A light blue dress is elegant and plain. In a folk house in Chinatown, Florida, the United States, a woman who looks like Princess Yang was playing a zither, and her hands fell gently, like big pearls rolling down a jade plate. The sound was heard by the ears and never stopped. This is the impression Wang Jia gave me. Throughout the interview, Wang Jia was easy-going and spoke softly. When talking about zither, her eyes suddenly lit up and her voice was full of enthusiasm and determination. "I fell in love with zither at first sight"!

Childhood on the strings

In 1987, Wang Jia was born into a scholarly family in Xiangtan, Hunan Province. According to her father, Wang Jia has shown great interest in music since she was born. Every time she hears the instrument playing at home, she dances with her hands and feet, excited. When I first came across the zither, I was attracted by the long and elegant zither body and the soft tone of the mountain stream spring. After playing happily for a long time, my parents refused to leave. So when she was four years old, her family decided to send her to learn the zither systematically. Since then, the flying fingers on the strings have become a way for Wang Jia to practice the principles of life and realize the value of life.

▲ Zheng Master Wang Jia

It is understood that Xiao Wang Jia has shown great talent in learning zither. In just two years, her zither performance level has far surpassed that of her peers. She was trained as a key seedling by teachers. At the age of 6, she began to perform on the stage, successively participated in some local string competitions, and temporarily won many awards, such as the "Second Prize" of Xiangtan Group Art Hall Orchestra Competition, and the "Top 100 Awards" of Xiangtan Art 100. She is known as the "New Star of Guzheng". Wang Jia was first taught by Zheng player Li Minmin, and later under the guidance of famous professors such as Li Lei. These teachers had great influence and help on Wang Jia.

As we all know, learning any musical instrument is not easy, boring, boring. For a child, the initial freshness and enthusiasm are quickly eroded into rejection and resistance by repeated practice and complex fingering. But whenever the idea of giving up came to her, Wang Jia's teachers always accompanied her and earnestly taught her to regain her confidence and her original love for the zither. In the more than 10 years of learning zither, Wang Jia has experienced many difficulties along the way, but has also received various honors and awards. Her performances, such as The Dream of a Fishing Boat Evening, High Mountains and Flowing Water, Dances of the Yi Nationality, and Little Sisters of Grassland Heroes, have been performed in the National Grand Theater, Hunan Grand Theater, and Changsha Concert Hall, and have enjoyed high reputation.

"Paver" of zither

Because I love the elegant charm of zither, I look forward to inheriting my teacher's teaching methods. In 2005, Wang Jia was certified as a national zither teacher and began to teach zither. However, it was not easy to be a "paver" of zither. The fast-paced life and the vigorous packaging and promotion of Western music have gradually made Chinese zither and other folk music ignored. In the early years, few people were willing to learn Chinese zither, while piano, saxophone, guitar and other instruments were the most popular at that time. The teaching and promotion of zither was once difficult, and Wang Jia was also confused, but she was strongly supported by her unlimited love for traditional national instruments and the original intention of inheritance.

In order to make the zither culture more accessible and acceptable to students, she took great pains to set up the teaching plan. In her class, she usually introduces the culture, heritage and stories of musical instruments to students in detail, so that students can understand the cultural essence of these instruments. She attaches great importance to teaching students in accordance with their aptitude. Every time she faces a new student, she will first chat with him to capture the characteristics and acceptance of the student, and then tailor different courses for students according to their different needs.

▲ Performance scenes of Wang Jia in his early years

For amateur students, she pays attention to the cultivation of students' skill level, and strives to make students have fun through teaching; For professional students, she has higher expectations. She not only requires students' skill level, but also focuses on training students' performance ability for future long-term development.

"Peaches and plums don't say anything, and the next generation will become its own". Wang Jia's hard work has promoted the emergence of a number of new zither players. In 2008, the excellent instructor in the general exhibition evaluation of the 6th China Children's Art Festival; In 2013, he was awarded the title of Excellent Tutor of Chinese Art Education.

Let the Guzheng Dump America

With her pure dedication, Wang Jia's fame and reputation have swept across the country. More and more students come to learn zither from her. In the process of teaching, she found that many foreign friends were interested in zither and Chinese folk music culture, so she had the idea of taking the zither out of the country. In 2014, Wang Jia decided to go to Florida in the United States to broaden his vision and find opportunities to better promote the folk music of zither.

When I first came to Florida, people in this city knew very little about zithers. Many people had never seen such an ancient Chinese musical instrument. But the night Wang Jia first played, he "conquered" Florida with a zither. When an oriental beauty in Chinese cheongsam sat in front of an ancient and mysterious musical instrument and stroked the strings like a magician, the empty valley sound and high mountain water flowed from her fingertips. All the foreigners at the scene were excited: it turns out that the ancient oriental musical instrument can play such beautiful music.

"After I played several zither songs, enthusiastic Americans gathered around to watch and inquire. Some people could not help touching the strings, while others stood beside them and applauded all the time. The zither was just like magic to them." Wang Jia said that since then, foreign friends have found her one after another, and others said that they often listen to the sound of zither, their anxiety has eased, and they are more likely to fall asleep at night. In addition, people began to learn zither from her, and Wang Jia began to teach zither in other countries.

▲ Scenes of Wang Jia's Performance in America

"Compared with domestic students, foreign students are more curious and like to ask all kinds of questions. Their earnestness is very touching." Wang Jia believes that music has no national boundaries. Many "foreign disciples" learn zither very quickly and play it well. With Wang Jiazi's tireless efforts, a craze for zither has gradually formed in Florida.

In 2014, Wang Jia, together with a group of Chinese artists living in Florida, established the Florida Guzheng Art Committee of the United States and served as the executive chairman, and was frequently invited to participate in local music festivals, art festivals, etc., which set off a wave of traditional Chinese music in Florida. The ancient and mysterious zither is also known and loved by many foreigners.

Let the world hear Chinese music

After more than 10 years of running a school, Wang Jia has a clearer direction for his future zither promotion. Walking in the bustling city, playing the sound of China. No matter how many setbacks she encounters, she must continue to promote the zither and make every effort to revive the traditional Chinese culture.

▲ Wang Jia's Performance Achievements in America

As the president of the Florida National Orchestra Association, the chief head of the Florida National Song and Dance Orchestra, and the executive chairman of the Florida Guzheng Art Committee, she hopes to use her identity and contacts to promote the zither to the world. And she will continue to work with people at home and abroad who like her are willing to spread and promote the ancient music culture, together to make the Chinese folk music shine and heat up, and to be a unique spread and promoter of the zither culture, so that the world can hear the voice of China.