Chinese Music Workshops
Centre for Music Innovations specializes in Chinese Music Workshops for organizations and schools (elementary, secondary, and post-secondary). We would love to partner with your organization to introduce Chinese instruments and repertoire.
Customized workshops for your organization
Before scheduling each workshop or workshop series, we will determine your organization’s needs. We have combinations of workshops, performances, and applications – which can be customized to your preference or school curriculum.
What will students learn through our workshops?
Our introductory workshops will teach students the following:
- Chinese musical instruments
- Sections of the Chinese orchestra
- Chinese music notation
- Chinese orchestral repertoire
For advanced students, we have a workshop series that teaches the student:
- The range of each instrument
- Special notation and ornamentation
- Extended techniques of each instrument
- Experiential learning – students can try the instruments
- Writing for the instrument/ensemble
This series can include a reading of the students’ compositions
Workshop Booking Details
Contact us to discuss options for universities and organizations. Workshops are customizable.
| School: Presentation | School: Series (2 or more sessions) | |
| Level | K – Grade 12 | Grades 4-12 |
| Number of Students | Up to 350 | Up to 30 |
| Duration | 50 minutes | 60 minutes |
| Fee (4 musicians) | $900 + HST | $550 + HST |
Introducing Workshop Teachers
We have professional musicians that can demonstrate instruments for each section of the Chinese orchestra: winds, plucked strings, bowed strings, percussion.
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Dora WangWinds
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Douglas MillerWinds
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Lina CaoPlucked Strings
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Wendy ZhouPlucked Strings
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Patty ChanBowed Strings
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Bobby HoPercussion
What people have said about our Workshops...
Patty Chan’s Centre for Music Innovation opens a new door for composers: to write contemporary music for Chinese instruments. Rather than treating this a “niche” opportunity for composers of Chinese background, the CMI encourages and enables all interested music creators to expand their expressive horizons and include the rich world instrument sonorities into their musical vocabulary. Joined by virtuoso members of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra, Patty Chan gave a public presentation as part of the University of Toronto Composers’ Forum series, which inspired students – irrespective of their nationality or background – to write new music for Chinese instruments. Accompanied by helpful examples and practical demonstrations, the lecture offered a great introduction into a universe of fresh musical possibilities.
Dr. Norbert Palej Associate Professor of Composition, University of Toronto
Patty Chan is a leading North American authority on the Erhu, the Chinese Orchestra, and innovative east-meets-west pedagogical approaches that allow Western musicians and students to gain access to an extraordinarily rich world of music and instruments that are unfortunately largely unknown outside China. Her excellent pedagogical books and her generous personality and presentation skills left a lasting impression on our students, and motivated them to continue to explore Chinese music, both as performers and as composers.
James K. Wright, Ph.D. Professor (Full), School for Studies in Art & Culture: Music, Carleton University
Inquire about Our Workshops
Are you interested in booking a workshop? Tell us a little bit about your school/organization so we can tailor our workshop to suit your needs.