Summer Music Classes

Each summer, the Diocese of Phat Diem offers a six-week program of music study. The students take keyboard lessons and singing class. This prepares them to be part of the choirs in their home church and many go on to become music teachers. For this, the fee is very low and the students are fed all three meals. Many go home on weekends, but some stay. Seminarians and pre-seminarians do the teaching, one of whom has a music degree from the Ha Noi Conservatory. When I took these photos, each class was practicing solfeggio, the art of singing using syllables (do-re-mi, etc.). It helps them to hear the music when they see it on the page. There are no chords for church music, so each keyboard player makes up his or her own harmonies.

Since I also studied music, it was fun for me to help teach and be a part of some of the classes. When they practice keyboard, you can imagine the sound of everyone playing at the same time with the teacher roaming to listen. No, there are no headphones. Hmm...maybe that would be a good idea.

The music classes last three years. This year is the first year in a cycle. There are two tests each summer, and those who pass the tests are asked to come again the next summer. By the third year, ther are perhpas only 30 students, but they are the ones who work hard and practice many hours both here in the summer and at home after school.

This is the advanced class working on an especially difficult solfeggio exercise.