Bringing the folk songs of Ví and Giặm to the Alpha generation.

Folk song classes for children are held every Tuesday and Thursday.

While visiting her maternal grandparents' hometown (Ha Tinh City), Nguyen Duong Phuong Uyen (11 years old, a 6th grade student in Hanoi ) never imagined that this year's holiday would bring her such an unforgettable experience. Regularly, every Tuesday and Thursday evening, Phuong Uyen's family takes her to a free folk song class organized by the Ha Tinh Provincial Youth Union. There, for the first time, she learns and performs the melodies of her homeland through singing, dancing, and theatrical performances.

“Initially, I thought learning folk songs would be difficult and boring, but after singing, dancing, and expressing emotions like in a play, I found it very interesting. When I return to Hanoi, I want to perform these folk songs for my classmates,” Phương Uyên excitedly shared.

The children not only learn to sing but also practice correct pronunciation, intonation, expression, and fundamental skills such as greeting, social etiquette, self-confidence, and teamwork.

The classroom is designed to be open, without blackboards, chalk, or the pressure of grades or exams. Instead, the sounds of percussion instruments and folk melodies resonate, harmonizing with the voices of nearly 50 children. Each lesson is an opportunity for the children to delve deeper into the intangible cultural values recognized by UNESCO as a representative heritage of humanity.

The folk singing classes, focusing on the Ví and Giặm styles, not only attract city students but also spread to neighboring rural areas. Many parents are willing to travel dozens of kilometers to bring their children to participate in the club's activities.

“My family loves the folk songs of the Ví and Giặm genres, but we rarely had the opportunity to attend formal classes before. When I heard about the free folk song club, I immediately registered my children to attend. Through the classes, I've seen that not only the children but also the parents gain new experiences and a deeper understanding of the beauty of our homeland's melodies,” shared Ms. Tran Thi Binh (Cam Due commune, Cam Xuyen district).

With creative learning methods, the folk song class has attracted many young children to participate.

Although completely free, the learning atmosphere in the class is very serious. The children not only learn to sing but also practice correct pronunciation, intonation, expression, and fundamental skills such as greeting, etiquette, self-confidence, and teamwork. To achieve this, the teaching staff, consisting of artists and folk artisans, have dedicated their hearts and souls to each lesson.

Ms. Le Thuong, Deputy Head of the Ha Tinh Young Folk Song Club, said: “As artists, we highly appreciate the directive of General Secretary To Lam on promoting the role of artists and singers in teaching and inspiring the younger generation. From this, we are even more aware that artists not only perform on stage but also have the responsibility to contribute to nurturing talent, cultivating thinking, and enriching the souls of children – the future owners of the country.”

Numerous artisans and instructors actively participated in supporting and accompanying the children to further instill a love for folk music.

To maintain the regularity of the classes, in addition to the artisans and instructors, there is also the active support of youth union members who are core members of the Ha Tinh Young Folk Song Club. Besides their professional work, these young people have proactively arranged their time to support the organization of the classes, accompanying the children and instilling a love for folk songs through specific activities.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hai Dang, Deputy Secretary of the Ha Tinh Provincial Youth Union, emphasized: “We expect not only to create a healthy and beneficial playground for young people during the summer, but also to sow the seeds of love for national culture in each child through these classes. This is a concrete way to preserve and promote the value of the Vi and Giam folk songs, not through slogans, but through real actions. In the future, the Provincial Youth Union will continue to direct and guide the Ha Tinh Youth Vi and Giam Folk Song Club to develop and spread more strongly to the community.”

In the digital age, when children have less and less contact with traditional culture, models like the Ha Tinh Youth Folk Song Club are a shining example. From a small classroom in the heart of the city, folk songs are transcending geographical and generational boundaries to become an emotional bridge – connecting today's Alpha generation with the cultural heritage passed down from their ancestors for thousands of years.