Your first lesson
An introduction to Chinese instrument culture, the basics of guqin technique, and a walk through the syllabus so you know what the path ahead looks like. You will play on a studio instrument.
Trial lesson $30 · 40 minutesIn-person guqin lessons · Northeast Atlanta, GA
Seven strings.
A little more
stillness.
云间听琴，让心慢下来。
Learn the guqin, the Chinese seven-string zither, in private one-on-one lessons in northeast Atlanta. Adults and children, complete beginners welcome. Taught in English or Chinese.
Book a first lessonTrial lesson $30 for 40 minutes · $65 per 60-minute lesson · Instruments provided
THE ART OF LISTENING一弦一世界
Northeast Atlanta · 30345古琴 · Chinese seven-string zitherPrivate lessons · All agesEnglish & Chinese
01 / Meet the instrument
A quieter sound.
A deeper way
to listen.
The guqin is a fretless, seven-string Chinese zither with more than three thousand years of history. Its intimate sound comes from plucked strings, ringing harmonics, and notes that glide under the fingertips.
Unlike the larger guzheng, the guqin has no movable bridges and is played at a quiet, personal volume. Its music invites close listening: to the sound of a note, the movement between notes, and the space that follows.
Zen Ease Studio is a small home studio in northeast Atlanta where you can meet this instrument in person and make it part of everyday life.
Hear the guqin
A short recording from the studio is coming soon.
“Leave a little space in your day for listening.”
02 / Your teacher
Meet Hu,
master instructor.
Hu has taught guqin for more than five years to students of every age and background, from curious first-timers to experienced players refining their repertoire. She is formally trained in music education and teaches comfortably in both English and Mandarin Chinese.
Her lessons pair technique with context: how the instrument is held and played, and the culture and poetry it grew out of. Beginners leave the first lesson having played real notes on a real guqin.
- Teaching5+ years of guqin instruction
- LanguagesEnglish and Mandarin Chinese
- StudentsAdults and children, any age
- LevelsComplete beginners to experienced players
03 / Lessons & rates
From a first note
to a personal practice.
Every lesson is private and one-on-one, shaped around your experience and goals.
Build a foundation
Posture, hand position, the core right- and left-hand techniques, reading guqin notation, and listening. Short daily practice between lessons makes the biggest difference.
BeginnersGrow your repertoire
For students with experience: refine technique, work through classical pieces you are drawn to, and develop your own interpretation and sound.
Continuing studentsRate$65
per 60-minute private lesson. Trial lesson $30 for 40 minutes.
WhereStudio
Home studio near Northlake, northeast Atlanta (30345). Directions shared on booking.
We come to you+$50
Travel fee for lessons at your home within 25 miles of 30345.
Hours9am–8pm
Seven days a week. Most openings are weekday evenings 4–8pm and weekends.
InstrumentsProvided
Use a studio guqin during lessons. Rentals for home practice available with two days' notice. Instruments for purchase coming soon.
Cancellation24 hours
Please give 24 hours notice to reschedule. Late cancellations and no-shows are charged a $30 fee.
Parents are welcome to stay during children's lessons.
04 / Good to know
A few things
you may wonder.
Start with your questions.
There is no need to have it all figured out.
I have never touched a guqin. Can I start?
Yes. Most students start from zero, and no musical background is needed. Your first lesson introduces the instrument and its culture, and you will play real notes on a studio guqin that day.
Do I need to buy a guqin first?
No. You use a studio instrument during lessons. When you are ready to practice at home, you can rent one from the studio with two days' notice, and Hu can help you choose an instrument to buy. Instrument sales through the studio are coming soon.
Guqin or guzheng, what is the difference?
Both are Chinese zithers. The guzheng is larger, louder, and has movable bridges under 21 strings. The guqin has seven strings, no bridges, a soft intimate sound, and is traditionally the instrument of scholars and poets. If you are drawn to a quiet, meditative practice, the guqin is likely what you are looking for.
How much should I practice?
A little every day. Fifteen to twenty minutes of daily practice is worth more than one long session a week. Most students take one lesson a week; two a week speeds things up considerably.
Can children learn? Can I sit in?
Yes, any age is welcome, and parents may stay during the lesson. Lessons for children are adapted to their attention span and hand size.
Where exactly is the studio?
It is a home studio near Northlake in northeast Atlanta, zip code 30345, convenient to Brookhaven, Chamblee, Tucker, Decatur, Doraville, and Duluth. The exact address is shared when you book. Lessons at your home are also available within 25 miles for a $50 travel fee.
Which language are lessons taught in?
Your choice of English or Mandarin Chinese. Many students mix both.
05 / Your first step
Book a
first lesson.
Send a short note and Hu will reply with available times and directions.
ZEN EASE STUDIO · NORTHEAST ATLANTA
Zen Ease Studio · 亚特兰大线下古琴课
Zen Ease Studio · 亚特兰大线下古琴课
Get in touch
A few things that help us reply quickly:
- Who the lessons are for, and their age if a child
- Any previous music or guqin experience
- Preferred days and times
- English or Chinese
WeChat contact will be available soon. Please email us for now.
WeChat QR
coming soon
coming soon
Please do not include sensitive personal information in your message.