AN GIANG  (VNS) — Veteran Khmer musicians are teaching young people how to play the cha pay (zither) in an effort to preserve the group's cultural heritage.

A cha pay class opened last Thursday in the southern province of An Giang with the support of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Over the next two months, the students will attend the class five days a week to learn about the history and structure of the instrument, the musical notes and how to use the instrument to perform Khmer folk songs.

After the class has finished, the students will in turn teach others how to play the cha pay so it can spread across the province and be performed at community activities and festivals.

Local authorities and cultural experts as well as old veteran artists hope the classes will help to find the next generation of musicians.— VNS