Guitar for youthful dreams

The sound of the piano, sometimes gentle, sometimes bustling, in a small alley in Hiep Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, where there is a piano class for the elderly. The class starts at 9am every Tuesday and Friday. However, just after 8am, the silver heads are all present, meeting with the sound of the piano.

Anyone can play the guitar

10 years ago, listening to the uncles and aunts taking their grandchildren to piano lessons confide that piano was their passion when they were young, but at that time the war had just ended and so many things were happening to make a living, now that they were retired and leisurely, they thought they no longer had the opportunity, Ms. Tran Thi Tho (over 40 years old, founder of the Upponia piano class) persuaded them: at an old age, they could still learn normally, piano is not something profound; but the elderly were still not confident.

So while waiting for her grandchild, in the last 10-15 minutes of class, Ms. Tho invited the elderly to practice, showing them how to identify the first 3 notes on the music sheet and the keyboard. They were able to play a simple children's song right away. From then on, she opened a class for the elderly to have a place to come and satisfy their passion. In 10 years, the number of students in the class has reached thousands. The oldest person is almost 90.

“The most important thing is to help the teachers feel that they can learn, without being limited by any social status or knowledge. I do not return homework or force them to finish the lesson plan on time. If they are busy and have to take a day off, they will still have a teacher to guide them according to their progress. I also do not charge tuition fees so the teachers do not have to worry,” Ms. Tho shared about the pressure-free class. The curriculum is also specially designed with music suitable for the psychology of the elderly (light music, old music and even modern music...).

Even the music theory was simplified by the teachers, with easy-to-remember, personified stories to “popularize” the instrument. Many scholars, after finishing their studies, taught it to their relatives or played it as a gift for their friends. They also admired the elderly playing the instrument skillfully and romantically!

Older students practice singing

Ms. Vu Thi Ly (69 years old, living in Hiep Binh ward) is practicing the song Rieng mot goc troi (Rieng mot goc troi) with both hands, happily talking about the learning method: “Whether you have talent or not, you can learn it. I studied for more than a year, from songs for children, with few notes, then slow songs. Practice the right hand, then the left hand, then combine the two hands, step by step. Each session, I only learn one more note, so I don’t get overwhelmed.”

Uncle Ly has loved the guitar for a long time, but when taking her grandchildren to class, she saw "their playing so fast", so she felt shy to study with them. When she found out about this class: "I know I'm old, but looking left and right, everyone is old, and they all play slowly, so I feel more comfortable studying."

Play the piano for more fun and health

Most of the ladies initially came to the class out of passion, but stayed longer because it was a therapy that helped them feel happy, confident, and improve their memory and joints. Mrs. Ly said: “Retired, the days were long. I was bored at home, easily slowed down, forgot things, and had Parkinson's tremors. I kept forgetting what I said, and when I played with my left hand, I forgot my right hand, but the ladies here were extremely patient. If there was anything difficult, I would ask right away and practice right away.” She was determined to practice many of her favorite songs, and memorized the notes very naturally.

The whole class was bustling with the sounds of the instruments. Each person had a piece, but it was a way for each teacher and teacher to concentrate fully, to feel the pitch resounding from their own fingers. There were enough headphones, but no one liked to use them because listening directly, listening to each other, it was easier to feel this spirit of diligence and hard work. “Thanks to this support, I could sit for 2-3 hours. But when I was alone at home, I often felt anxious after practicing for 30 minutes and had to stand up. That is why I finished the basic course (it took about 2-4 months) but still came to this class to learn advanced, more difficult theory, emotions, and finger techniques,” a student explained.

“Teaching for 10 years was completely free, but in reality, I received a lot in return,” Ms. Tran Thi Tho shared. “The whole class had gray hair, wrinkled hands, pressing this key and that key sticking, sweating but still very diligent. They really appreciated the true meaning of learning, appreciated teachers, knowledge… Music can change us, help everyone forget time, get absorbed in the music as if the instrument also had a soul that blended with ours. As a teacher, I find it beautiful and very happy.”

At 11am, the class ends after singing, vocalizing, and sometimes dancing. Only then do the diligent hands close their books. The interwoven musical notes are replaced by lively conversations and lingering feelings. The elders invite each other to have lunch before returning home... Just like that, the days of retirement are no longer so long and lonely.

KIND HEART

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dan-cho-uoc-mo-thoi-tre-post818794.html