Before "Drum Rice" resounded in the Wichita State University auditorium, Nhat Truong (23 years old, from Hanoi) spent many months preparing, from composing music to practicing with the Concert Chorale. For the Hanoi student, the performance was not only a musical performance but also a journey to tell the story of Vietnam to international friends. Nhat Truong went to the US to study in early 2021, majoring in classical piano and choir conducting at Wichita State University.
He was one of three music education students graduating with distinction in the class of 2025, selected to speak at the Asian and Asian American Student Honors Ceremony, and went on to earn a master's degree in educational psychology.
The Concert Chorale is Wichita State University's largest choir, with members studying opera, music education, choral conducting, and theater.
Vietnamese is rich in tones and accents, so when speaking it is like singing a song. When teaching the song "Drum Rice", Truong does not have to worry about accents for foreign students, because the melody itself already shows the characteristics of Vietnamese tones - something he is always proud of.
Truong patiently guides students on how to pronounce vowels and consonants correctly. For example, the rhymes "uyen", "ong", "om" or "uong"... He finds English words with similar sounds so that students can easily associate them. With difficult consonants like "kh", "ng" or "t", Truong sings or reads samples for students to repeat until they get used to them.
The idea of bringing “Trông cơm” to the stage of the Candlelight concert, bringing Vietnamese music to international friends, has been nurtured by Duong Nhat Truong since his third year of university. (Photo provided by the character)
However, the most difficult thing for him is not teaching students to pronounce Vietnamese, but helping them visualize the meaning of folk songs in Vietnamese cultural life. To do that, Truong spends a lot of time learning about the history and geography of the Northern Delta, researching the musical characteristics of Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs and the story behind the ancient poem about the drum instrument. "There are days when I stay up until 2-3 am just to think of a way to convey it logically and easily. Music is not only a melody but also a means of conveying Vietnamese culture and history" - Truong said.
After 4 practice sessions, the results were very surprising, the video cut from the practice session that Nhat Truong posted on social media attracted millions of views and love from the online community. Many members of the choir met Truong privately to thank him for experiencing Vietnamese culture.
Truong realized that music is an effective bridge, but only really works when combined with knowledge and cultural context. His success comes not only from his personal ability and effort but also from his gratitude and his spirit of not being afraid of hardship. During nearly 5 years of studying and working in the US, Truong lived modestly, independently, diligently practiced the piano 4-5 hours a day, saved money, sought scholarships and took advantage of every learning opportunity. Gratitude is the star that guides him to meet good people and environments.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/dan-ca-viet-ngan-vang-noi-xu-nguoi-196251206203319095.htm
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