The teacher ignites a passion for traditional Vietnamese folk singing in his students.
Having dedicated nearly two decades to teaching, Mr. Nguyen Cao Bang (born in 1983) has ignited a passion for folk songs and traditional music in countless generations of students. He has instilled a sense of pride in the cultural heritage of their homeland in the younger generation, helping them not only to develop their talents but also to connect more deeply with their national cultural roots.
The teacher from the 80s generation and his deep love for the traditional Vietnamese folk singing style.
In mid-November, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Nghe Tinh folk songs being recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, more than 1,000 young people from Nghe An participated in a forum."Young people of Nghe An with Nghe Tinh folk songs and melodies"at Do Luong 3 High School, Do Luong District.
At the forum, a special teacher shared many meaningful stories about the Ví and Giặm folk songs, and also performed many heartfelt and emotional folk songs, much to the delight of the young people. That teacher was Nguyen Cao Bang – the Head Teacher in charge of the Youth Union at Thai Son Primary School, with an impressive record of achievements related to preserving and spreading the value of Ví and Giặm folk songs to the younger generation.
Speaking of his achievements, one can mention the A Prize at the National Folk Song Festival in 2015, the A Prize at the Nghe Tinh Folk Song Festival in 2016, and First Prize at the Folk Song Singing Competition in Do Luong District Schools in 2018...
Recently, in 2023, he continued to win first prize atFolk Song Singing Contest in SchoolsDo Luong district. These achievements not only affirm the teacher's talent and dedication, but also serve as proof of his enduring passion for the folk songs of his homeland.
The teacher said that he was born in Thai Son, Do Luong, into a family with a great love for traditional cultural forms. From a young age, he followed his older siblings to participate in local cultural performances, witnessing the heartfelt renditions of folk songs and melodies.
As he grew older, watching programs on television teaching the folk songs of the Ví and Giặm genres by People's Artist Tiến Dũng, Mr. Bằng gained a deeper understanding of this art form. From then on, he nurtured the dream of enrolling in the Nghe An College of Culture and Arts.
That dream came true; in 2006, he graduated and received an assignment to teach at Tru Son Secondary School. Over time, he changed positions and is currently the Head Teacher in charge of the Youth Union at Thai Son Primary School, Do Luong District..
At each school where he worked, Mr. Bang established folk singing clubs with dozens of students participating each year. As the head teacher in charge of the Youth Union, he led the students in the clubs to participate in many competitions organized by the Department of Education and Training. In these competitions, he personally composed, arranged, and staged folk songs for his students to practice. As a result, in various competitions, both large and small, the teacher and his students became familiar faces, winning many prestigious awards.
Nurturing talent
Under the guidance of teacher Nguyen Cao Bang, many students in Do Luong district have had the opportunity to showcase their talent and love for the Vi and Giam folk songs. A prime example is Pham Thi Phuong (born in 2003), currently a student at the Vietnam National Academy of Music. Pham Thi Phuong is a native of Tru Son, and she has shown a talent for singing since childhood.
Recognizing her talent, and with the encouragement of her family, Mr. Bang guided and trained her to participate in many large and small competitions at the district and provincial levels. Perhaps the most memorable moment was in 2018, when she was one of the students Mr. Bang trusted to play the lead role in the folk song "You're Better Than Me" to compete at the 2018 Nghe An Provincial School Folk Song Competition. With her natural acting style and the experience she had gained from thorough training by her teacher, Phuong and her classmates excellently won first prize. This was a significant motivation for her to continue pursuing a career in music.
Recalling the time she was mentored by teacher Nguyen Cao Bang, Pham Thi Phuong shared: “He helped us embark on a journey to discover the values of the Vi and Giam folk songs. For him, each song was not just a performance, but a connection between students and their roots, with the land where they were born. It was this love and enthusiasm that helped us develop our talents and feel proud of the precious cultural values of our homeland. From there, we harbored the desire to preserve and promote them in modern life.”
That thought is probably shared by many students when they think about Mr. Bang, just like Nguyen Cong The Dan (born in 2013), currently the Head of the Student Union at Tran Phu Secondary School (Do Luong District). With Mr. Bang's guidance, he played a crucial role in helping his group win first prize at the Do Luong District School Folk Song Singing Competition in the 2023-2024 school year.
Interestingly, thanks to folk music, The Dan won prizes in competitions that seemed… unrelated to folk music. This is because he was guided by his teacher, Mr. Bang, to choose this genre to create lively theatrical performances. Or, he skillfully incorporated dry information into the lyrics of folk melodies to create works that were both informative and emotionally resonant. This was a crucial factor in helping him win many high awards at the National Student Traffic Safety Competition, the Dien Bien Phu Little Soldiers Festival, and the Excellent Star Leader Competition at various levels.
"After nearly 20 years of dedication to my students, my greatest joy is simply seeing them grow and understand the value of our national culture."
That also motivates me to continue dedicating myself to my work, to my passion for folk music, and to continue working with my students to preserve the cultural heritage of our homeland in the years to come.
Teacher Nguyen Cao Bang