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: “Roar” by Kate Berry (Gầm), “Lý Quạ Kêu” (Song of the Raven’s Caws – Southern Folk Song), and Trống Cơm (Song of the Rice Drum – Northern Quan họ Folk Song). Students will learn how the Vietnamese created a basic version called “lòng bản” from Vietnamese unique free styles
Session 1
Class recording Saturday Feb 15 at 4PM
Class recording Tuesday Feb 18 at 7PM
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: “Roar” by Kate Berry (Gầm), “Lý Quạ Kêu” (Song of the ‘Raven’s Caws – Southern Folk Song), and “Trống Cơm” (Song of the Rice Drum – Southern Folk Song)
Đàn Tranh’s Part and Positions (Swallow Positions, Sitting, Hand Position, Touch Points, Bead Navigation).
String order & Tuning
Training RH Individual Fingers
“Roar” by Kate Berry (Gầm) – Sections 1 & 2
Session 2
Class recording Saturday Feb 22 at 4PM
Class recording Tuesday Feb 25 at 7PM – Part 1 & Class recording Tuesday Feb 25 at 7PM – Part 2 (sorry for the 2-part recordings)
- Tuning Steps
- Arranging the Swallows
- Tuning from the lowest string
- Turning the peg for significant changes
- Adjusting the swallows for fine-tuning
- “Roar” by Kate Berry (Gầm) – Whole song
- For returning students: Add vibratos for long notes.
- For returning students: Add à Glissandi before the first notes of phrases.
Session 3
Class recording Saturday Mar 1 at 4PM
Class recording Tuesday Mar 4 at 7PM (one-on-one sessions for the second half)
Left Hand Techniques – Do’s & Don’ts
Compare Sounds of the Zither Family
“Lý Quạ Kêu” (Song of the Raven‘s Caws – Southern Folk Song) – Vibration in time – Sections & 2
“Lý Quạ Kêu” (Song of the ‘Raven‘ – Vietnamese Southern Folk Song) – Bending in time – Whole Song
Class recording Tuesday Mar 11 at 7PM
Summary of ornamentations “hoa lá cành” (for returning student:
- Vibrato “Rung”
- Bend “nhấn”/Slide “vuốt”
- Tag phrases “câu lót”
- Octaves “Quãng Tám”
Session 5
Class recording Saturday Mar 15 at 4PM
Class recording Tuesday Mar 18 at 7PM
Song Thanh (Octave apart)
– Blocked
– Broken
“Lý Quạ Kêu” (Song of the ‘Raven‘s Caws – Southern Folk Song)
Session 6
Class recording Saturday Mar 22 at 4PM
Class recording Tuesday Mar 25 at 7PM
Trống Cơm (Song of the Rice Drum – Northern Quan họ Folk Song)
– 17 phrases
– Vibrato “rung” and Tap “Mỗ”
Applying ornamentations
– Glissando
– Bending/Gliding
– Song Thanh
– (Tremolos)
For
Improvisation:
– Use “shapes” similar in Lý Cây Bông
– Vibration on C’s and G’s
– Adding ending bending notes (advanced)
Trống Cơm (Song of the Rice Drum – Northern Quan họ Folk Song)
“Lý Quạ Kêu” (Song of the Raven – Southern Folk Song),
One-on-one check-in
Session 8
Class recording Saturday Apr 5 at 4PM (Milbank Chapel)
Class recording Tuesday Apr 8 at 7PM
Sharing Day
Additional Exercises
- Multiple Fingers Patterns
- Quãng 8 Octaves
- Á 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 