Music school helps promote traditional Chinese music

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Andi Wiryawan had always dreamed of becoming a famous flutist, but he never thought that mastering di zi, a traditional Chinese flute, would take him there.

Before the 16-year-old became acquainted with teachers at the Penta Music School, he liked to play Indonesian national songs with his flute.

Today, his di zi belts out centuries-old Chinese classical melodies.

Unlike Andi, Alicia Cahyadi, 24, who also joined the Penta Music School, has already mastered the pi pa, or Chinese guitar, after learning how to play gu cheng, a plucked stringed instrument, when she was studying in Beijing.

In June last year, Andi, Alicia and seven others from the music school formed the Golden Chinese Ensemble to entertain people with traditional Chinese music.

"I like to play di zi because the melodies are unique," said Andi.

Another member of the ensemble, Julia, said that she learned to play the instruments to better understand her ancestors' traditions and to promote them among people of all races.

"Most people of Chinese descent, who are over 50-years old, have forgotten how to play these instruments. It is time for my generation to learn how to play and perform them for others," said the 22-year old.

Located in Bandengan Selatan, North Jakarta, the Penta Music School was opened to provide an alternative for those who want to learn other forms of classical music.

"For years, people were familiar with only western classical music as if there was no other kind of classical music," said Jie Ceming, co-founder of the school.

Jie, also known as Amin, said that the public's interest in attending the school was high. He said that within five months, the school had enrolled 100 students, mostly young people interested to know more about their cultural roots.

To maximize learning activities, the school has imported musical instruments directly from China and applies a one-on-one learning method, one session a week.

With the school's popularity rocketing, the music school has received several offers to open branches in other cities. "Maybe we'll open branches if we already have sufficient teachers," Amin said. (006)