At several centers in Pleiku City, teachers are using music to inspire perseverance, confidence, and compassion among their students.
Founded in 2010 by Nguyen Huu Huong, a graduate of the Hue Academy of Music, the Huong Nhac Center (33B Le Thi Rieng Street, Hoi Phu Ward) now trains more than 50 students in piano, organ, and guitar. Many come from ethnic minority and low-income families. Mr. Huong offers tuition support and encourages his students to perform in annual charity concerts, helping them gain confidence and a sense of community.
From hardship to harmony
One of his students, Y Nhon, born in 2008 in Ia Khuol commune, began learning guitar in 2020. “At first, the notes and musical staves were confusing, but with Mr. Huong’s patient guidance, I learned to read and play melodies. Music has made me more confident and opened up a whole new world,” he said. Now, Y Nhon regularly performs at cultural exchange events across the Central Highlands.
His father, Y Kha (born 1974), shared that despite financial struggles and a 60-kilometer commute to Pleiku, he supported his son’s musical dream. “Our family has many difficulties. My child had to quit school after ninth grade, but thanks to Mr. Huong’s class, he found new opportunities”, he said.
Nurturing love for Vietnamese music
At Quynh Music House (236 Truong Chinh Street, Hoi Phu Ward), founded in 2023 by Ho Nhu Quynh, a graduate of the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music, about 30 students aged five and above are learning the đàn tranh (zither), đàn tỳ bà (lute), and other modern instruments.
“Teaching these instruments is not just about technique,” said Quynh. “It’s about helping students understand and preserve traditional music, and connect with Vietnamese culture.” Her center also hosts performances of patriotic songs during national holidays, deepening students’ appreciation of their heritage.
Eighth-grader Cao Thai Son said learning the đàn tranh has brought him closer to his roots. “Even when it’s hard, I persist. Folk songs make me feel the beauty of traditional instruments and my homeland,” he said.
A mission of giving back through music
For Y Ploi (born 1984, Jrai ethnic group, An Phu Ward), music is a bridge between generations. A graduate of the Vocal Music Education Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, he has taught free music classes for years in Plei Pong Phrao village and other areas, mainly to Jrai and Bahnar children.
“I can play both traditional and modern instruments, so I let children choose what they love. I want to reignite in them the passion I had in my youth, and help them carry the soul of the Central Highlands’ music forward,” he said.
One of his most special students is H’Thuong, a four-year-old Jrai girl whom he adopted in 2021 when she weighed only 1.3 kilograms. Now, she plays the T’rung and beams with joy: “I love playing the T’rung. Father Y Ploi teaches me each note and how to love those around me.”
Music producer Nguyen Thanh Thiet (Thong Nhat Ward) said such classes not only preserve the art of playing traditional instruments but also nurture children’s pride and responsibility in maintaining Vietnam’s cultural identity.
