Amidst the bustling urban life, the community-based amateur music class has become a cultural meeting place, where locals and tourists come together to preserve and spread a unique heritage of the Southern region.

I strolled through Ben Ninh Kieu Park on a weekend evening in September. Amidst the bustling crowd, from the "Round House" area suddenly came the sound of instruments and bustling singing: "Ho Xu Ho, Xang Xu Xang...". The sound resonated as if holding back the footsteps of passersby. Curiously stopping, I discovered that a class on traditional folk music was taking place at this place, organized by the Can Tho City Culture and Arts Center.

The class was held outdoors, in an open, friendly space. Everyone gathered together, holding music sheets, singing along to the music. Not only locals but also domestic and foreign tourists participated. Standing and observing, I felt like I was also drawn into the music. The chants of "ho, xu, xang..." resounded regularly, creating a strange connection.

Artists perform at a community-based class on traditional music organized by the Can Tho City Culture and Arts Center.

The atmosphere in the classroom is getting more and more lively. Students are of all ages: There are veteran artists, people who love traditional music, and curious tourists. I talked to Mr. Nguyen Trieu, a tourist from Bac Ninh . He shared that traditional music is very beautiful and smooth. Like the Quan Ho tunes in his hometown, this genre is unique and full of charm.

Next to her, Nguyen Minh Thu, a young tour guide living in Ninh Kieu ward, could not hide her joy after a few classes. Thu said that before, she only knew how to briefly introduce the traditional music when leading tours, but through the singing class and understanding the structure of the song, she is confident that she can sing a few illustrative sentences to help tourists feel more clearly about the traditional music.

Learning more, I learned that the class was initiated and directly taught by Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Kieu Nga, Deputy Director of the Can Tho City Culture and Arts Center. According to Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Kieu Nga, each course lasts 10 sessions, held every Friday and Sunday evening. Students are introduced to the history of traditional music, practice singing the melody, and then move on to learning to sing songs with lyrics.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Kieu Nga confided: "At first, I was a bit hesitant because I didn't know if the outdoor community class format would be accepted. But when I saw everyone from the elderly to the young, even foreign tourists participating, I was really happy and moved. That shows that traditional music still has a place in the hearts of the public, if approached in a close way."

In particular, many prestigious artists such as People's Artist Truong Ut, Meritorious Artist Ai Hang, Meritorious Artist Thanh Tung... regularly participate in the class to perform and inspire. Artist Ai Hang shared: "The most precious thing is that the class has contributed to promoting the value of heritage and spreading the love of Don Ca Tai Tu to everyone."

From a small classroom by Ninh Kieu Wharf, Don Ca Tai Tu has truly been "localized" into community life. There, heritage is no longer a distant concept or only appears in festivals and competitions, but is present right in the living space of people and tourists. This is also a creative direction, contributing to the effective implementation of the Project "Preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage of Can Tho City, period 2021-2025, orientation to 2030".

The class not only helps the younger generation and those who love traditional music to have easier access to Don Ca Tai Tu, but also creates a unique cultural tourism product for the city. More importantly, this model affirms the role and responsibility of the community in preserving and transmitting the national cultural heritage.

Such simple classes not only preserve the heritage, but also light up pride and love in the hearts of people at home and international friends.

Article and photos: THANH HA

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    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/khi-don-ca-tai-tu-thanh-nhip-cau-van-hoa-cong-dong-848772