东扶国苑

“Dong FU music college” is one of the largest professional Chinese traditional music training school in Beijing, “Dong fu” is the name of Chinese most famous musician Cao dong fu (1898-1970), he was known as a Zheng recitalist, outstanding professor, composer, a specialist in “hen nan Da Diao Qu” and a remarkable maestro in ethnic music. During his life time he created the largest zheng genre in He Nan (the city in central of China) called “He Nan Cao genre” it occupies a very important position among the few major school of Zheng music in china.

“Dong FU” music college was built by his offspring the second and third generation, they were also musicians as well, especially his son Cao Yong An and daughter LI Bian are the best musicians and professors in china, daughter LI Bian was interviewed by the most authority media CCTV about her music in 1997.

“Dong fu Music College” was seated in central of Beijing, besides with royal gardens “Jing Shan” Park and “Bei Hai “Park, close at the Beijing junior culture college, have very good culture environment.

500 centiare teaching area and have more than 10 classrooms with good environment. School contains different music instruments training session such as: gu zheng, er hu, pipa, and so on.

Except to teach Chinese traditional music instruments “Dong FU Music College” also begins to teach basic music knowledge and solfege.
Dong fu Music College wants to build an good relationship with all students, bring up an honorable and reliable standards, teachers are all from the best music college in china with degree or master qualifications. Also have teacher who came back from the overseas, use multi-language to teach students. With passions and responsibility teachers are also have good experience to training students. School believes all students will have a good time in “Dong FU” Music College.

The Zheng, commonly known as Guzheng, (pronounced "Goo-Zheng"), is a plucked string instrument that is part of the Chinese music family. It is one of the most ancient Chinese musical instruments according to the documents written in the Qin dynasty (before 206 BC). Zheng is the forerunner of Japanese koto, Korean kayagum, Mongolian yatag, and Vietnamese dan tranh. Due to its long history, the zheng has been called guzheng or Gu-Zheng where "Gu" stands for "ancient" in Chinese. The guzheng has been a popular instrument since ancient times and is considered as one of the main chamber as well as solo instruments of Chinese traditional music. Since the mid-19th century, guzheng solo repertoire has been growing and evolving towards an increasing technical complexity.
Zheng (Guzheng) is build with a special wooden sound body with strings arched across movable bridges along the length of the instrument for the purpose of tuning. In the early times the zheng had 5 string; later on developed into 12 to 13 strings in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907AD) and 16 strings in the Song and Ming dynasty (from the 10th to 15th century). The present day zheng usually has 21-25 strings.
Tuning: The pitch of a given string is determined by the position of the bridge, therefore, Guzheng can in principle be tuned to any desired scales. Traditionally, pentatonic scale is used. The instrumentalist plucks the strings with the right hand and touches the strings with the left hand to produce the desired pitch and create subtle tones and ornaments (see the pictures with playing the Guzheng). Full scale can also be obtained by skilfully applying press on certain strings from the other side of the bridge with the left hand.
techniques: Guzheng player attaches a little plectrum on each finger using a special tape. For traditional repertoires, the instrumentalist mostly uses three fingers of the right hand for plucking whereas the left hand pressing the string from the other side of the bridge to create special tonalities and ornaments. For some contemporary repertoires, both hands are needed to produce complicated harmonies using four fingers of each, which means that even the fingers of the left hand need to ware plectrums. In some cases, one can use cello bow to play on the Guzheng to produce sustained sounds and special effects. One can also use sticks to hit on the strings in the way like a percussion instrument.
Gu Zheng Lessons provide private and group lessons to students of all ages and levels. Lessons are taught by professional Gu Zheng instructor who have 5 years overseas teaching experience in new Zealand. Lessons can be given in our locations in “dong fu” Music College, for more detail, please contact us or visit

Chen xi yao was born in Beijing at 1984, he was study in overseas in new Zealand and at the same time he was teaching and performing GU ZHRNG in New Zealand since 2002.
He learned music since he was four years old started to learn piano, solfege and basic music knowledge, when he was eight years old he started to learn GU ZHENG from his mum LI BIAN (one of the best GU ZHENG performer and professor in China).
He was performing at a very young age, joined in many concert by performing GU Zheng solo, unison playing, and was featured on programs and life telecasts of the Beijing television and CCTV. In 1997, Chen participated in the 13th international Youth arts festival in Japan with a Zheng solo and won critical acclaims. In 2005 he participated in the activity of Chinese regional Zheng Music series: The Zheng Music of Henan and YanBian in Hong Kong with Zheng unison.

