Learn Chinese through song

There are many ways to learn a language. Short of completely immersing yourself in the culture, among the people, in the country, you can take a language course. There is a short cut. Learn a language through song. Register for Chinese Mandarin with Song, Autumn 2022

Stories are told through song. History is told through stories. For a tonal language like Chinese, the tones matter less when sung than spoken. Language gives you access to a culture.

For Spring 2022, I have prepared many popular (well-known) Chinese songs (lead sheet, tablature, pin yin, notation, chords, arrangements) for an 8-week course in Zoom.

The idea for Chinese Songs for Ukulele originated from my first Mandarin course (Maui, Hawaii, February 2015). I gave a series of workshops introducing songs in other languages (Chinese, Japanese, Dutch) at a ukulele residential summer programme (White Mountains, New Hampshire, July 2019). My one-off workshop in Zoom (March 2020) attracted several ladies who missed the Chinese songs their parents sang when they were growing up.

Chinese Songs (Noon – 1 PM EDT)
One of the best ways to learn about a culture is through its music. Get introduced to the very rich culture of China by learning beautiful songs, both traditional and popular.

Learn to correctly pronounce pinyin lyrics. If you don’t already have a Chinese name (surname and first name), let’s find or create one for you! Learn about the major and minor pentatonic scales, as so many Chinese melodies derive from them. No musical instrument is needed though focus is on the ukulele to pick out the melody. Melody (the tune), harmony (chords), Chinese pin yin, English translation (lyrics), sheet music (notation, tabs, chords, lyrics) and video recordings are provided. Most of these songs are short and repetitive, great for practice. 

8 Wednesdays (11 AM – 12 NOON EDT)

You are guided through various complexities of the language in a very accessible and supportive manner. In addition, you learn how to say and write your name in Chinese! I highly recommend this excellent program.
– Andi (PA)

Some Chinese songs are translations of Western songs. Some are traditional folksongs. Some are current Pop Songs. We sampled all these, and more. Not only did we learn to speak fluent Chinese Mandarin, we also learned to sing in Chinese and play several different Chinese songs.
– Steve (CA)

As a retired person with plenty of spare time, I enjoy the challenge of learning something new.
– Henry (UK)

Anne is totally a dedicated, great instructor. She is knowledgeable, very patient and understands how to use different modalities and suggestions to help students learn how to play without feeling intimidated. She is supportive, creative and fun. She has the BEST interest in each of her students. She will help you decide which course you should take or start if you are not certain. Take any of her classes. You WON’T REGRET !!
– Yvonne (VA)

We will select six from the following list of songs which span children, traditional (folk, different provinces) and popular (Teresa Teng and others in 20th century):

• Brother and Father (ge ge ba ba)
• Descendant of the Dragon (long de chuan ren)
• Farewell (song bie)
• Flower Drum Song (Feng Yang Hua Gu)
• Little Jasmine (xiao mo li)
• Little Sister (mei mei bei zhe xiao wa wa)
• Lift Your Veil
• Longing for Spring Breeze (wang chun feng)
• Purple Bamboo Flute Tune (zi zhu diao)
• Olive Tree (gan lan shu)
• Orchid Grass (lan hua cao)
• Rhododendron (du juan hua)
• Seagull (hai ou)
• Sweet as Honey (tian mi mi)
• Tall Mountain Green (gao shan qing)
• That Faraway Place (zai na yao yuan de di fang)
• Torment of Flower (Rainy Night Flower) (yeh lai xiang)

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The previous Chinese Songs for Ukulele (8-week) class in Zoom (Winter 2022) covered the following topics and songs:

• Pentatonic scale on the ukulele
• Pin Yin pronunciation
• Happy Birthday in Chinese (Zhu Ni Sheng Ri Kuai Le)
• How Would You Say (Ni Zen Me Shuo)
• Jasmine Flower (Mo Li Hua)
• Little Donkey (Xiao Mao Lu) (and video)
• The Moon Represents My Heart (Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin)
• Two Tigers (Liang Zhi Lao Hu)