Blind musician "lights the fire" of reformed opera: A lifetime of dedication, passing on the craft to students

Blind musician Van Ben, although he lost his eyes at a young age, still devoted his life to Cai Luong music. As a dedicated teacher, he has instilled passion for hundreds of students and continues the journey of teaching and preserving traditional musical heritage.

Van Nguyen was born in 1945, in a land in the South. As a child, he contracted smallpox and lost his eyes. This made his life different from other children. However, that did not mean that his love for music was extinguished. It is known that from the age of 12, he went to Mr. Van Vi, a famous visually impaired player, to learn the piano.

At that time, learning the piano was not easy for a blind person like him. There are no books, no specific curriculum, all based on the method of transmitting the profession through each sound. Mr. Van Vi fidd, he listened, groped with each note and gradually, those sounds became an indispensable part of his life. Thanks to his sensitive ears and excellent ability to listen to sounds, Van Nguyen quickly understood the famous Cai Luong songs without facing difficulties like other learners.

Although his learning process was very arduous and lasted nearly a decade, in the end, with his unremitting efforts, Van Ben became a talented musician, able to play many ancient echoes, a typical music of the nation.

After mastering the piano, musician Van Ben began his professional music career. He became an accompanist for many famous singers such as Ut Tra On, Le Thuy, Dieu Hien. Although he does not appear directly on stage as a singer, musician Van Ben is always present in performances, being the person behind and creating success for each performance.

However, when the Cai Luong music genre began to show signs of decline and touring became increasingly difficult, he decided to switch to teaching. Mr. Van Nguyen not only teaches music lessons, but he also conveys his love and passion for Cai Luong to generations of students. It can be said that, although he is not widely recognized in the art world, he is a person who has had a profound influence on the development of Cai Luong art through his classes.

Since 1966, musician Van Ben has officially entered the profession of teaching. During his teaching career, he has trained hundreds of students, many of whom have become famous artists and lecturers at famous music schools. With traditional teaching methods, he not only teaches playing techniques, but also guides students on how to perceive music, helping them better understand the beauty and beauty of Cai Luong music.

Surely no one can forget the image of a blind teacher sitting quietly in the classroom, playing the piano for students, correcting each note, helping them practice their playing techniques. He shared that, in order for a student to have a solid career, the teacher needs to wholeheartedly instruct, help students correct mistakes, correct their voices and create the most solid foundations for them.

Although he is old and his health is no longer the same as before, his love for music has never faded. Although he no longer performs much, he still quietly imparts the secrets of playing the piano to his class. In each teaching session, he always devotes all his enthusiasm and love to music, especially to poor students who cannot afford to pay tuition fees.

For the students of musician Van Ben, he is a respected teacher, not only teaching them music but also an example of perseverance and overcoming difficulties in life. His students all noticed that, although he was blind, his ears were strangely sharp, he could hear every little mistake of his students through just a short piece of music.

One of his students, artist Hong Lien, shared that, although she only studied for a short time, thanks to him, she has a solid foundation in the profession, especially the ability to appreciate ancient music. Another student, named Hien, also said that, although he did not study regularly, his dedication helped her master her playing skills, becoming a well-known artist in the Cai Luong community.

At the age of nearly 70, musician Van Ben's life is still quite modest. Although he had a long career in teaching music and dedicating himself to Cai Luong, he lived a simple life. He and his youngest son currently live in a small house in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City, with an unstable income from teaching music. However, he never complained, but always devoted himself to art with all his passion.

Every month, on the 15th, musician Van Ben and his son go to the Artist Nursing Home to perform for free for older artists. This is an act of showing his heart for his one-time colleagues who have been with him throughout his career. "I am a poor artist, I don't have much money, but contributing a little talent, bringing joy to everyone is the greatest happiness," he shared.

Although he did not receive great glory, musician Van Nguyen still left an invaluable legacy for Vietnamese Cai Luong art. His classes, the hours he sits at the recessed guitar, are still a great inspiration to the younger generation, who are looking for and learning in the world of Cai Luong music.

For musician Van Ben, music is not only a profession but also a mission. That mission will continue to be carried out by him until the last days of his life, to contribute to preserving and promoting the value of national traditional music.

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