'Keeping the flame alive' for traditional Vietnamese folk singing from a dimly lit classroom.

Special class for singing traditional Vietnamese folk songs.

In artist Tuyet Tuyet's small house, the sounds of the moon lute, flute, and percussion instruments regularly resound every week. Without a blackboard, without Braille textbooks, and without tuition fees, the free folk singing class for the visually impaired is held right in the familiar living space of the family home. There, the special students sit together, each holding a traditional instrument, attentively listening and feeling the music .

The Tuyet Tuyet folk singing class started operating in late 2014. Over more than 10 years, the class has welcomed many students of different ages and backgrounds. In addition to visually impaired students, the class also attracts people who love folk culture and young people who want to learn to sing Chau Van folk songs.

Sharing about the inspiration behind opening the class, artist Tuyet Tuyet said: “I opened a class teaching traditional Vietnamese folk singing and playing musical instruments for the visually impaired because I wanted to spread positivity to the community. Therefore, I try my best to impart knowledge and guide these special students. As long as they try hard and persevere, their efforts will be rewarded.”

A class on traditional Vietnamese folk singing is held at artist Tuyet Tuyet's home for visually impaired students. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Teaching traditional Vietnamese folk singing to the visually impaired: slower, more thorough, and with more patience.

Teaching traditional Vietnamese folk singing to the visually impaired requires a great deal of time and patience. Unable to demonstrate through gestures or eye contact, artist Tuyet Tuyet chooses a slow and meticulous teaching method. Each melody and each line of the song is explained in detail, with students listening to it repeatedly to memorize it.

During the lessons, she often holds the students' hands so they can feel the rhythm and tempo of the song. For artist Tuyet Tuyet, teaching traditional Vietnamese singing is not just about imparting techniques, but also about accompanying and supporting them, especially the young visually impaired students.

Despite her cheerful personality in everyday life, artist Tuyet Tuyet is always serious and meticulous in every detail when she enters the classroom. She pays special attention to her young students, frequently encouraging, reminding, and motivating them at the right time. Artist Tuyet Tuyet calls her visually impaired students "flowers on the rocks"—a simple yet loving way of referring to them, aiming to motivate them so they don't feel inferior because of their circumstances.

Artist Tuyet Tuyet with her visually impaired students. (Photo courtesy of the artist)

From a small classroom to a journey of spreading traditional Vietnamese folk singing.

Alongside their classroom studies, artist Tuyet Tuyet and her fellow folk singers actively bring traditional music closer to the public through digital platforms. She and her students diligently research how YouTube operates and its algorithms to upload videos in a way that is most accessible to the community.

Artist Tuyet Tuyet shared: “My music products and those of the Four-Singing Club all have short, easy-to-understand titles, reflecting everyday life and folk culture so that viewers can easily accept them. Some videos include 'Singing Xam for the Elderly', 'Our Fields Refuse Intensive Cultivation', 'Fun Song: Thai Binh ', 'Teaching My Husband'… Through these, I hope folk music will no longer be distant but become more accessible in today's life.”

Through their studies and training, many visually impaired students in Tuyet Tuyet's singing class have become proficient in singing, playing traditional musical instruments, and participating in performances. Many of them confidently step onto the stage, participate in cultural and social activities, and earn an income from their musical abilities.

In that class, artist Tuyet Tuyet was not only a teacher but also a source of emotional support for her students. Many affectionately called her "Mother Tuyet." For them, the class was not just a place to learn to sing, but also a shared home, where each person found sharing, encouragement, and self-belief.

“Chầu văn has brought me much joy and optimism in life. Thanks to it, I feel a stronger connection to traditional music. I feel very happy to participate in social activities,” shared Nguyen Danh Khoa, a visually impaired student who has been involved with the class for many years.

Artist Tuyet Tuyet performs with visually impaired students. (Photo courtesy of the artist)

In artist Tuyet Tuyet's class, those who are blind are still touching the heritage every day through sound and emotion. Quietly and persistently, that class continues to keep the flame of folk singing alive, not only through music and singing, but also through the belief that the heritage will live on when passed down with love and sharing.

Source: https://congluan.vn/giu-lua-hat-van-tu-lop-hoc-thieu-anh-sang-10323798.html