Đàn Tranh Course Hosted by Mekong NYC – Summer 2023

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.

Đàn Tranh Lòng Bản

(Beginners)

Saturdays:
10:30 am – 11:15 am
June 2022 – July 2023

Sessions: 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22 & 7/29

Zoom Meeting or in-person at
Yes We Can Music Office
40 West 135th St., Ste. 1S, NY10037
* Sessions 6 & 8 are at Central Park if the weather permits


Prerequisite: none. All are welcome.


Đàn Tranh can be loaned from Mekong NYC.

Classes are conducted in person or via Zoom. Eight sessions will cover the basics and three songs: “Auld Lang Syne,” “Thằng Cuội” (Uncle Cuội), and “Ru Con” (Lullaby from Southern Vietnam). Students will learn how the Vietnamese created a basic version called “lòng bản” from Vietnamese unique free styles, with an opportunity to participate in our Đàn Tranh ensemble during the Tết Trung Thu Mid-Autumn celebration (stay tuned for the date).

Curriculum

  • Session 1 (June 3, 2023):

  • Session 2 (June 10, 2023):

    • Class recording (Hybrid)
    • Compare Sounds of the Zither Family
    • Explain and Add Vibratos on the long notes of Auld Lang Syne
    • Auld Lang Syne (Lòng Bản – Full) with Á Glissandi
    • 1 finger exercise with metronome, starting with 80 bpm then up.
    • 2 finger with metronome, starting with 60 bpm then up – focusing on the nail-attack sounds and angle of playing: 1-2 and 1-3 (up and down)
    • Explain the different types of Á Glissandi and demonstrate an introduction with Á. We will be sharing this on 6/17, covering topics such as fingerings, finger curvatures, speed, two-hand Á, ending notes, and wrist turn.
    • Auld Lang Syne (Lòng Bản – Full) with Rung Vibratos

  • Session 3 (June 17, 2023):

    • Class recording (Hybrid)
    • Review: different types of Á Glissandi: Up – Down
      • One finger (up or down)
      • 2 Hands (up or down – overlapping and different timbre – closer to the bridge or the swallow
      • Stopping with 1 note (Using the same finger with Á or switching fingers
      • Finger curve for louder Á
    • Switching finger when switching directions of the melody.
    • Thằng Cuội (Lòng Bản – Full)

  • Session 4 (June 24, 2023):

    • Class recording (Hybrid)
    • Checking in with last week’s practice revelations, such as the body-instrument relationship, new songs, preferred exercises, etc.
    • Practice Tuning in Class.
    • 2-measure solos (or longer)
    • Thằng Cuội (Hoa Lá Cành Luyến Slurs Láy Vibratos – Full)

  • Session 5 (July 8, 2023):

  • Session 6 (July 15, 2023): * In person at Central Park if the weather permits.

    • Class recording (Hybrid)
    • Playing mechanism: wrist & fingers
    • Review Thằng Cuội (Hoa Lá Cành Luyến Slurs Láy Vibratos – Full)
    • Review Ru Con (Hoa Lá Cành – Bích Tuyền’s singing) – 4 Phrases “Năm canh dài,” “Em nhớ tới chàng,” “Hỡi con,” “Gió mùa thu”

  • Session 7 (July 22, 2023):

    • Class recording (Hybrid)
    • Rehearsing outdoor: Pros & Cons & Suggested Locations
    • Sharing Asian American International Film Festival – Movie 1 (soldout) – Movie 2
    • Checking in with last week’s practice revelations, such as the body-instrument relationship, new songs, preferred exercises, etc.
    • Tuning
    • Improvise
      • Call and Response (Try to keep the rhythm)
      • Short Phrase
      • Á + Short Phrase
      • Á + Short Phrase then Á + Short Phrase (New Ending)
      • Optional Octaves
    • Sharing personal introduction with Á Glissandi
    • Ru Con (Hoa Lá Cành – Bích Tuyền’s singing)

  • Session 8 (July 29, 2023): * In person at Central Park if the weather permits.

