Australian pipa teacher Li Xinyang is promoting the charm of this traditional instrument on the local and international stage with his outstanding skills and love for Chinese music culture. Li Xinyang not only teaches pipa playing skills, but also dedicates himself to spreading the beauty of Chinese rhythm, so that more and more people can understand and fall in love with this ancient Oriental art form.

Li Xinyang was the first student admitted to the University of Sydney's School of Music in 2012 to play the pipa, a Chinese folk music, as the main instrument.

After graduating from university, she opened a pipa classroom in Sydney and formed the Tianhe Shi Chinese and Western Orchestra, dedicated to spreading the unique rhythm of Chinese folk music overseas.

Edge set pipa

Li Xinyang and the fate of the pipa, in primary school has quietly sprouted. Li Xinyang first started learning the pipa when her teacher, Chen Songda, noticed her talent for music and suggested that she switch to pipa.

"At first, like other students, I never practiced the piano if I could be lazy." Li Xinyang said. But in middle school, Li Xinyang began to develop a deep love for the Pipa, especially after reading Bai Juyi's "Pipa Song." She found that the pipa can carry many emotions and express complex moods, which resonated with Li Xinyang, who did not know how to express herself during her adolescence. "I realized that the pipa could carry and express my emotions," she recalls. "The pipa, the music and I connected at that time."

In high school, Li Xinyang brought Pipa to Sydney. In the concert held by the school, she played a song "New feather tone Green waist", which was highly appreciated. This successful performance made her realize the unique charm and popularity of traditional Chinese Musical Instruments in Australia. "My classmates and teachers had never seen the pipa before, and when I played it to them, it gave them a great impact, so I want to continue playing the pipa, so that more people can feel the charm of the pipa and the art form of expressing beauty in Chinese folk music." "Li Xinyang recalled.

Innovative teaching

"I wanted to be a pipa teacher when I was in middle school." Li Xinyang said.

At first, Li Xinyang had only one student, but she was not discouraged. "I just want to do what I love and do more work that uses all my knowledge and skills," she says.

Li Xinyang shows the diversity of the pipa by playing different styles of music. "In addition to playing traditional pieces, I also improvise and play pieces with a Western classical style." In this way, she hopes to let students see the diversity of pipa and the unique rhythm of Chinese folk music.

During the teaching process, Li Xinyang noticed that the students became impatient after practicing for a long time. Emily, a student, said: "It was boring to keep the same movement and practice the same fingering all day. During that time, I saw the pipa and wanted to stay far away." Therefore, Li Xinyang pays special attention to how to make pipa learning interesting and vivid. She integrates many gamified elements and interactive activities into the teaching process, allowing students to learn in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.

During the winter holiday, Li Xinyang held a winter training camp. "The teacher designed a game called 'Save the Princess' and made various props for us. We win the game by playing the lute and scoring points. We played games and practiced the fingering of the pipa over and over again. Although we were tired, we were happy." "Emily said.

Li Xinyang focuses on breaking down the seemingly huge knowledge system of the pipa one by one into small parts that students can easily master and practice in turn. In the process of gradually attacking these small goals, students slowly build a deep understanding and confidence in music. "It's like cutting a steak into smaller pieces is easier to swallow," Li said.

"Traditional music education often emphasizes wholeness and completeness, requiring students to play the whole piece in its entirety." Li Xinyang said, "But such requirements often make beginners feel very pressured and even discouraged." What I do is break the rules and let students find fun and a sense of accomplishment."

In addition, Li encourages her students to understand the emotion the music is trying to express before they play it. Li Xinyang said that learning pipa is not only about accurately playing notes, but also about connecting oneself with music, feeling and blending.

Marina, a student who has studied pipa with Li Xinyang for eight years, said, "Once when I was preparing for an exam, I was always worried that my performance would not be up to standard. When I hesitated, the teacher told me to try to think about the story behind each piece and play it with emotion. So, I tried to imagine a picture that could reflect the essence of the song, connect them into a complete story, and play the song intelligently. It changed the way I thought about music."

"I hope that through my teaching method, more students can feel the charm of music and enjoy the fun of learning music." Li Xinyang said.

Cross-border symphony

Nowadays, with the increasing number of students, in order to give them a stage to show themselves and the opportunity to interact with other musical styles, Li Xinyang formed the Tianhe Shi Chinese and Western Orchestra in 2021. "We hope that overseas audiences can understand and accept us through our performances," Li said. Li Xinyang said that in addition to the pipa, the orchestra also incorporates Western instruments such as cello and guitar.

The orchestra is not only a place to learn the pipa, but also a place for students to experience the fun of music creation. Aaron, the band's guitarist, said: "There is a part of our band that is improvisational. The teacher just gave us a chord and let us make it up." In this way, Li has taught his students how to compose music without sheet music, enhancing their creativity and understanding of music.

Aaron said: "In the beginning, I couldn't integrate the guitar into the lute. I was very nervous during an improvisation session, but Teacher Li encouraged me to try bravely, and finally we finished the performance perfectly. The applause of my friends also made me deeply appreciate the power of music and the importance of teamwork."

Li Xinyang's hard work and persistence have made the orchestra a success. The orchestra has performed in a number of local performances, including district government New Year shows, arts festivals and New Year's events in central Sydney. The band also participated in the recording of the soundtrack for Five Blind Dates, a film about Chinese people, and appeared in the film.

Not only that, Li Xinyang also integrates the pipa with the Hanfu, bringing the Hanfu and the pipa to the classes of local schools, so that more children can feel the charm of Chinese folk music and Chinese clothes. Li Xinyang and his students also perform in Hanfu in concert halls and even on the streets. "It immerses me in Chinese culture and connects me with my Chinese blood," said student Marina.

Li not only leads students in music performances, but also encourages them to watch Western music competitions. "The purpose of this cross-cultural exchange is not only to let students feel the charm of Western instruments and create more opportunities for students to display and learn, but also to establish closer ties between Chinese folk music and the local music industry in Australia," Li said.