The flute sound rose from the elementary school roof

Attending a training session on the use and teaching methods of the recorder flute in schools for primary school teachers, organized by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training at Le Quy Don Primary School (Long Bien, Hanoi), I noticed positive signs in music education in primary schools.

Flute artist Minh Hoa in a class teaching elementary school teachers. (Photo: Provided by the artist)

Over the phone, Bui Minh Hoa, a talented flutist and lecturer at the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre, spoke in a calm, warm voice: "I'm currently quite busy with a training program for music teachers in Long Bien district before the new school year. If you have time, I'd like to invite you to join us for a session." Having a bit of talent and a love for music, I accepted and made arrangements to go immediately.

Sowing the seeds of music

As part of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training's program to enhance the capacity of music teachers in using recorders and keyboard instruments in primary school music instruction, Le Quy Don Primary School was selected as the training location for nearly 200 music instructors/teachers from the city. Stepping into the spacious school grounds with its well-equipped classrooms and modern facilities, one realizes that this is not only an ideal location for training but also a truly excellent place for students to practice.

I recognized Minh Hoa the moment we met in the stairwell lobby because of her petite figure, gentle face, and the recorder she wore around her neck. Introducing the work she's doing here, lecturer and artist Bui Minh Hoa said: "According to the 2018 General Education Program, starting in the 2023-2024 school year, primary school students will be introduced to musical instrument and melody content. This is a very advantageous new feature because exposure to musical instruments nurtures and develops their musical abilities/talents, creating interest in learning and playing music."

She stated that introducing melodic instruments into elementary school curricula poses a challenge for music teachers. However, music teachers have complete autonomy in choosing between recorders or keyboard instruments to suit the available facilities and the abilities of both teachers and students.

At the start of the training session, instructor Minh Hoa raised her fist, and the teachers and students immediately fell silent. She then guided the students in practicing fingering notes on the recorder, playing practice pieces, and interspersed the practice sessions with small games to help students relax and achieve good results in playing the recorder.

She gestured with her hand: “When I point to myself, listen carefully. When I give the signal to invite you in, it’s your turn to play. 1, 2, 3, me… 1, 2, 3, in…” Suddenly, “toe…”, a flute note went off-key; Minh Hoa smiled gently: “You only play when I give the signal to invite you. You have to be a little proud; you won’t play until you’re invited.” When the students played well and the sound was beautiful, she never forgot to praise and encourage them… The lesson lasted several hours. Her small figure moved back and forth, guiding and correcting the students’ mistakes. The flute music was sometimes cheerful and clear, sometimes calm and gentle.

Flute artist Bui Minh Hoa. (Photo: NVCC)

Inspire passion

After a long, intense work session, I still couldn't understand where this petite flutist's hidden energy came from, her smile always present. Minh Hoa shared: "I have two passions: teaching music and children. When I had the opportunity to participate in a training project for primary school teachers, I was truly excited, like a fish returning to water."

Although an artist herself, Minh Hoa has a strong affinity for music education. Besides her many years of performing in symphony orchestras, Minh Hoa is also the author of music textbooks for junior high school and teaches musical instruments. She shares that she feels truly fortunate and happy to be standing on the giảng platform.

Perhaps it's this passion that makes managing a class of nearly 200 students so much easier. "You need passion to inspire others. When you love your work, are well-prepared professionally, always share, listen, respect, and put the students at the center, then any difficult problem can be solved. When both teacher and students find learning fun – and fun learning – the lesson will be maximally effective."

Sharing with me, teacher Bui Thi Bich Ngoc (teacher at Tran Quoc Toan Primary School, Hoan Kiem District) said: “Interacting with teacher Minh Hoa is very pleasant. She is not only a performing artist but also has a lot of experience in teaching students. We learn from her both her demeanor, positive energy, and methods of conveying knowledge and approaching students to achieve maximum effectiveness in teaching musical instruments and melodies.”

The path of roses is paved with thorns

Few would believe that such a petite and gentle flute teacher once had a very difficult path to becoming a music teacher. Minh Hoa confided, "My childhood memories of embarking on this 'musical journey' will never fade. That's the strong reason why I aspire to become a music teacher."

It's often said that people tend to treat others the way they are treated. However, for Minh Hoa, it's the opposite. She doesn't want young musical talents – the elementary school students of today – to approach music in the same "harsh" way she once did. Those were the early years of her life playing the violin, when her teacher would step on her four little toes if she didn't tap her foot in time, leaving only her thumb to follow the rhythm. Or the days of practicing at home and getting a bump on the head from her older brother for playing incorrectly. And those evenings when her friends excitedly went out to play or went to the neighbor's house to watch the "Little Flowers" program, Minh Hoa would hunch over, holding her violin and plucking the strings – a sound that, to her at the time, was incredibly monotonous…

Then, one fine day, my father decided to let me switch to learning the flute. After more than a year of trial and error, I moved on to learning a tiny metal flute – called a piccolo (the smallest size flute). My first flute teacher, and also the person who supervised my undergraduate flute program, was Mr. Le Bich. Throughout my 14 years at the Conservatory, I was mentored by teachers such as Nguyen Hong Nhung, Nguyen Trung Thanh, and Vu Huy Dat…

Always remembering her early musical journey, Minh Hoa nurtured the dream of becoming a music teacher so that she could always cherish, love, and find the best solutions for her beloved students and trainees.

After sharing her touching story, artist Minh Hoa gently raised her flute and played a melodious tune: “My village is shaded by green bamboo/ The evening bells ring/ The church bells chime/ Life is joyful in the beloved countryside/ The shadows of betel trees and boats, a river…”. The melody of the song unconsciously followed me all the way back to Hanoi on the Golden Embankment. In the distance, outside the car window, the Red River still flowed peacefully in the fading purple twilight…

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tieng-sao-vut-len-tu-mai-truong-tieu-hoc-242225.html