Đàn Tranh Hoa Lá Cành

(Intermediate)

Saturdays:
10:30 am – 11:15 am
June 2022 – July 2023

Sessions: 6/3, 6/10, 6/17, 6/24, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22 & 7/29

Zoom Meeting or in-person at
Yes We Can Music Office
40 West 135th St., Ste. 1S, NY10037
* Sessions 6 & 8 are at Central Park if the weather permits


Prerequisite: Đàn Tranh Lòng bản or sending a recorded example of your đàn tranh playing.


Đàn Tranh can be loaned from Mekong NYC.

Learning Dan Tranh

Classes are conducted in person or via Zoom. Eight sessions will cover the basics and three songs: “Auld Lang Syne,” “Thằng Cuội” (Uncle Cuội), and “Ru Con” (Lullaby from Southern Vietnam). Students will learn how the Vietnamese created a basic version called “lòng bản,” then add “hoa lá cành” ornamentations from Vietnamese unique free styles, with an opportunity to participate in our Đàn Tranh ensemble during the Tết Trung Thu Mid-Autumn celebration (stay tuned for the date).

Curriculum

  • Session 1 (June 3, 2022):

    • Class recording (in-person)
    • Introducing the audio of the 3 songs that we will learn in this course: “Auld Lang Syne,” “Thằng Cuội” (Uncle Cuội), and “Ru Con” (Lullaby from Southern Vietnam) – skip because students stayed from the previous class
    • Tuning – Review Music Notes – Đàn Tranh’s standard String Name – skip because students stayed from the previous class
    • Tone Quality: Playing 1 notes at 10 levels from very soft to very loud
    • End of the phrase dynamic: 99% of lyrical melody would end with a soft tones.
    • Tablature Reading – skip because students stayed from the previous class
    • Auld Lang Syne (Lòng Bản and Á Glissandi – Full)

  • Session 2 (June 10, 2022):

    • Class recording (Hybrid)
    • 1 finger exercise with metronome, starting with 80 bpm then up.
    • 2 finger with metronome, starting with 60 bpm then up – focusing on the nail-attack sounds and angle of playing: 1-2 and 1-3 (up and down)
    • (Optional if there are new students): Explain the different types of Á Glissandi and demonstrate an introduction with Á. We will be sharing this on 6/17, covering topics such as fingerings, finger curvatures, speed, two-hand Á, ending notes, and wrist turn.
    • Practice Á (either as pure exercise) or with Mẹ Trùng Dương (Mother Ocean – Section A)
    • Trying out different nail materials
    • Auld Lang Syne (Hoa Lá Cành Quãng 8 Octaves & Á Glissandi – Full)
    • Auld Lang Syne – Bending exercise – Bending multiple notes on 1 string.

  • Session 3 (June 17, 2023):

  • Session 4 (June 24, 2022):

    • Practice for the Farewell Celebration of Mekong’s Executive Director

  • Session 5 (July 7, 2023):

    • Class recording (Hybrid – Both sessions)
    • Review Thằng Cuội (Hoa Lá Cành Luyến Slurs Láy Vibratos – Full)
    • Review Ru Con (Bích Tuyền’s singing) – 4 Phrases “Năm canh dài,” “Em nhớ tới chàng,” “Hỡi con,” “Gió mùa thu”

  • Session 6 (July 15, 2023): * In person at Central Park if the weather permits.

    • Class recording (Hybrid)
    • Review Thằng Cuội (Hoa Lá Cành Luyến Slurs Láy Vibratos – Full)
    • Review Ru Con (Bích Tuyền’s singing) – 4 Phrases “Năm canh dài,” “Em nhớ tới chàng,” “Hỡi con,” “Gió mùa thu”

  • Session 7 (July 22, 2023)

    • Class recording (Hybrid)
    • Ru Con (with the left hand simulating the voice – Full)

  • Session 8 (July 29, 2023): * In person at Central Park if the weather permits.

Ⓒ2023 Yes We Can Music, LLC

40 West 135th Street, Ste. 1S, New York, NY 10037