VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam National Academy of Music will offer a special concert for children every quarter at the academy's campus, according to piano instructor Ta Quang Dong, who initiated and organised the programme.

"We spare a regular concert for children as we hope to bring them a real appreciation for European classical music, " Dong told Viet Nam News. "Vietnamese audiences have little knowledge of this kind of music, which is partly a result of our improper music education.

"Children audiences like to see children perform," he said. "At the same time, young artists will get a chance to perform in front of a real audience rather than waiting for scarce opportunities to perform in major shows."

"Classical music is the root from which a music student begins before concentrating on other genres," Dong said. "Today, more wealthy families are facilitating their children's music education, not to earn a living but to enhance their aesthetic sense."

* Heavy rains bring brighter news as artefacts are unearthed

People in Do Luong District and Cua Lo Town in the central province of Nghe An have collected 40 pottery pieces dating from the Ly and Tran dynasties (the 10th-18th centuries) in recent months.

Most of the artefacts, including dishes, bowls, pots and cups, were found by farmers after heavy rain washed the soil away.

Many of the pieces were decorated with lotus and daisies, enamelled in different colours. They are now being stored at the provincial museum.

* 17th century stone steles found in northern province

Sixty-eight stone steles dating from the 17th century have been catalogued by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

Stone steles, often found in pagodas, temples and community halls, provide valuable information on history, tradition, geography and customs, said Tran Van Quang, the department's director. Contents carved on the steles recorded notable events, he said.

However, Quang warned that communities were often not aware of the significance of the carved stone and that regional authorities had no plans to preserve it.

VNN/VNS/SGGP