He joined in lots of GU ZHENG competition in china and won lots of golden praise since he was 12 years.
When he was eleven years old, he stated to help his mother teaching students, help mother written books since 16 , published the < The basic knowledge of GU Zheng study > (cooperate with mother LI Bian).

Since moving to New Zealand in 2002 he has appeared in many performances as a solo artist (play Gu zheng and piano), performed in church, retire village, schools, social community and festivals, local people were marvel and highly praise about his performance. In 2003 he was interviewed by local Newspaper about “Gu Zheng performing in New Zealand” they gave his an name: ‘The school wizard’. In 2005 he stared to teach students in New Zealand, by the end 2005 there were more than 20 students under has guidance in New Zealand. In April 2005 he joined in music band called “Red dynasty” (was called eastbound train in2005) he played Gu zheng and keyboard with electrical guitar and bass, they created an new style – linking eastern culture and western culture together (Eurasian style) use traditional Chinese music instruments Gu zheng with heavy metal. They performed in lots of place joined several activities in New Zealand with substantial media coverage on their music, Reported by local newspaper, radio broadcast, and in 2006 when they performed in summer festival in Hamilton garden (new Zealand ) gained many coverage by local people.

Social and other experience
1989	Started to learn piano and other musicknowledge at four year old.
1991	Recording at Chinese Conservatory and Beijing education graduate school for program “ children sight singing teaching “ 2 times
1992	Recording in Beijing international radio station for program “ children sight singing demonstrate”
1993　Dec	Started to learn Gu-Zheng (Chinese traditional music instrument) with professor Li Bian.
1994　Jun	The first experience to performing at schoolon children’s day. (Gu-zheng solo)
1995　Jan	Join in the government classical band : “Chinese Children Central music band”
Feb	Achieved level six certificates on piano performing level exam.
Sep	Performed Gu-zheng unison in Beijing　With Singapore“PuTi” Gu-Zheng band” ( national Cultural communication)
Oct	Performed Gu-zheng unison in Beijing (the best program in the competition)
Nov	Win the second best price during the art competition in “ChaoYang” section Beijing. (GU-zheng solo)
1996　Feb	Performing with band in Beijing ( Chinese spring festival)
Mar	Win the second best price during the art competition in Beijing(final)
Jun	Performing with Japanese classical band in Beijing (band performing)
Jun-	Gu-zheng unison REC and played in China 　on the Nov 11th by Beijing television.( first Gu-zheng)
Jun -	Gu-zheng solo REC and played in China by CCTV. China
Aug	Join the national concert “hand in hand”　music performance in Beijing ( band )
Nov	Join the school chorus and join the chorus competition win the excellence price.
1997　Jan	Started to teach student with Mum( Lib　ian) and uncle (　Cao yong an)
May	Win the first price during the music competition 　“east section of Beijing”　Section competition
Jun	Complete the highest level of Gu-zheng performing 　exam in Central conservatory of music college China.
Jun	Article published in “study and play” magazine <I love my family> China.
Aug	Went to Japan with “China junior central musical band” to join the number Thirteen international musical festival. (Gu-zheng solo and band play)
Nov	Win the third price during the music competition in Beijing (final)
1998　Mar	Played for the Unit-state’s friends in Beijing ( band performing)
1999　Jan	Article published on “junior Musician” magazine < The real competition >
May	Win the 1st price during the music competition “east section of Beijing” Section competition ( no final in 1999)
2000　Mar	Music performing and welcome USA and Mongolia friends in Beijing ( band )
May	Article published and win national price in China < 10 years later>
May	Music performing and welcome Canada friends in Beijing ( band)
May	Music performing and welcome African friends in Beijing (band)
2001　Jan	Went to Russian embassy in China performing for the friends form Russian (new year festival)
Jan	Gu-zheng solo Performing in High school concert for the new year festival?
May	Win the 1st price during the music competition “east section of Beijing” Section competition
May	Music performing and welcome New Zealand friends in Beijing (band performing)
Jul	Music performing and welcome Norway friends in Beijing ( band performing)
Jul	Won Gold metal in national Gu-zheng competition Beijing section
