Sow the seeds of love for folk songs and traditional music in every lesson.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, as contemporary values gradually dominate the minds of children, there is a teacher who quietly steers the ship of heritage to the shores of her students' hearts. That is Ms. Cao Thi Ha, a teacher at Cua Nam 2 Primary School in Thanh Vinh Ward. With her deep love for the folk songs of the Vi and Giam ethnic groups, she transforms each lesson into a cultural space, bringing the melodies of her ancestors beyond the lesson plan to touch the hearts of succeeding generations.
The one who sows the seeds of heritage
At Cua Nam 2 Primary School, the melodies of folk songs like "ví" and "giặm" have long ceased to be unfamiliar concepts found only in textbooks. They have become an integral part of the school's atmosphere, an indispensable part of the soul in every music lesson taught by teacher Cao Thi Ha.
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In each classroom here, students are immersed in a creative musical environment. Alongside the regular curriculum, Ms. Ha skillfully instills in the children the melodious tunes of Vietnamese folk songs and traditional music.
Having been a teacher since 2009, Ms. Ha has always been dedicated to her trained profession as a music teacher. For just as long, she has been actively involved in the arts and culture movement at her workplace and within the provincial education sector. With the aspiration to spread this cultural heritage further, Ms. Ha has pioneered the recording of sample songs, creating a valuable resource that helps colleagues throughout the province to bring folk music closer to generations of students.
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Her deep love for folk songs and melodies has culminated in well-deserved "sweet fruits" on her educational journey: the A Prize at the National Teacher's Singing Contest in 2011, the A Prize at the Nghe An Folk Song and Melody Festival in 2012, the A Prize at the Nghe Tinh Folk Song and Melody Festival in 2018, and numerous music awards organized by the provincial education sector.
Furthermore, the Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for her work in education and training are not only proof of Ms. Cao Thi Ha's individual talent, but also proud milestones on her journey to affirm the vitality of her homeland's heritage in the new era.
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From those brilliant personal achievements, Ms. Ha has become a solid professional pillar and a powerful source of inspiration for the school's teaching staff. The trust and affection of her colleagues stem not only from her numerous awards, but also from her undying passion for folk singing.
During every festival or important event at Cua Nam 2 High School, Ms. Ha quietly takes on the role of overall director, meticulously staging each performance. Under her guidance, the inherently simple folk songs become both dignified and surprisingly intimate.
The boundaries between subjects have been broken; now, folk songs resonate and permeate the pedagogical space, transforming the school into a vibrant cultural environment. There, each teacher is also a keeper of the flame, joining Ms. Ha in continuing to write the song of love for their homeland through these heartfelt melodies.
Teacher Pham Thi Phuong from Cua Nam 2 Primary School shared: "Ms. Ha is not only a highly skilled professional in the province but also a passionate advocate for the intangible cultural heritage of Nghe An. The way she incorporates folk songs into her lessons is very natural, making us teachers love the melodies of our homeland even more."
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Efforts to pass on the spirit of folk singing and traditional music.
Ms. Ha's greatest aspiration as a teacher is to ensure that the stream of cultural heritage never breaks. From this dedication, the "I Love Ví and Giặm" Club at Cua Nam 2 Primary School was born, becoming a breeding ground for young talents. Many afternoons, even after the sun has set on the schoolyard, Ms. Ha can still be seen lingering, meticulously correcting each phrase, showing her students how to breathe properly, and helping them practice complete sentences and songs. These extracurricular lessons gradually grow in number, fueled by the children's passion and the expectations of parents who cherish traditional culture.
Ms. Cao Thi Ha is a role model of dedication. The school highly appreciates her commitment to building the Vi Giam Folk Song Club over the years, helping students develop their talents and foster national pride.
Mr. Pham Huu Lam – Party Secretary and Principal of Cua Nam 2 Primary School
After her teaching hours, she spends a lot of time meeting with folk artists in her area and learning more from artists at the Provincial Traditional Arts Center.
Many late nights, the teacher would still be diligently working on her manuscripts. She meticulously polished each word, rewriting the lyrics for folk songs so that each lesson would not only be enjoyable for the students but also convey the deep affection and meaning of the people of Nghe An province. Each song she wrote reflected her concern: how to ensure that the ancient stories and folk songs of her ancestors would not become alien to the modern lives of her students. For Ms. Ha, this was not just the usual task of preparing lesson plans, but a journey of carefully preserving the essence of her homeland's spirit to pass on to future generations in the most complete and respectful way possible.
Leaving Cua Nam 2 Primary School as the afternoon sun faded, the children's folk songs still echoed in the air. Teacher Cao Thi Ha's silent efforts are daily nourishing the souls of the younger generation with the sweet soil of culture. So that the folk songs of the Vi and Giam genres will not just be a heritage on paper or a prestigious title, but will forever be the heartbeat, the source flowing in the consciousness of the future leaders of the country.
