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

Đàn Tranh Ensemble
Vietnamese 16-string zither
by Teacher Phan Gia Anh-Thư & Teacher Linda R. Zhang, & Teacher Ngô Thanh Nhàn
Nov 21, 2024 07:48:50
Required Reading
What is
đàn tranh?
Asian Tranh
zither family
Natural
Pentatonic
with
Bobby
McFerrin
Student's
Pledges
Rubrics
Lesson
Plan
Set up Đàn Tranh before class
Defabee
contact tuner
Get a PC
Online Tuner,
Tuner Ninja,
...
Tuning
a đàn tranh
Replacing
a broken string
Upkeep
a đàn tranh
Đ À N   T R A N H   S O N G   R E P E R T O I R E
*Notes: ✓ songs are required — ❦ songs for extra credits
✓ 01-Exercise-1 ✓ 02-Exercise-2 ✓ 03-Me-Trung-Duong-sung ✓ 03-Me-Trung-Duong-Melody ✓ 05-Twinkle-Twinkle-Little-Star
✓ 04-Baby-Shark ✓ 07-Mot-Me-Tram-Con ✓ 08-Khong-Minh-toa-lau-melody ✓ 08-Khong-Minh-toa-lau-octave ✓ 17-tung-quan-dang-dan
✓ 10-Mò-li-huā ✓ 12-Thang-Cuoi ✓ 28-Yellow-Submarine-Melody ✓ 50-When-I-Rise ✓ 29-Gong-Xi-Gong-Xi-Melody

2024-2025 CALENDAR
Fridays, September 20, 2024 — June 6, 2025
Grades 5-6 at 10:33am - 11:18am
Grades 7-8 at 11:20am - 12:05pm
Online Office Hours: Mondays 5:00pm–6:00pm, except holidays, at Office Hour Zoom link

◉ Fall Session #1
September 20, 2024
to December 20, 2024
Class #1
2024-09-20
Introduction:
— Roll call and Say hi table group members
— Introduction to đàn tranh sheet
— Assignment of Đàn Tranh
— One finger exercise
— Handling of đàn tranh in class.		Class #2
2024-09-27
Introduction:
— Teacher Claire Denny, Rubrics & personal goals
— Tuning: strings #1 & #2,
— Reading Tablature of Đàn Tranh
— One finger, two fingers: Exercise #1
— Tablature Handout: Exercise #1 and Baby Shark.		Class #3
2024-10-04
Introduction: Check-in, Students pledges
— Contact Tuner: introduction and uses: tuning and metronome
— Reading Tablature of Đàn Tranh
— When I Rise of Plum Village (Song for Peace Celebration).		Class #4
2024-10-18
Introduction: Check-in
— Contact Tuner: introduction and uses: tuning
— Reading Tablature of Đàn Tranh
— Baby Shark, Middle (for new students)
— Baby Shark, Intro+Middle+Ending: (for returning students)		Class #5
2024-10-25
◼ Tune đàn Tranh strings #1
— Introduction: Check-in
— Contact Tuner: first session
— Exercise tuning strings in class, session #1
— Baby Shark, Middle (for new students)
— Baby Shark, Intro+Middle+Ending: (for returning students)
— Mẹ Trùng dương with Hợp Ca (full version)


Class #6
2024-11-01
◼ Change đàn Tranh strings #1 & #2
— Contact Tuner: review
— Exercise changing strings, review
— Halloween #1 Trick or Trick
— Mẹ Trùng dương with Hợp Ca, Level 1: loop practice
   1. Section A
   2. Section B
   3. Section C
   4. Section C' Ending.		Class #7
2024-11-15
◼ Change đàn Tranh strings #1 & #17
— Contact Tuner: final review & Office Hours help
— Exercise changing strings, introduction.
◼ Excercise #1 & #2
— Mẹ Trùng dương:
   1. Section A (loop)
   2. Section B (loop)
   3. Section C (loop)
   4. Section Ending (loop)
◼ New Song: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children].		Class #8
2024-11-22
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Office Hour: Mondays, except holidays, 5:00pm, on Zoom.
◼ Changing đàn Tranh strings, session #2
◼ Excercise #2
◼ Grades 5-6: play a song well to bring đàn tranh home.
◼ Mẹ Trùng dương with Hợp Ca
◼ New Song with one string changed: Yellow Submarine.		Class #9
2024-12-06
5-6: Portfolio #2
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Office Hour: Mondays, 5:00pm, on Zoom.
◼ Changing đàn Tranh strings, session #3
◼ Excercise #2
◼ Mẹ Trùng dương
◼ Pop Song: Yellow Submarine
◼ Song with Mutes: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children].		Class #10
2024-12-13
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Office Hours: Mondays, 5:00pm on Zoom.
◼ Teacher Linda: Ear Training #2 (10')
◼ Practice: Excercise #2
◼ Review: Mẹ Trùng dương [Mother Ocean]
◼ Pop: Yellow Submarine [Tàu ngầm Vàng]
◼ Mutes: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children].

