School preserves ethnic traditional values
Children study xam folk singing
Primary school students introduced to traditional musical instruments

Professional singers perform Hue folk songs. The artform is performed to attract tourists. — Photo baothuathienhue.vn

The art of ca Hue will be included as a school subject. Pupils will take part in excursions and extra classes at museums on the art form. Pupils will also attend art shows and camps on song composition.

The two agencies will encourage pupils to use libraries, as well as organise free reading weeks and mobile libraries so that pupils can access information at school.

This month, the Art and Culture School of the Thua Thien-Hue Culture and Sports Department will host a training class on Hue folk singing to 30 teachers from secondary schools in Hue City. Experienced singers will also teach during the class.

“We will train both music teachers at secondary schools and pupils from the schools at Hue Folk Singing Clubs in the city,” said Phan Thanh Hai, director of the Culture and Sports Department.
In three months, teachers will be trained on general knowledge of music, culture, history; learn how to sing folk melodies; and exchange with singers.

“The programme will not purely aim to teach pupils to sing Hue folk songs but also help them understand the values in the songs,” Hai said.

“Teaching Hue folk singing at school will help young people understand Hue folk singing and traditional music in general, enhancing their awareness of and improving possibilities in protecting and developing the folk art,” said Dang Phuoc My, deputy director of Thua Thien-Hue Education and Training Department.

“The teaching programme will also promote culture, art and sport activities at schools, help enhance pupils’ physical health and provide them with useful entertainment,” My said.

Before Hue folk singing, schools in the province introduced folk games like skipping rope, Mandarin square capturing, shuttle cock kicking and duet singing into the curriculum.

Some schools have organised contests of folk games, My said.

The education and training department has also hosted contests on history for local pupils.

Huế folk singing is a variation of Hue royal court music and is considered a type of chamber music that originated from performances in the royal and mandarin houses during the imperial era.

The art form is said to bear similarities to traditional Vietnamese music such as đờn ca tài tử (southern folk music) and ca trù (ceremonial singing performed in the north). The music is played on traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, while the musicians and vocalists all wear the national long dress, áo dài.

Hue folk singing was listed as a national intangible heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

VNS