People's Artist Gives Poor Student a Motorcycle, Refuses to Be Given a Car in Return

My students have 4 People's Artists and 10 Meritorious Artists.

- As the only artist whose student organized a private live show, are you happy to be recognized in such a special way?

Since November 20th last year, my former students have suggested this many times. I have many students who are stars but our work is also busy so we don't know how to arrange it properly. The timing of the recent live show was probably also fate when everything was suitable. I was very emotional but not surprised because I had made a promise to my students before.

I just think, there is nothing happier than when a teacher has a “quality product collection” to present to the public. Maybe the audience knows many names of my students but does not know who is behind pushing them to the front. That is the mindset I aim for when performing the concert. As for us teachers and students, we will probably have to do 5 concerts to finish.(laugh).

- How diverse is your “quality product collection”?

My students have 4 People's Artists, 10 Meritorious Artists, 15 friends in showbiz... They are definitely all extremely individual artists.

My experience as an artist and as a teacher has helped me see the personalities of my students. If a teacher can see the personalities of his students and motivate them to follow the right path in music, they will be able to follow the path they want.

Pham Phuong Thao has a very strong personality. On stage, she is gentle and kind like Tam, but off stage, she is fierce and fierce. Thao is like a leader, respected by everyone and her opinions are listened to.

I often call Ho Quynh Huong “Stupid Huong”. As soon as she was transferred to my class, I discovered that Huong was different from her friends. A singer must first learn how to have good sound, good breathing, good technique, and then put emotions into the song. Huong herself had emotions right after learning the technique.

- People call People's Artist Ha Thuy "music witch", are you happy or pressured?

Both! I was happy that people believed in me, but I also felt pressured. There was a period when many of my students won prizes in competitions from chamber music, Sao Mai, to pop music. The more it happened, the more pressured I felt. I tried harder to gain prestige and to have my voice be standard.

I often tell my students that a student's hand can either pat the teacher's chest so that the teacher can walk proudly in life or slap the teacher in the face if the student does many wrong things. There is no mountain to overcome except oneself. Overcoming one's own mountain is the important thing.

Gave student a motorbike, was given a car in return but refused

- What stories or situations about your former students do you remember the most?

Chu Thuy Quynh is probably a student that I remember a lot. Quynh was born into a well-off family. At first, I was annoyed with Quynh because she skipped school a lot. There were days when the whole class almost finished and Quynh arrived. When I asked her why, Quynh replied that she walked to school even though her house was 4-5km away from school because she didn't have money for the bus, didn't have a bicycle or motorbike.

I felt sorry when I heard that, I felt that I had wrongly blamed my student. After that, I gave Quynh my motorbike to ride. I also took all of her clothes for Quynh to wear.

- How does Chu Thuy Quynh currently respond to her kindness?

All my students love me and know my personality. I am a reasonable person and do not need anything. Many of my friends are now successful and rich and they told me that if I need anything, I can just tell them. I teased Quynh that the year I gave her the motorbike, I was rich, but now I am poor. Quynh said she would buy me a car without thinking. But in reality, I just want my students to live well.

- Many students commented that she looks like a "ghost"?

Now I often tease my students that they always "talk bad about their teachers until their mouths are crooked".

I am usually straightforward, honest and follow the point of view of “spare the rod, spoil the child”. My students even tease each other, wondering who hasn’t been scolded by me. Many students are small in stature, I say that pursuing art is a mistake. I don’t let them have any illusions or hopes, but only guide them to the most suitable path to follow.

Sometimes I put too much pressure on my students, which makes both sides sad. I remember a student texted me to tell me not to expect too much and put too much pressure on him because the song I gave him was too difficult and he couldn't sing it.

I just said, it's not that he can't do it, it's that he's lazy. I used to be like that too, scared like you, so I understand and encourage you to overcome yourself. Later, he was given special treatment and didn't have to take the university entrance exam.

-In the teaching process, how do you share with your students about how to behave with the public?

There is a professional ethics concept that we always remind each other: teach people before teaching the profession. I am always proud and happy when all my students love me and do not turn their backs on me. Not everyone has that happiness.

I don’t need anyone to stand in front of me and tell me I’m a music wizard or a great teacher. That’s meaningless. Sometimes I just need a message of gratitude on November 20th to feel happy.