My Guzheng Story

A story about me and my Guzheng.

Secondary 1, I was somehow posted to enter Guzheng Ensemble. Everyone in my class was kind of in awe cause i could get in. It was considered as a CCA that was really good considering that they only picked the best few suitable people to join it. 11 people managed to get into Guzheng Ensemble for my batch. Practices were once per week, every Wednesday.

I was one out of the 2 boys in Guzheng. People tend to relate me to being "sissy" cause i was in Guzheng. They had the impression that Guzheng was for girls. Well, i had that impression too but then when i saw my senior Wei Long, i was taken aback. I realised that there is a violent side to Guzheng. Haha. He could play the Guzheng with anger but yet at the same time with grace, something that is pretty rare nowadays i would say.

Soon i had to get my own Guzheng cause i had to practice at home. At that point in time, i had the feeling as if I'm going to stick to Guzheng as a CCA for the rest of my education but who knew, i would get tired and sick of it after some time? I got one, one expensive one. It cost my parents $880 plus the cloth to cover it which cost $50, it was really expensive. Price wise it is expensive, but what was more worth is that this Guzheng was specially selected for me by my trainer, Yin Qun. She even placed a sticker with my name on it on the Guzheng.

I was one of the most promising player in Guzheng Ensemble. I picked up the skill very fast and i could play songs that most did not know how to. The only problem with me was that i was too violent. I had little expressions in my music.

The first outing i had with Guzheng was on a Saturday during Sec 1. It was like a exchange thing among different Guzheng Ensembles from different schools. It was held at Fuhua Secondary School. At that time, the Chairman of Guzheng was this pretty girl. She was very talented, graceful and responsible. She would think of all the possible problems that may arise and solve them even before they arise. I can remember that she wanted all the performers for that day to re-tune their instruments cause she was worried that the change in temperature from air conditioned surroundings to room temperature will affect the sound. What she did was very smart. Something that left a impact in me.

It was the year of SYF too. Out of all the people in my batch, i was selected to go with them to support them. I guess i was kind of important? They won a gold, which was the highest possible at that time.

Secondary 2 came. We shifted our venue cause we had a new school compound. The new room was around the same size as the old room but there was a GIGANTIC mirror that went across the room. Something like a dance studio.

Secondary 3 came. SYF year. I was part of it. Pressure was super duper high. All of us wanted to get Gold With Honor, but honestly, deep inside me, i was pretty sure we couldn't make it. Everyone was super encouraging to each other telling each other that gold with honor was ours. Oh well. We practiced very very very hard everyday, EVERYDAY.

That day came. We were excused for the whole day to allow us to practice in the morning and get ready for the competition. Everything just happened so quickly. In no time we were in the tuning room inside SCH. Everything went on smoothly until we got to go on stage. OH MY! Someone's support toppled. This was bad. My chairman was thinking of what she should do but she decided to fake on and not change the instrument for a spare one. I agreed but i guess it was a wrong move. All of us were so happy when it was over.

We went inside to listen to the whole thing and when the whole thing was over, the results were announced. We lost it. We did not get Gold with Honors.

It was a sad thing. All of us wanted to get GOH, but we failed. Everyone was crying. Everyone. Our grand-seniors were there to cheer us on but all we could do was cry...

Sec 4 came. I took over as the Chairman. I was rather unhappy with the results of the committee cause i really didn't want to be Chairman cause i knew i would screw the whole thing up. And yes i did. Some of the teachers were screwed too to start with.

That year was a hard one for me. I didn't really know what to do. All i was looking forward to was to step down during July. Hais. Come to think of it, i am really very irresponsible. Performances were not the main thing in my head. Oh well. But i have to thank my 2 good friends i had in Guzheng. They continuously pushed me on but i continuously failed them. Hais.

As time passed, i picked up another hobby and my guzheng was left at a corner, never touched. It must have felt lonely. It came to a point when my father decided to put it back into its casing cause i wasn't even using it.

Today. It would be most certain the last day i would ever see it again. Kind of sad but i know that it would be put to better use with a new master. I decided to give it away, for the sake of music. Someone who genuinely wants it and would use it. Just really hope that the new master would put it to good use.

Goodbye my Guzheng...