Nurturing the seeds of folk songs and traditional melodies.

The folk singing class (ví, giặm) is organized by People's Artist Vũ Thị Thanh Minh at her home.

For nearly a month now, the small house of People's Artist Vu Thi Thanh Minh and Meritorious Artist Pham The Nhuan in Cam Due commune (formerly Cam Xuyen district) has been bustling and lively with the presence of numerous students.

Despite being of various ages—some elementary and middle school students, and others still in preschool—all share a common love for the folk songs of the Ví and Giặm genres. With the meticulous guidance of the artisan couple, many children have mastered several melodies and confidently perform various acts . “For the past four years, every summer I’ve come to Mr. and Mrs. Minh and Nhuần’s house to learn to sing. Now I know how to sing quite a few Ví and Giặm melodies and participate in performances at school and in my village,” shared Lưu Giang Mi from Cẩm Duệ commune, Hà Tĩnh province.

In recent years, every summer, artisan couple Thanh Minh and The Nhuan have opened classes at their home to teach folk songs to children from all over the country. The husband plays the instrument, while the wife meticulously corrects the children's rhythm, melody, and intonation. Children of different ages have varying learning abilities… but with their dedication, enthusiasm, and special love for the folk songs of the Vi and Giam genres, the couple has inspired the children in each lesson.

People's Artist Vu Thi Thanh Minh said: "This summer, our target audience is children aged 5-15. For this group, the teaching method is different; we directly teach each lesson with specific themes such as homeland, country, President Ho Chi Minh, motherly love… to make it easier for the children to understand. After nearly a month of implementation, more than 20 children have enrolled. That is a great motivation for us to strive even harder."

The best thing is that the children who come to the class are all enthusiastic and highly motivated. Many of them, despite having only practiced for a short time, have been able to master many folk songs and melodies from Nghe An province. After a few lessons, they confidently stand on stage, bringing folk songs and melodies to the public through local cultural and artistic activities.

Students participate in a performance at the ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing the residential area as a model area in Cam My commune (formerly). *(Archival photo)*

As someone deeply committed to preserving, teaching, and bringing the folk songs of Nghe Tinh closer to the public, for over a month now, regularly every Tuesday and Thursday evening, artisan Tran Van Sang has been present at the folk song class of the Ha Tinh Young Folk Song Club, organized by the Provincial Youth Union at Nguyen Du Plus International Kindergarten.

With unwavering dedication to each vocal exercise, carefully selecting melodies and suites with easily understandable, relatable, and age-appropriate content, artist Van Sang pours his burning passion into every song, contributing to passing on the flame of love for traditional culture to the younger generation.

Folk artist Tran Van Sang, head of the Ha Tinh Youth Folk Song Club, shared: “In this class, we guide the children in practicing melodies and vocal exercises to improve their singing voices. At the same time, we also provide training in performance skills and staging, helping young people both hone their skills and spread the value of this heritage in modern life.”

The class attracted nearly 50 students, guided by folk artist Tran Van Sang and other artists.

The classes not only attract a large number of students, but many parents also enthusiastically participate in the exercises with their children. Some parents, despite having to travel long distances to bring their children to class, have hardly missed a single session since the course began.

“The distance from home to the class is quite far, but seeing how much my child enjoys it, I try my best to drive her there. The children are really happy and excited at the class, and I myself am captivated by the melodies and sing along with them,” shared Ms. Vo Thi Hong Duyen from Thanh Sen ward, enthusiastically.

Parents join in singing folk songs and chants...

From the initial classes with 15 to 20 students, the class now has nearly 50 children from all over the province attending. Although many of them don't sing perfectly or use vocal embellishments skillfully, each song reflects their love for their homeland and pride in the heritage of their ancestors.

"Before this class, I used to practice at home on my own. Since coming here, the teachers have guided me with many more melodies and rhythms, corrected many of my mistakes, and helped me feel much more confident when singing," said Tran Huyen Anh from Thanh Sen ward.

Refining each lyric, shaping each voice… immersing themselves in each melody. In these classes, the distance between students and teachers seems to disappear. The older generations of artisans still pour their hearts into each folk song and melody, striving to pass on and nurture in the younger generation a greater love for the folk songs of their homeland.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, there are still those who quietly dedicate themselves to preserving the essence of traditional art. For them, it's not just about enthusiasm and passion, but also about a mission to keep the flame of their homeland's heritage alive.

Nghe Tinh folk songs are being passed down from generation to generation without interruption.

"A positive sign is that recently, many young people have been participating in the performance of the Ví and Giặm folk songs. Along with the efforts of the artisans, the younger generation is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of preserving the nation's heritage."

"This also proves that Nghe Tinh folk songs are being passed down from generation to generation, from one era to the next, without interruption," shared Ms. Phan Thi Thu Hien, Head of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association branch in Ha Tinh, with enthusiasm.