (www.almaguitar.com)
- A Brief Introduction of Chen Zhi
- Biography (www.guitarchina.com)
- Biography (www.mlguitar.net)
- Biography (www.guitarchina.com)
- Biography (www.zhguitar.com)
- Biography (www.ccom.edu.cn) http://iom.ccom.edu.cn/article_list.asp?id=238
- Biography
Articles
- 1 2 Interview with Chen Zhi (www.mlguitar.net)
- 论陈志古典吉他教学艺术 - The classical guitar teaching art of Chen Zhi (12 3) by 李先龙 (Xian-Long Li)
Photos
- Cover Photo of Classical Guitar Magazine
- Photo of a Masterclass (Chen Zhi is seen holding a metronome)
- Teaching in the context of a guitar festival 1, 2