NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The New York City-based China Institute is to present a musical conversation on traditional Chinese instruments on Dec. 14 to help audience delve deeper into the journey of Chinese music.

With performances on pipa and ruan by musicians from the U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, the event "Chat on Chinese Music" would invite audience of all ages to enjoy Chinese music performances and to chat with the Chinese musicians for in-depth understanding of Chinese music.

Music has been a crucial part of Chinese culture and education for thousands of years. Traditionally, an educated person should have expertise to play instruments and write songs and poems.

Jindong Cai, director of the U.S.-China Music Institute and co-director of the Chinese Music Development Initiative, will address the event.

"Chinese instruments and music are finding more and more audience in the West," said Cai, former professor of performance at Stanford University, in an earlier interview with Xinhua.

Young musicians Ma Lihong and Shi Yu, together with students from the Bard College Conservatory of Music, will play ruan and pipa at the event.

Founded in 1926, China Institute is the oldest bicultural, non-profit organization in the United States to focus exclusively on China.