He began studying beiguan in his hometown of Hsilou, learning not only to be a toushougu, or lead drummer, but also to sing the multiple roles, voicing the melancholy of the xiaodan (young woman), the educated refinement of the xiaosheng (young scholar), the aged rasp of the laosheng (old man) and the humorous tones of the xiaochou (clown).
於是正式拜在西螺「錦成齋」門下，學習北管音樂，不僅掌頭手鼓，還習唱老生、小生和小旦，使他可以一人多角，維妙維肖地唱出小旦的哀怨，小生的斯文，老生的滄桑，小丑的逗趣。