Untrained or naturally talented singers are eclipsing those artists who have gone through more extensive music training, an artist has complained.
A good singer should not only record their voice but also perform on stage regularly
Students
People’s Artist Trung Kien recently said that as the Vietnamese entertainment industry has developed, several singers who have graduated from the Vietnam National Academy of Music have failed to find popularity in the face of new artists who have better stage skills.
“A good singer should not only record their voice but also perform on stage regularly. Despite being a leading vocal music training institution, the Vietnam National Academy of Music has yet to be able to fully train students to perform on stage in order to foster their future career,” Kien said.
He took singer Le Anh Dung and Ngoc Ky as examples. Dung was an excellent student at the academy, and won first prize at the Morning Star 2007 music show. Ky won second prize in the folk music category of Sao Mai 2009. However, they are barely known, whether due to their lack of stage charisma, choice of songs or poor production.
According to Kien, many of these classically trained singers have claimed that they were not provided with performing skills.
The students at the Academy are just trained in vocal skills but not performing techniques, but apparently the academy’s director is aware of the situation but has yet to come up with a solution, the singers claimed.
Old guard blame audiences
While well-trained singers fail to win audiences, a lot of untrained artists have massive followings whether though their performance skills or well-oiled PR machines, Kien said.
“Even though Uyen Linh was crowned Vietnam Idol 2010 and has proved popular with the public. She didn’t have professionally vocal training skills before. I’ve advised her to attend an official training course,” he said.
The singer also singled out Vietnam Television for organising music contests that allow amateurs to enter. He blamed audiences for not being able to distinguish ‘professional’ talents.
“I not saying that singers have to study at music schools, but they can attend training courses to nurture their talents,” he added.
