Cambodian Instrument Class

Looking to start your Cambodian adventure on a high note? Do you want to go home with a new skill and a fun story? Look no further than this authentic Cambodian instrument class, taught by Ros Sokunthea. With more than ten years of experience under his belt, Sokunthea welcomes visitors in a warm, friendly environment to learn both the history behind some of the country’s most popular instruments, along with techniques in how to play them. Being born into a family where art was more than just a song or a painting on the wall but, rather, a way of life, it was natural for Sokunthea to continue in passing down traditions and teaching others. His grandparents were musicians in the royal palace and they fueled a passion in him for traditional Khmer music in an age where most people, especially younger folks, have turned away from these traditional sounds. While most of these instruments are only brought out during special occasions and ceremonies, the rich history behind each of them makes them worth learning about -- not to mention they’re a lot of fun to play too! Traditional Cambodian instruments include a wide range of wind, string and percussion instruments. Sokunthea will teach you about their rich histories in this one-hour class that you will surely be telling your friends about for years long after.

Itinerary

You don’t have to bring anything with you to this class, other than a positive attitude, a love for music and tradition, and an eager curiosity to learn something new. Before you dive in and get to play with the instruments, you’ll learn a bit about the history of Khmer music and the challenges the industry faced over the years. Traditional Cambodian musical instruments are used in both traditional and classical tunes and you’ll learn about some of the most popular songs. This course focuses mostly on the percussion family of Cambodian instruments, namely the bamboo xylophone and the ring of bells and you’ll be able to learn a few melodies and put your newfound skills to test on these instruments.

There are many other types of traditional Cambodian instruments, such as the string and wind instruments which include the Tro Khmer (a kind of bow stringed instrument), gong chimes, drums, fiddles, and flutes. If you’re interested in very traditional Khmer culture, or if you are a musician exploring different instruments to create music, then this will be a perfect chance to not only learn a different type of instrument but also to connect with a seasoned, local musician who is happy to teach you what he’s learned over the years.