Traditional Music Performance at the 2018 VAS Summer Programme
At this year’s Summer Fair, 81 VAS primary students performed two traditional music pieces entitled, “Lý Cây Xanh” and “Tam Pháp Nhập Môn” to an enthusiastic audience of nearly 3,000 attendees on July 21st, 2018.
Music appreciation and performance, which are part of both the MoET and international summer camp curriculum, provide VAS students not only musical knowledge but also the opportunity to experience a variety of instruments and styles that help them discover their talents.
VAS understands that students are already familiar with modern instruments such as the piano, guitar, organ, etc., but they have far fewer opportunities to learn about traditional folk instruments. VAS and its partner MPU chose regional folk instruments instead of western instruments for this summer camp programme because we would like to introduce and popularize the beauty of Vietnamese culture through our students. We would also like our students to value preserving and developing Vietnamese ethnic music. Hopefully in the future they will be cultural ambassadors bringing Vietnamese traditional music to the world.
This is also the motto of VAS, which is to train elite generations to integrate into the international community by attaining higher educational levels, while preserving the unique cultural and traditional values of their country.
The six week music programme, designed for students in grades 3, 4 & 5, is taught by MPU teachers. Students have two periods of music appreciation per week and three periods of music method with monochords, plucked zithers, flutes and ethnic drums. After the programme, students not only understand and learn how to play folk instruments, but also discover that traditional instruments can be used to perform modern styles.
VAS students, who are regularly mentored and trained, also participate in many national music festivals such as the District 1 Annual National Folk Music Festival and other competitions. VAS students have been recognized for these high achievements and are now leading in these competitions.