Aug	Went to south of china (Gui Lin) performing with band ( Gu-zheng solo and band performing”
Sep	Won national Silver metal in China Gu-zheng competition 2001 (final)
Nov	Won second price during the music competition in Beijing (final)
2002　Jan	Performing in high school in China for the new year festival. ( gu-zheng and other music instrument together)
Feb	Award by Chinese traditional and orchestral association “excellence teacher” (have certificate improve ) in China
Mar	Performing in Mountain view high for Gu-zheng solo in Tiamaru New Zealand
May	Join the six form concert in High school six form music groups performing (piano part) and Gu-zheng solo.
Jul	Performing in international dinner? in church corner (Gu-zheng solo)
Aug	Performing in Timaru retired village ( piano and Gu-zheng solo)
Sep	Performing in Timaru C.W. C. I committee two times ( Gu-zheng solo)
Sep	Performing in the “New life” church in Timaru (Gu-zheng solo)
Nov	Go back to China and performing for the European’s guest ( with band but only Gu-zheng solo) China
2003　Feb	Performing in church corner again Timaru concert ( piano solo and Gu-zheng solo) Timaru NZ
May	Performing in the concert at St Marys church Tinaru ( the Timaru Herald reported 200 people come)
Jun	Join in mountain view high chamber music group and join the 2003 school music contest.
Jun	Interviewed by “The Timaru Herald” and published on June 25th about “Extra wizard in school musical” inside the report have introduced my performing in NZ and China, award and My old well-known musical family.
Jun	Play for school orchestra for the musical drama “vizard of OZ” (piano) ( the Timaru herald reported)
Jul	Play for NZ Motor bike leagues Timaru stop.( Gu-zheng solo)
Oct	high school finished win Merit award in music subject and perfoming
	In the school graduation ceremony ( Gu-zheng solo)
Nov	Play for Timaru Festival of Roses ( the gardening festival) Gu-zheng solo (The Timaru Herald report it)
2005　Feb	Started to teach students in New Zealand ( Gu-zheng teach) Hamilton
Apr	Join Eastbound train band in Hamilton linking with western music and east music use Chinese traditional music instrument into the rock music. Hamilton
Jul	Join in Hillcrest high international concert (my students performing ) Hamilton
Sep	Performed for the intentional week in Wintec.( band play fist time with Chinese music instrument with rock performing) Waicato weekly newspaper reported.
Sep	Join in Wintec international night concert Gu-zheng solo and Play with band (Original songs) Waicato Chinese time newspaper report.
Sep	Performing on Chinese moon festival in “fang de” theatre Gu-zheng solo.(1000 people came)
Oct	Performing in the home and garden show? with band and Gu-zheng solo
Oct	Performing in Waikato university art theatre. Gu-zheng solo
Oct	performing in Cuz-bar with band and gu-zheng solo
Oct	Band Interviewed by Waicato Chinese radio station About how to link the different region music together and
Oct	Two of my Gu-zheng students went back home and complete the level 6 and level 2 music performing exam.
Nov	Performed in Auckland with band and with lots of band.
Nov	Recording our single in Hamilton
Dec	With family invited by Hong Kong government and went to Hong Kong performed family genre (the entire music source we played was composed by my grandfather.)
2006　Jan	Became the examiner in Chinese Conservatory music performing association. Started to examine students.
Jan	Cooperate with Mum and written my first education book “How to learn Gu-zheng” in China.
Jan	Interviewed by Waicato Times about our band and published on Jan
Feb	Performing in summer garden festival in Hamilton garden with band ( 4 original songs use Gu-zheng with Rock)
Feb	Performing in Hamilton garden summer festival (Chinese garden) gu-zheng solo. Waicato weekly newspaper report.
Feb	Performing in Wintec with band in international against racialism day
Apr	Sign by NZ pop product company promise us to do the Album however, 2 month later no reason but stopped.
Jul	The book has published and trade on web easily. (author: LI Bian , Chen Xi Yao)
Jul	Starting the new journey with new name (red dynasty) went to recording studio to recording our own independent Album
Jul	Two students of mine complete the level 7 and level 2 music performing exam in their home.
Aug	My first students concert successful finished on Aug 5th
sep	International week guzheng solo
sep	International week band playand guzheng play with all my students
Sep	Newspaper of wicato report ourband
sep	Play for retire village of Hamilton
OCT	Chinese moon festival bandperformance
OCT	Play for retire village of Hamilton
Nov	Finish NZ trip
Dec	Recording new album
Dec	Interviewed by He Bei telecasts.