Mekong NYC hosts a music class to teach students how to play the đàn tranh (Vietnamese zither). The class is infused with storytelling, especially Vietnamese folk tales and culture, community building through group playing and listening, and group theory, examining traditional Vietnamese and Cambodian songs and pop music.
Zoom Meeting or in-person at
Manhattan Academy of Music & Language Office
40 West 135th St., Ste. 1S, NY10037
You can stick to or alternate between Sundays and Tuesdays.
Prerequisite: none. All are welcome.
Đàn Tranh can be loaned from Mekong NYC.
Tentative Curriculum
Classes are conducted in person or via Zoom. Eight sessions will cover the basics and three songs: “Let It Be” by John Lenon & Paul McCartney, “Lý Cây Đa” (Song of the Banyan Tree – Northern Quan họ Folk Song), and “Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang“ (Missing Husband listening to the Night Drum, the first Vọng Cổ song). Students will learn how the Vietnamese created a basic version called “lòng bản” from Vietnamese unique free styles
MAML Dan Tranh Tuner https://anhthupg.github.io/DanTranhTuner
Session 1
Class recording Saturday Oct 11 at 11 AM
Class recording Wednesday Oct 15 at 7 PM
Introducing the audio of the 3 songs that we will learn in this course, take a listen of these during the next few weeks
Đàn Tranh Renditions: “Let It Be” by John Lenon & Paul McCartney (The Beatles), “Lý Cây Đa” (Song of the Banyan Tree, a northern Quan họ Folk Song), and Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang (Missing Husband listening to the Night Drum, the first Vọng Cổ song)
Đàn Tranh’s Part and Positions (Swallow Positions, Sitting, Hand Position, Touch Points, Bead Navigation).
String order & Tuning
Training RH Individual Fingers
“Let It Be” by John Lenon & Paul McCartney (The Beatles) – Sections 1 & 2
- Tuning Steps
- Arranging the Swallows
- Tuning from the lowest string
- Turning the peg for significant changes
- Adjusting the swallows for fine-tuning
- “Let It Be” by John Lenon & Paul McCartney (The Beatles) – Whole song
- For returning students: Add vibratos for long notes.
- For returning students: Add Glissandi before the first notes of phrases.
Left Hand Techniques – Do’s & Don’ts
Compare Sounds of the Zither Family
“Lý Cây Đa” (Song of the Banyan Tree – a Northern Quan họ Folk Song) – Vibration in time – Sections & 2
Session 5
Class recording Saturday Nov 8 at 11 AM
Class recording Wednesday Nov 12 at 7 PM
Song Thanh (Octave apart)
– Blocked
– Broken
Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang AUDIO – SOUND MATCHING (Missing Husband listening to the Night Drum, the first Vọng Cổ song)
Session 6
Class recording Saturday Nov 15 at 11 AM
Class recording Wednesday Nov at 7 PM
Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang (Missing Husband listening to the Night Drum, the first Vọng Cổ song)
– 2 beats per
– Vibrato “rung” and Tap “Mỗ”
Session 7
Class recording Saturday Nov 22 at 11 AM
Class recording Wednesday Nov 26 at 7 PM
Applying ornamentations
– Glissando
– Bending/Gliding
– Song Thanh
– (Tremolos)
For
Improvisation:
– Use “shapes” similar in Lý Cây Đa
– Vibration on C’s and G’s
– Adding ending bending notes (advanced)
“Lý Cây Đa” (Song of the Banyan Tree – a Northern Quan họ Folk Song)
Dạ Cổ Hoài Lang (Missing Husband listening to the Night Drum, the first Vọng Cổ song)
One-on-one check-in
Session 8
Class recording Wednesday Dec 3 at 7 PM
Class recording Saturday Dec 6 at 11 AM (Milbank Chapel)
Sharing Day
Additional Exercises
- Multiple Fingers Patterns
- Quãng 8 Octaves
- Glissandi
- 7 suggested exercises (Feel free to create your own) – Adjust the playback speed as needed.
Books for Improvisation:
- A River by Marc Martin
Manhattan Academy of Music & Language 