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"Child artists" of Then village

Updated: 21:30, 08/09/2018
(BGO) - Then village, Thai Dao commune (Lang Giang district, Bac Giang province) is known as the only "violin village" in Vietnam, where the players are farmers. Not only performing in many places, they are every day and every hour passing the flame of passion to young generations behind the village bamboo hedges.
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Ha Van Chinh teaches children how to play the violin at home.

The winding village road with green trees covering its both sides took me to the home of Ha Van Chinh (61 years old) - who teaches students in the village how to play the violin. Just entering his yard, I felt like being in a large concert hall with the melodious sounds made by a professional orchestra. Here, about 30 teenagers and children were playing the violin. 

Seeing the guest, Chinh temporarily gave the children a break and then chatted with me. Through studying and Chinh’s story, I knew that the violin appeared in Then village more than half a century ago by the artists of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra during the time when they were evacuated to the village. 

The first generation of violin students are the ones who are now over 80 years old such as Do Huu Bai and Nguyen Van Bia ...Ha Van Chinh and a dozen others in the violin choir is the second generation learning this art. However, in recent years, due to busy jobs, the number of middle-aged people and youths playing the violin decreased remarkably and mainly those from 55 years old are interested in it.

Seeing the violin playing movement at risk of fading, in 2015, the Then violin choir opened a class to teach children. Children coming here are aged between 6 and 14, and most of their parents are farmers. Particularly, some who are just 3-4 years old also ask their parents to buy the violin for them to play. On sunny or rainy days, in any free time, children bring their violin to the class, learning 2-3 hours per session.

Violin is widely used in symphony, classical and instrumentation. Playing this instrument is harder than playing the guitar and piano. It is not by chance that it is considered as the "queen" of the instruments. Players must have high concentration, with their minds thinking, their eyes looking at the music sheet, their hands and legs playing the instrument. 

From having no knowledge about music theory, musical notes and how to hold the violin, under the guidance of the choir members, now many children can master music pieces of many genres, from classical to modern.

Ha Duc Anh (14 years old) said when he was small, seeing the elder people in the village playing the violin, he felt very interested. Three years ago, Duc Anh’s parents took him to Chinh’s home to study the violin. At first, he was very embarrassed and did not know how to hold the instrument correctly, musical notes and rhythms. The music is also very difficult, with complex rhythms. 

There was a time when he thought he had to give up because he cannot follow. But under the enthusiastic and wholehearted guidance of teacher Chinh, now Duc Anh can play nearly 20 different pieces, including many difficult songs such as: River Thao guerillas, In a Persian Market, Trong Com, Bong Cay Ko-nia, Beo dat may troi

It is hard for teenagers to learn the violin and it is even harder for smaller children to play this instrument. But the "child artists" have overcome all obstacles and cultivated their passion for the violin. 

Over the past three years, nearly 40 children in the village have been taught by members of the village violin choir. The "child artists" have brought many high awards to the commune and district during festivals and competitions. The violin not only nourishes the souls of children but also creates a healthy playing environment, helping them away from social evils.

Nguyen Quang Khoa, head of the village violin choir, said that despite initial successes in maintaining the violist movement, the choir members still have concerns. Many children like to learn the violin but not all families can afford their children’s violin learning, as the price of a violin ranges from 2 to 4 million VND. "If it very significant if organizations, businesses and benefactors help children have more learning tools,” Khoa said.

Cong Doanh

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