2024-12-17
Celebration of Peace
◼ Teacher Bailey Dean: When I Rise A Song of the Plum Village.		Class #11
2024-12-20
7-8: Portfolio #2
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Office Hours: Mondays, 5:00pm on Zoom.
◼ Teacher Linda: Stroke Techniques #2 (10')
◼ Practice: Excercise #2
◼ Review: Mẹ Trùng dương [Mother Ocean]
◼ Pop: Yellow Submarine [Tàu ngầm Vàng]
◼ Mutes: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children].
◼ Intro to Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Melody [On Top of the Citadel]
WINTER BREAK







◉ Winter Session #2
January 10, 2025
to March 21, 2025
Đàn Tranh Repertoire		Class #12
2025-01-10
View Portfolio #2
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Teacher Linda: Tuning and Rhythm #3 (10')
◼ Practice: Excercise #2
◼ Review:
— Mẹ Trùng dương [Mother Ocean]
— Yellow Submarine [Tàu ngầm Vàng]
— Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children].
◼ Song: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]		Class #13
2025-01-17
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Prepare for FACTS Lunar New Year 2025
    1. Review: Exercise #1 & #2
    2. Review: Mẹ Trùng dương [Mother Ocean].
    3. Review: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children].
    4. Song: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel].
    5. Uniform, entrance, while on stage, and exit stage, song introduction.		Class #14*
2025-01-24 snow out
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Prepare for FACTS Lunar New Year 2025
    1. Warm up: Exercise #1 & #2
    2. Review: Mẹ Trùng dương [Mother Ocean].
    3. Review: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children].
    4. Song: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel].
    5. Uniform, entrance, while on stage, and exit stage, song introduction.		Class #15
2025-01-31
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Prepare for FACTS Lunar New Year 2025:
    Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children]
    Complete Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
    Uniform, entrance, while on stage, and exit stage, song introduction.		Class #16
2025-02-07
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Prepare for FACTS Lunar New Year 2025:
— New: Exercise 2 Octave
— Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children]
— Complete Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
— Uniform, entrance, while on stage, and exit stage, song introduction.

2025-02-14
Lunar New Year 2025
Class #17
2025-02-21
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Lesson: Introducing glyssando styles on đàn tranh.
1. Review: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children]
2. Expand:     Exercise 2
3. Expand:     Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Melody [On Top of the Citadel]
4. New:     Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]		Class #18
2025-02-28
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Lesson: glissandos with Exercise #2
1. Review: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children]
2. Expand to octave:     Exercise 2
3. Apply glissandos to:     Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
4. New: 茉莉花 Mò li huā [Jasmine Flower].		Class #19
2025-03-07
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (15')
◼ Lesson: octave stops with Exercise #2
1. Expand to octave:     Exercise 2
2. Apply glissandos to:     Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
3. New: 茉莉花 Mò li huā [Jasmine Flower].		Class #20
2025-03-14
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (15')
◼ Lesson: octave stops with Exercise #2
1. Expand to octave:     Exercise 2
2. Apply glissandos to:     Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
3. Bending down: 茉莉花 Mò li huā [Jasmine Flower].		Class #21
2025-03-21
Portfolio #3
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (15')
◼ Lesson: octave stops with Exercise #2
1. Expand to octave:     Exercise 2
2. Apply glissandos to:     Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
3. Glissandos & Bending up/down: 茉莉花 Mò li huā [Jasmine Flower].


Class #22
2025-03-28
Portfolio #3
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (15')
◼ Lesson: octave stops with Exercise #2
1. Expand to octave:     Exercise 2
2. Apply glissandos to:     Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
3. Glissandos & Bending up/down: 茉莉花 Mò li huā [Jasmine Flower].
SPRING BREAK







◉ Spring Session #3
April 4, 2025
to June 6, 2025
Class #23
2025-04-04
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Lessons: Double stops, arpeggios, vibrations, taps.
1. Review: Exercise 2: octave.
2. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Melody [On Top of the Citadel] with double stops
3. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
4. Improvisation: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children] with 3rd double stops		Class #24
2025-04-11
◼ Kindergarten Visit
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Lessons: Double stops, arpeggios, vibrations, taps.
1. Review: Exercise 2: octave.
2. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Melody [On Top of the Citadel] with double stops
3. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
4. Improvisation: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children] with 3rd double stops		Class #25
2025-05-02
◼ Kindergarten Visit
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Lessons: Double stops, arpeggios, vibrations, taps.
1. Review: Exercise 2: octave.
2. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Melody [On Top of the Citadel] with double stops
3. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
4. Improvisation: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children] with 3rd double stops		Class #26
2025-05-09
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ Lessons: Double stops, arpeggios, vibrations, taps.
1. Review: Exercise 2: octave.
2. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Melody [On Top of the Citadel] with double stops
3. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Octave [On Top of the Citadel]
4. Improvisation: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children] with 3rd double stops		Class #27
2025-05-16
Spring Showcase
◼ 08:12am: Showcase for K-2 (Grade 8)
◼ 08:59am: Showcase for K-2 (Grade 7)
◼ 11:15am: All Students To Annex
◼ Rehearsal
◼ 1:00 pm: All Đàn Tranh students (First program)


Class #28
2025-05-23
1. Review: Exercise 2: octave.
2. Review: Khổng Minh Toạ Lầu Melody [On Top of the Citadel] with double stops
3. Improvisation: Một Mẹ Trăm Con [One Mother, A Hundred Children]
◼ Performance for City Hall AAPI Month, May 25, 2024 at 5:30pm?		Class #29
2025-06-06
Last Classes
View Spring Showcase & Final Evaluation
◼ Tuning đàn Tranh (5')
◼ New folk song: 茉莉花 Mò li huā [Jasmine Flower]

Special thanks to:
Asian Americans United, Philadelphia Folklore Project, Mekong Arts & Music.
1023 Callowhill Street – Philadelphia – PA – 19123
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