Vietnam's music education is undergoing major changes

Looking back on your composing journey, who do you think is the greatest teacher in your music?

- I was lucky to learn from wonderful teachers in my composing career, Professor Pham Minh Khang, musician Nguyen Kim, musician Tran Manh Hung and Associate Professor, Dr. Musician Do Hong Quan. In addition, friends and colleagues also gave me many valuable lessons about how to produce programs, professional style and professional ethics.

For you, how is the concept of "teacher" in art different from other professions?

- Due to the nature of art teaching in the form of 1 vs 1, teachers like us will often pay attention to the special and natural abilities of each student. Each person has a different quality and the task of a teacher is to help each individual find the most suitable musical path for themselves.

In your career journey, what are the memories that make you remember most when standing in the role of a music teacher?

- I participate in teaching and have the opportunity to accompany many very different generations of students, some are excellent, some are in difficult circumstances but are determined and passionate about music, some are even have psychological problems. But thanks to the miraculous power of music, many students have found a suitable career path, more stable and more stable mentally.

For me, every November 20th has a very special and memorable meaning. When I became a lecturer, I truly felt the full meaning and responsibility of the teaching profession. The maturity and success of students, whether big or small, are the most deserving rewards for teachers like us.

How do you evaluate the current music education environment in Vietnam?

- Vietnamese music education is currently undergoing major changes, from social awareness, family to the music lecturer team. As the world opens up more and technology develops faster, the aesthetics of young people are also more modern, approaching international standards. That forces music educators to change faster so as not to become slow or outdated in teaching methods and knowledge systems. The goal is to help learners absorb new trends quickly, integrate into new trends while still maintaining a solid foundation.

Young people who love music today have many opportunities, but there are certainly many challenges. What obstacles are they facing and what is the core to helping them mature?

- Young people today have the opportunity to access music faster and more freshly than ever. They understand more about music genres around the world. However, because the amount of information is too large and updated too quickly, they need teachers to equip them with solid foundational knowledge to know how to control and develop in the right direction.

Currently, the thinking of society has also changed: Music is introduced to schools from primary and secondary schools. Although not really profound, this shows the growing interest in building an early music foundation for children. Music is no longer just a talented subject, but has gradually become a basic skill that anyone can access and learn. That contributes significantly to the formation of aesthetic perspective, partly contributing to nurturing in each person the ability to vibrate with life.