An increasing number of young people are harbouring dreams to become singers, causing a number of centres to mushroom in the city, offering vocal training.

Music man: Popular singer Dam Vinh Hung gives a lecture at the Music Box School. — Photo courtesy Music Box Entertainment

To join the four-month training course entitled Ngoi Sao Tre (Young Star), offered at the HCM City Youth Cultural House, each student must pass an audition and pay a fee of VND4.3 million (US$240).

The Hoai Nam Vocal Music Training Centre, operating at District 1’s Cultural House, offer a course at a less heady fee of VND1.8 million (US$100). The three-month programme teaches vocals, music theory, dance and recording.

The Music Box School, meanwhile, offers courses at three levels, with fees of VND8 million ($450) for the four-month basic programme and tuition of VND21 million ($1,160) for the six-month advanced-level course. Vocal classes at the HCM City Conservatory of Music are taught to a much larger group of students, but the price is more affordable VND600,000 ($33) per month.

The Ngoi Sao Tre course is taught to about 30 students, of different ages and professional backgrounds.

Student Tra My, 19, says she doesn’t have any intention to become a professional singer but joined the class “just for fun”.

Without feeling any pressure to become a great singer, most of the students feel very comfortable in the class.

“Although we have trained in the classes in dance and vocalising, only a few of us can sing and perform like real singers,” My said. “But we’re all very happy.”

Some famous singers, including Dam Vinh Hung and Dan Truong, have been invited to be guest lecturers at the Music Box School, which is managed by popular singer Thanh Thao. That’s why the classes are always packed, and for many teenagers, it’s the main reason to train at the centre.

“I’ve heard that you get to meet singer Thanh Thao very often, and my idol Dan Truong has been among the centre’s lecturers, so that’s why my friend and I registered,” said one girl who asked to remain anonymous.

But student Kha Luan said most of the students at the centre are serious about it and study hard.

“Because the fees are high, no one wants to waste their money,” added Luan, who is also a student at the Marine University.

Singer Thanh Thao, who trained at the HCM City Conservatory of Music before becoming a popular performer, said she understood the demands on young people who want to pursue a singing career.

“The Music Box School not only supplies knowledge about a singing career but also helps our best students to access the showbiz network,” Thao said.

“Without the help of ‘supporters’, the path to becoming a famous singer is not smooth, even for singers who have been trained professionally and gained a lot of experiences in singing contests,” said one young singer, Dinh Ung Phi Truong.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News