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
December 2022 – February 2023
Sessions: 12/3, 12/10, 12/17 of 2022; 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4 and 2/11 of 2023
Prerequisite: none. All are welcome.
Đàn Tranh can be loaned from Mekong NYC.
Objectives
Classes are conducted in-person or Zoom. 8 sessions will cover the basics and 4 songs: Happy Birthday, Lòng Mẹ [1960’s], and Trống Cơm [folk]. Students will learn how the Vietnamese created basic version “lòng bản” from Vietnamese unique free styles with an opportunity to participate in our Đàn Tranh ensemble in the New Year Tết celebration on February 18, 2023.
Curriculum
Session 1 (Dec 3, 2022):
- Introducing the 3 course songs,
- Tuning
- Tone quality
- Tablature Reading
- Happy Birthday phrases 1-2-3-4
Session 2 (Dec 10, 2022):
Three techniques applied to transform Lòng Bản of Happy Birthday
Exploring Đàn Tranh Sounds using Poems from Wild Symphony by Dan Brown
To prepare for Session 3, listen to “Trống Cơm” Song of the Rice Drum from the core repertoire.
Session 3 (Dec 17, 2022): Tuning, word painting, Wild Symphony sharing, Trống Cơm Song of the Rice Drum: observation, prep exercise for the right hand, phrases 5-9
Session 4 (Jan 14, 2023): Tết date: 1/28 performance, Thumb-Index fingering switch (posted right before Trống Cơm’s tablature), Trống Cơm: Bending exercises and Phrase 1-9, To view class recording: click here.
Session 5 (Jan 21, 2023): Mekong Tet switches to 1/28, so only performance (optional) next week and Session 8 will be 2/18
Date: Saturday, January 28, 2023
Event Time: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Serviam Hall 2848 Bainbridge Ave, Bronx NY, 10458- Warmups: Creating Your Own Exercises
- Performance Plan: Drum opening (Improvisation on A-C-D-E) & Trống Cơm (Melody or Rhythm Part)
Performing for MekongNYC Tết Lunar New Year Celebration
Session 6 (Feb 4, 2023):
- Class recording (Combined and Hybrid)
- Chrome Music Lab for spectrogram, Lòng Mẹ – Heart of Mother (with spectrogram approach)
Session 7 (Feb 11, 2023):
- Class recording (combined and Hybrid)
- Emphasizing the important of improvising with a book using wordpainting strategies.
- Lòng Mẹ Section B.
Session 8 (Feb 18, 2023): Tuning, warmups, review Trống Cơm, Happy Birthday and Lòng Mẹ.
Đàn Tranh Hoa Lá Cành
(Intermediate)
Saturdays:
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
December 2022 – February 2023
Sessions: 12/3, 12/10, 12/17 of 2022; 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4 and 2/11 of 2023
Prerequisite: Đàn Tranh Lòng bản or sending a recorded example of your đàn tranh playing.
Đàn Tranh can be loaned from Mekong NYC.
Objectives
Classes are conducted in-person or Zoom. 8 sessions will cover the basics and 4 songs: Happy Birthday, Lòng Mẹ [1960’s], and Trống Cơm [folk]. Students will learn how the Vietnamese created basic version “lòng bản” from Vietnamese unique free styles, then add “hoa lá cành” ornamentations in Vietnamese music styles, with an opportunity to participate in our Đàn Tranh ensemble in the New Year Tết celebration on February 18, 2023.
Tentative Curriculum
Session 1 (Dec 3, 2022):
- Introducing 3 course songs,
- Tuning
- Tone Quality
- Tablature Reading,
- Happy Birthday phrases 1-2-3-4 with Á
Session 2: (Dec 10, 2022): Absences
Session 3: (Dec 17, 2023): Absences
Session 4: Tuning, warmups, Lòng Mẹ: review phrases 1-2-3-4, repeat Phrase 5-6-7-8, new phrases 9-10 in basic version “lòng bản” then add “hoa lá cành” ornamentations
Session 5: Tuning, warmups, Trống Cơm new phrases 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 (these phrases are very short) in basic version “lòng bản” then add “hoa lá cành” ornamentations
Session 6: Tuning, warmups, Trống Cơm new phrases 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 (these phrases are very short), new phrases 10-11, review Happy Birthday and Lòng Mẹ in basic version “lòng bản” then add “hoa lá cành” ornamentations
Session 7: Tuning, warmups, Trống Cơm review phrases 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11 (these phrases are very short), new phrases 12-13-14-15-16, in basic version “lòng bản” then add “hoa lá cành” ornamentations, review Happy Birthday and Lòng Mẹ, preparing for Tết Performance
Session 8: Tuning, warmups, review Trống Cơm, Happy Birthday and Lòng Mẹ, preparing for Tết Performance
Ⓒ2022 Yes We Can Music, LLC
40 West 135th Street, Ste. 1S, New York, NY 10037
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