Gen Z breathes new life into traditional musical instruments.

Le Ha Thu still remembers the surprise of seeing a group of young people linger for a long time after the performance just to admire the bầu instrument and try playing a few notes. Some were seeing the tranh instrument in person for the first time, while others asked to take photos with the bamboo flute...

When traditional musical instruments become more accessible to young people.

That very thought has stayed with Thu since her high school years. Born in 2003, she didn't grow up in a family with an artistic tradition, but she quickly developed a connection with the zither and nurtured a love for traditional Vietnamese music .

In 11th grade, female students from Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students decided to establish the Traditional Music Club, Cam Ca, with the desire to create a space where young people who love traditional musical instruments can meet, perform, and spread that love to the community.

Le Ha Thu - Group leader, is currently a student at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

Years ago, when she was studying the zither, Thu felt out of place. While her friends who played piano, guitar, or violin had plenty of performance venues and clubs to join, those pursuing traditional instruments rarely found a space of their own.

"I realized that many people know how to play the bamboo flute, zither, or lute, but are shy about showing off in front of a crowd and don't know where to join. That's why I wanted to create a place where they could step into the spotlight," Thu explained.

From a small initial group, Cam Ca gradually grew into a community of around 30 members, including high school students, university students, and working professionals. The members maintain a regular weekly practice schedule to prepare for performances, charitable activities, and community cultural projects.

Performances at schools, public spaces, and cafes have helped bring folk melodies closer to young audiences. According to Ha Thu, interestingly, many young people today are not turning their backs on traditional culture as has long been believed.

"Musical instruments like the zither, the bầu lute, or the bamboo flute are actually quite new to young people. Many of them saw them in person for the first time after watching a performance, so they were extremely curious and excited," Thu said.

The group has about 30 members, including students and working professionals.

After 16 years dedicated to the zither and nearly 7 years building Cầm Ca, Thu realized that traditional Vietnamese musical instruments inherently possess a unique appeal. Their sounds, shapes, and the way they produce sound are all powerful enough to spark curiosity in young people.

According to Thu, the approach needs to change: Traditional music is sometimes placed in a space that is too solemn, creating a sense of distance. She wants to bring it back into everyday life, making it more accessible to young people.

"A love for culture doesn't necessarily have to start with grand things. It could simply be listening to the sound of a zither, trying out a bamboo flute, or strumming your first few notes. When culture is present in daily life, it will always have its own vitality."

Le Ha Thu

Therefore, instead of only appearing on large stages or in academic programs, Cam Ca brings traditional musical instruments into lecture halls, cafes, community spaces, and even the digital environment.

One of the things that has helped Cam Ca gain the attention of many young people is the way the group "refreshes" folk music. Instead of just performing traditional melodies, the group experiments with rearranging modern pop songs or familiar movie soundtracks using instruments like the bầu zither, tranh zither, and bamboo flute. The combination of folk influences with contemporary rhythms creates a feeling that is both familiar and new, making it more accessible to the audience.

Instead of trying to "modernize" traditional musical instruments, Cam Ca chose a different path: preserving the core values ​​but changing the approach to the audience.

"What we want to do is not transform traditional musical instruments into something else, but to bring them closer to the lives of young people," Ha Thu shared.

The group also leverages social media to spread traditional music through short videos , visuals, and live-streamed performances. For Ha Thu, technology has become a bridge that helps traditional music reach the public in a more accessible way.

"Popular music education"

One of the community projects that Cam Ca has maintained for many years is "Learning Music for the Popular," which is now in its 6th season. The project aims to help people who have never studied music theory but still want to learn traditional musical instruments.

The Traditional Music Club of Cam Ca performs for the audience.

Knowledge that was previously passed down or was quite complex is systematized in a simple, easy-to-understand way so that anyone can get started. According to Ha Thu, the most difficult thing for Cam Ca is changing the mindset of many people that traditional musical instruments are difficult to learn, difficult to pursue, and offer few opportunities for development.

Therefore, the group regularly organizes hands-on sessions where participants can directly hold an instrument, try strumming a few notes, or play a short flute tune.

"Many students initially came out of curiosity. But after trying them out themselves, they realized that traditional musical instruments weren't as difficult or distant as they had thought," Thu shared.

After each course, some people decide to buy instruments to continue practicing. For Ha Thu, that's the greatest joy. "Just having one more person want to learn about or commit to traditional musical instruments in the long term makes me feel that what Cam Ca does is meaningful," she said.

According to Ha Thu, young people today need to become co-creators. In this era of globalization, the more distinctive a culture is, the more valuable it becomes. With technological thinking, content creation abilities, and a global perspective, the younger generation can absolutely transform traditional values ​​into attractive cultural products.

Through community classes, small performances, and social media projects, Cam Ca aims to bridge the gap between young people and traditional musical instruments.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/gen-z-thoi-suc-song-moi-cho-nhac-cu-dan-toc-23826053108373369.htm