Folk Arts – Cultural Treasure Charter School Vietnamese Folk Arts    F O L K · A R T S · S T U D I E S A research project in the Vietnamese folk arts heritage

GOALS   — To know well the sounds and songs from Vietnam as well as from other cultures.

KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES Đàn Tranh is made of light wood, call ngô đồng "parasol tree", the wood is soft, curved up, to serve as a sound box, looking like a tube with a large end. The curved soft wood is kept in shape by a frame of hard rosewood. The strings are made of steel, to enable delicate and strong bendings.   — To know well how to create such sounds.   — To know the physical construction of the đàn tranh and how to set up in order to produce such sounds.   — Understand the song origin and the story behind it.   — Express the story through the song rhythm and Vietnamese folk song style and techniques.

SKILL OBJECTIVES

Technique = memorizing the 17 strings and how to make music with them

Order of the 17 strings:   — pitch from low to high (right index finger plays towards the body).   — pitch from high to low (right thumb plays away from the body).   — pentatonic scale: three groups of the same 5 strings at higher octaves.

Physical approach:   — left hand over the strings, for bending, on the left side of the swallows.   — left hand bending: vibrating, tapping, bending harder slowly, pre-bent and releasing   — right hand over the strings, for picking, on the right side of the swallows.   — right hand playing (picking) by from 2 to 4 right fingers, using rest strokes.

Techniques: fingering, index (i), thumb (p), middle (m), ring (r)   — right fingers, picking: one finger, two, three or four fingers.   — left fingers: mute, vibration, bending, and tapping.   — tune the đàn tranh (using the song "Mother Ocean" and "Exercise #1") or by an eletronic tuner.

Ensemble   — Plays his/her part in rhythm with correct timing for each note.   — Plays wih the group as part of the group.   — Listen to others, and keeps the ensemble beats in sync.

ASSESSMENT

— Correct posture: sits or stands upright, hands in line with arms.

— Movement: not rush, gliding right hand fingers over the strings, using rest strokes, finger straight, not curling.

— Communicates enjoyment with the audience.

— Gets on and off stage with pride.

METHODS/PROCEDURES   — Each song has an audio of the original, which can be played to get to know the song, or while practicing in class.   — Each song has an instruction how to tune and folk tricks for fingering during class.   — Playing together in small group helps the students learn the notes.   — Playing together in ensemble style helps the students learn the rhythm.

ACTIVITIES   — Each class has an agenda, which includes check in (greeting "chào bạn _name_" "Hi [friend] _name_") all around, review of agenda for the session, exercises #1 and #2, review of previous songs, break, and new song part. Check out and sign up to bring đàn tranh home. All in 45 minutes.   — The class is divided into 3 or 4 tables, each has about 3-4 students. Each table forms a group. Group members may change depending on the needs, either to help learning the notes or the rhythm or to concentrate on one problem.   — Individual or group playing to determine individual or group needs.

1023 Callowhill Street – Philadelphia – PA – 19123 Site managed by Yes We Can Music, LLC