Do you like listening to music?
I love listening to music, especially US-UK. My favorite artists are Miley Cyrus and Troye Sivan; their songs always sound awesome to me.
When do you listen to music?
Basically I listen to music whenever I feel like doing so, but maybe I most often do that before going to sleep, when I’m on the bus, or when I don’t have any important tasks to work on.
Did you learn instruments?
I didn’t take up any musical instruments, and haven’t still. I have always wanted to learn to play the piano ever since I was a kid, but never got the chance too. I’m planning on getting some piano lessons this summer.
Did you have any music classes in school?
I used to have music classes back when I was in primary school and secondary school only. I really loved my music class in secondary school – for our midterm and final tests, we had to form a group of at least four and perform a certain song that we chose ourselves. It was so much fun.
Do you think it is necessary for children to have music classes?
In my opinion, children should always have music classes. Music has been scientifically proven to have positive influences on one’s way of thinking and feeling, so it will do people good if they can experience music from an early age.
What do you think of Vietnamese traditional music?
It’s not really to my taste, to be honest. I literally cannot listen to traditional kinds of music such as “ca tru”, “cai luong” or “cheo”. I really like listening to songs created during the war though. Maybe because my dad was a soldier, he often told me stories about his years in the army and so I can somehow relate deeply to those kinds of songs.
How much time do you spend listening to music every day?
It depends. I often listen to music when I’m doing the housework or when I’m on the bus. At that time, I feel like I can immerse myself in my own world. When I need to really concentrate on school work, I don’t really listen to music as it can cause some real unwelcomed distraction.
What is your favorite kind of music?
I don’t have a particular taste in music. I can pretty much listen to everything as long as it sounds good to me. Still, I can hardly listen to Vietnamese traditional music, some countries ‘folk songs and several tracks belong to the classical genre.
When did you start listening to this type of music?
[Let’s just say I’m into rock music]
The first time I heard a rock song was when my dad turned on the TV and there was a performance of a very famous rock band in Vietnam called “Buc Tuong”. It was amazing. I started searching for more songs from the Vietnamese band, and songs belonging to the same genre, and have decided ever since that rock music would be a part of my spiritual life.
How do you feel when you listening to music?
Relaxed and free, I guess. Music, to me, is a way of hiding from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I listen to music when I’m under a lot of pressure, and I just feel so fine. It’s the feeling of finally coming home after years and years of living far away, I think.
Can you play any musical instruments?
Unfortunately, I had not learned to play any type of musical instrument when I was a little boy. I remembered that in schools, teachers always told us to put all energy into studying and preparing exams. The music lessons, along with physical exercises and paintings, were not so important as the schools claimed to be. I really felt pity when I grew up.
What kind of natural sound do you love to listen to? And explain why.
I love to listen to birds chirping, leaves rustling, rain falling onto the ground, waves lapping over the beach and streams gurgling down in the valley. They are the real sound of nature. The beauty is indescribable.
Do you love listening to music?
Absolutely, I am a big fan of music. Music can always weave its magic to give people different feelings. And people say that music speaks international languages. I think it is totally true.
Say, people from different countries can all appreciate the same music.
What kinds of music do you love listening to?
I love so many kinds of music, such as R&B, soul, new age, reggae and blues. Among all these kinds of music, I love R&B most. When R&B singers sing, they perform with all their heart and soul. And I can feel overwhelming emotions coming out from their voice.
Where and when do you usually listen to music?
Actually, I always take my iPod with me, so basically, I can listen to music anywhere and anytime I want. The MP3 has been such a blessing! Thanks to the inventor of the MP3, my music world is awesome!
Where would you prefer to listen to music, at home or in the concert hall?
I prefer to listen to music in the concert hall because I can get the incomparable audio and visual enjoyment. It is something that listening to music at home can never hold a candle to. The atmosphere is overwhelmingly amazing!
Which way would you prefer to listen to music, MP3 or HiFi ?
I prefer MP3. The biggest selling point of it is “portable” and “compact”. And I can listen to music anywhere and anytime I want. HiFi does have the unparalleled sound effect, but it only works at home. There is no way for me to take a HiFi with me when I am out.
Do you play any instrument? And what is it?
Actually, I am not a big fan of instruments. I enjoy listening to music, but performing instruments is not my strong suit. I did learn to play the piano for a couple of months when I was little, but I ended up quitting. I think this whole hobby thing requires music talent, which I definitely don’t have.
How do you feel about the phenomenon that parents in Vietnam are always forcing their kids to learn all kinds of instruments?
First, it is quite understandable that parents want their kids to have the edge over other kids, so they would do whatever it takes to discover their kids’ hidden talents. Learning instruments is one of them. But here is the question: Do their kids really love it? Do they really want to learn it? If the answer is a “no”, parents really shouldn’t force their kids to learn it anymore.
Cramming lots of skills into innocent kids is miserable! I think kids should have a carefree and lighthearted childhood. And of course if kids love it, it can spice up their lives, cultivate their temperaments and aesthetic judgment. And it can also make their kids have the edge over their peers.
How do you feel about those kids who know how to play lots of instruments?
I think they are quite talented, versatile and arty, I mean arty in a good way.
Do you think it’s important to give music classes in the school?
Yes, of course. I certainly believe that music if taught as a subject can improve the performance of students not only in Music but also in some of the academic subjects. It helps them relax and they may develop a taste for music.
Do you think children should learn to play musical instruments?
Yes, I think it’s a great skill and it’s really enjoyable to be able to play a musical instrument. All children should be given this opportunity.
