TNUA’s Department of Traditional Music arranged a course on “Thai Music” this semester. It was jointly taught by Prof. Sanchai Uaesilapa, chairperson of the Department of Music and Performing Arts at Burapha University, and Thai musician Phongsatorn Sutham.

Under their guidance, almost 30 undergraduate and graduate students, and teaching assistants studied and rehearsed intensively for three weeks.

They presented their achievements in a concert on April 27, performing six classic Thai music pieces in two kinds of ensemble: Pi Phat and Khruang Sai.

Prof. Sanchai Uaesilapa noted that when he had last conducted a workshop at the Department of Traditional Music, he had realized how strong TNUA students in learning to play musical instruments.

Therefore, he added, this semester’s course was an advanced training for playing classic Thai music pieces. As breathing is an important element in the rendition of many of the pieces, the course had a strong focus on teaching the students the control of breathing in playing the instruments and singing, he said.

Prof. Tsai Ling-Huei, chairperson of the Department of Traditional Music, noted that traditional music is like a gateway to the world, allowing one to experience the cultures of different countries.

She said the course was much advanced than any of Thai music master classes it had held before, as the pieces were much harder to play and the students had to sing in the Thai language. And the playing of the “pi-nai” was also a whole new experience for the students, she added.