Zhou Shaomei: Pioneer of Chinese erhu music

As a modern folk instrumentalist and music educator, Zhou Shaomei (1885-1938) from Jiangyin, a county-level city of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, has made significant contributions to the field, advancing the development of Chinese erhu (a two-stringed fiddle) music in particular.

After extensive experimentation, he boldly increased the length of the erhu neck to 90 centimeters and enlarged the barrel, expanding the expressive range of the instrument and enhancing its performance.

Zhou also introduced folk music instruction to Wuxi No 3 Normal School in 1912, becoming one of the first educators of traditional Chinese music. In addition, he collected folk music pieces, adapted etudes and solos, and compiled several teaching materials.

Over his three-decade teaching career, Zhou nurtured many accomplished musicians, including the renowned folk musician Liu Tianhua and the celebrated guqin player Wu Jinglue. His exceptional skills and artistic integrity made him a distinguished pioneer in traditional Chinese music.