The history of pianos in China goes way back to the early 17th century, when Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit missionary, presented it as part of a cache of gifts to the Wanli emperor. At the time, although China boasted rich musical traditions and a host of both imported and domestic instruments, none among these resembled the clavichord, the piano’s predecessor.
That’s why Ricci chose it, hoping that the unusual instrument would so excite the emperor’s curiosity that he would agree to receive Ricci—who could then explain the precepts of Catholicism and, in his wildest dreams, get the emperor to convert, and with him, all of China.
Ricci’s elaborate plan was partly effective: Wanli was intrigued by the strange instrument and sent four eunuchs from the College of Musicians to ask Ricci to teach them how to play. Via Slate
Although Ricci was unsuccessful in turning China into a Catholic nation, he set that pace for the country’s becoming the nation of pianists, piano students, piano makers and piano lovers that it is today.
However, Mao’s leadership threatened the proliferation of the piano culture in China. Western classical music was considered a tool of imperialism and the piano bourgeoisie instrument. As a result, potential pianists such as Keng Zhou, who first learnt to play the piano in 1973, only had the battered remains of a grand piano to develop his new skill.
Like many intellectuals of the era, Keng’s father – a pastor who was given his piano by an American – was sent to the countryside to perform back-breaking work with the peasants. When he returned to the city he wanted to bring music back into his children’s lives. “My father said it is better to learn one instrument: my sister took vocal lessons, my father took violin lessons, and I took the piano,” remembers Keng, now 51. There was just one problem: during the Cultural Revolution many Western scores had been destroyed. Unperturbed, Keng’s father borrowed some surviving sheets from a friend. “He copied them by hand – one piece took him a week to do.” Via BBC
HANGZHOU, CHINA: A group of young Chinese pianists take part in an outdoor recital, with 160 pianos playing in harmony, in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou 02 June 2004. The performance was held to kick off a week-long music festival in the popular tourist city. AFP PHOTO (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
40 years later, it’s a different story. China is in the midst of a piano frenzy. About 40 million children are now learning to play. It’s also become a status symbol among the middle class who can afford costly lessons and high-end fixtures. Parents that did not have the opportunity to play piano now want their kids to enjoy the privilege – they just need to afford it.
Chinese piano stars are also on the rise. One of them is Lang Lang, who learnt to play while living in a rented room whose toilet and sink were shared with five other families. Today, the piano prodigy enjoys and international rock n roll lifestyle and has performed for some of the world’s greatest dignitaries, including President Barrack Obama at the White House.
Pianist Lang Lang performs during a concert for celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations at Renmin University on June 14, 2015, in Beijing. Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images
Lang Lang has become a global superstar through a combination of his breathtaking talent and flamboyant personality.
He is one of the few classical artists today who can frequently pack out concert halls around the world, performing for presidents, prime ministers and a global audience at the Beijing Olympics.
What has become known as the “Lang Lang effect” inspired millions of Chinese children to take up the piano.Via CNN
Lang Lang has his own music foundation and works as a UNICEF ambassador with the aim of inspiring the younger generation to develop their musical passions.
“When I see those kids playing on stage or in the class I become emotional because it really takes me back. I really want to help them to achieve their dreams, because I know we had the same dream before.” Via CNN
Although the piano culture in China has come a long way, it is still far from established. This is because most piano students come from wealthy or middle-class families. China has definitely progressed in leaps and bounds economically, but most families are still thinking about the high cost of survival. As Su Fan, a 25-year old post-graduate piano student that is also an inspiring piano teacher states:
“It needs generations of hard work. Quality development needs accumulation. It cannot happen overnight.” Via BBC
On January 24, 1601, the Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci arrived in Beijing bearing a cache of gifts that he had spent years assembling, and even longer trying to present to the elusive Wan Li Emperor. The gifts included such European curiosities as mechanical clocks, religious objects and a musical instrument: the clavichord.
“Musical instruments are quite common and of many varieties [in China],” Father Ricci wrote, “but the use of the organ and the clavichord is unknown, and the Chinese possess no instrument of the keyboard type.” Via Caixin
Piano lessons in pre school: Lengths Mainland Chinese parents go to get children into top Hong Kong schools
Mainland parents are exploring different tactics and preparing to spend millions of dollars to get their Hong Kong-born children spots at the city’s top primary schools – leaving some local parents upset at the competition.
Parents yesterday braved torrential rain to queue up for more than an hour to hand in their children’s applications for discretionary places in Primary One next year on the first day of the allocation exercise. Via SCMP
China’s piano craze fuels production boom
More than 40 million Chinese children estimated to be learning the musical instrument while Europe’s industry shrinks.
Piano playing in China is growing fast, with more than 40 million children estimated to be learning the instrument. The nation is now the world’s biggest producer of pianos and has the most piano players.
Al Jazeera’s Harry Fawcett reports from southern China. Via Al Jazeera
On January 24, 1601, the Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci arrived in Beijing bearing a cache of gifts that he had spent years assembling, and even longer trying to present to the elusive Wan Li Emperor. The gifts included such European curiosities as mechanical clocks, religious objects and a musical instrument: the clavichord.
Mainland parents are exploring different tactics and preparing to spend millions of dollars to get their Hong Kong-born children spots at the city’s top primary schools – leaving some local parents upset at the competition.
More than 40 million Chinese children estimated to be learning the musical instrument while Europe’s industry shrinks.