A Research On The Bamboo Flute Art Didactics Of The School Of Zhao

Song-Ting Zhao is a renowned ethnomusicologist, flutist and educator of the People’s Republic of China. He dedicated himself to the art of flute playing for more than60years and has been acknowledged as the master flute player in China’s music circles. He was also the founder of the School of Zhe (also referred to as the School of Zhao) and he was also regarded as the "Flute King of the South Regions of the Yangtze River". He created the circle breathing method and developed Chinese syringes, L-shaped double bass flutes, the Chinese traditional wind instrument "Flying Goose Chi" and other instruments. Song-Ting Zhao also created the theory and method of the frequency calculation for the transverse flute, composed and arranged more than ten classical solo pieces for the flute, e.g.’Zao Chen’("Early Morning") and’San Wu Qi’("Three Five Seven"). These pieces have become gems of China’s music world’s treasury. Zhao’s music instruction stresses the consolidation of basic skills and forming artistic morality. He used vivid metaphors to facilitate his students’ memorizing process of the studied artistic morality and techniques. Zhao also made use of humor as a method to increase the student’s understanding and confidence. He possessed a high grade of literate cultivation and rich knowledge and experience. When teaching, he was always capable of quoting classic works and expressing himself easily in clear and effective language. He set a good example with his own conduct and hoped that the students could learn more about culture as a basis when they were studying arts. Becoming an upright person before studying arts is the objective and standard of his teachings. He was the first person of the new China to standardize, systemize and scientize bamboo flute instruction and integrate it internationally. His students have become nationally and internationally renowned flutists and educators all over the world who spread Chinese traditional music and bamboo flute culture and art. They have already accomplished outstanding contributions.The author has conducted a thorough research on Song-Ting Zhao’s history and art for this paper. Song-Ting Zhao’s flute playing art and style as well as his education concepts and methods are analyzed and expounded.