deliver me ...

A lot of the times, Vietnam reminds me of America - I got take-out martinis in the states, take out noodles, but maybe Vietnam is one step better. How about home delivery KFC and Lotteria ... and of course, home delivery of clothing (not that that is any different at home where i sit awaiting my next parcel in the mail to arrive at my doorstep - the blissful life of online shopping...sigh). Home delivery of vermicelli, of Pho, of Bun Bo Hue ~ the list is endless!

Today, I got my home delivery of a top i bought online in vietnam! 

I also found out yesterday that Vietnam has a jobsearch network online. It's great to see Vietnam move forward and employers can find employees online through the usual credentials/resumes/letters.

The extremities of the rich and poor still baffles me sometimes. Yesterday, we drove past a house ... drive along this street everyday and yesterday, it was down!

right of the seamart is the fallen down house.

Just like that, it went down! Have no idea if anyone was in it, if anyone was hurt ... you can see everything around it is shut down. And today, driving past a construction site, the concept of OH&S is just non-existent. The guy working had no helmet on, and was wearing THONGS! THONGS! sigh ... And then they had a banner strung up saying 'An toan la tren het' (safety about all) ... Vietnam is progressing at an incredible rate but maybe at the expenses of cost-cutting - or lives - or maybe just out of not knowing the right way to do it. Sigh ....

On another note, FOOD. Here is the Hu Tieu place - 

Not just Hu Tieu but Mi Vit Tiem too! Yep - it's 84 Nguyen Van Lac, P.19, Q. Binh Thanh for those foodies who wanna try :)

A quick plug before i scavenge for food - Hard Rock Cafe, 39 Le Duan St, Q.1 HCMC tomorrow night, Thao Trang is performing live for the first time after her CD launch - officially launching it for the public. 200,000VND will get you entry, the album and also a bottle of Coors Light. I'll be performing as a guest - a few songs with Antoneus Maximus and Thanh Bui. It's also my last night in Saigon so I'll be sure to be partying it up so come put your dancing shoes on, have a wiggle jiggle with me!

Adios!

V-A

August-itis

Where did the year go? We're almost 3/4 of the way through...Sydney has become that much colder...complain or don't complain, at least I get to go coat shopping and wear them all without having to think about 4 seasons in one day :)

The last few weeks has been crazy hectic with the National Concerto & Aria Competition in QLD, followed by the 'Rising Stars' Concert Series - Chris and my debut at the City Recital Hall. All I can say is that place has such great acoustics, not to mention a piano which is so devine to play on - Steinway of course...it's one of those pianos which I say anything can sound good on, even Mary Had a Little Lamb!

I've started my Graduate studies @ Sydney Con so that's exciting news for me. Finally onto a music degree...something which I've always wanted. It's just even better now that it is purely performance.

In other news, the Singing & Songwriting Workshop in Sydney was a great success and we are bringing it down to Melbourne on August 15th.

I'm also starting at Screenwise in october as well which I totally can't wait for! I missed Drama in yr 12 due to Music but loved it so much for the time that I did do it. Things have aligned and many people have suggested to pursue that department of on-screen so I can't wait to do that!!!

That's all from me for now. Really looking forward to the rest of the year. There is excitement in everyday...never one the same...never a dull moment.

Hope to see you all soon somewhere around the world :)
love and light,
Always,
Van-Anh (athough Vee-Ay seems to have stuck a fair bit!! haha)
xx

Singing & Songwriting Workshop

I can't help but mix work with play sometimes so here is a spot of marketing for those who aren't aware already :)

SINGING & SONGWRITING WORKSHOP

SYDNEY EDITION

SATURDAY JULY 18th 2009

Want to write your own songs and be the complete performer?

Want to know what makes a good song structure?

How important is stage presence?

Want good foundations to good techniques?

Led by Gold-record songwriter, and Australian Idol 2008 Finalist - Thanh Bui along with one of Australia’s top concert pianists Van-Anh Nguyen, this exclusive one-day singing and song-writing course will cover aspects vocal techniques, Speech-Level-Singing, improvisation, microphone techniques, stage movement, intention, song-writing structures, chord progressions.

Whether you’re wanting to audition for the next musical or Idol, consolidate on your song-writing skills, preparing for Senior Music @ school or just curious, this is for YOU!Complete with worksheets, writing your own song and a performance at the end of the day, this one off opportunity is not to be missed.

SCHEDULE

9:30-10:00 Registration

10:00-12:00 Session 1: Vocal WorkshopCovering vocal health, speech-level-singing, breathing, foundations to good technique, vocal exercises and improvisation

12:00-12:15 Tea break

12:15-2:00 Session 2: Performance TechniquesCovering microphone techniques, movement, understanding the song you’re singing (intention). Technique + Performance craft = Great performance!

2:00-2:45 Lunch

2:45-3:45 Session 3: Song StructureCovering structure, what makes a good song, analysis of 3 chart-topping songs, chord progressions and improvisation

3:45-4:00 Tea break

4:00-5:30 Session 4: Song-writingHaving foundations from session 3, groups will write their own song followed by a performance. The top 2 groups will enter a song ‘write-off’. Winners will receive special vocal and song-writing sessions.Worksheets are included for all participants.

FEE: $90.00

LOCATION: Held @ Vivo Studios, Sydney

STRICTLY LIMITED TO 15 PARTICIPANTS

Full payments of $90.00 AUD must be received by July 14th to secure a position in the course.

THANH BUI www.thanhbuimusic.com

Thanh Bui, last year’s Australian Idol Top 8 finalist, comes back to Sydney having spent the better part of 3 months in LA writing for his new record, scheduled for release early next year. Writing with Grammy-award winners such as Charlie Midnight (James Brown, Britney Spears), Jim Marr (Hilary Duff, Anthony Callea), Michael Jay (Eminem, Kylie, Celine Dion), Andy Goldmark (Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Paige, Michael Bolton), Thanh’s craft for song-writing is seeing him work with great Australian acts such as Paulini, Dean Geyer.

VAN-ANH NGUYEN www.vananh.com.au

Having performed in Germany, Austria, USA, Taiwan, Vietnam and across Australia, Van-Anh Nguyen is one of Australia’s finest concert pianists. Making history as the youngest of her generation to receive her A.Mus.A (aged 9) and going on to winning several national and international prizes, 2008 saw the release of her first classical solo piano album ‘Mise-en-scene’. Van-Anh is currently working on her second album, taking on an exciting new direction, writing originals and collaborations with DJs and other instrumentalists. Van-Anh is the Ambassador of Heart Reach Australia.

ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN NOW:

http://www.vivomusicschool.com.au/main/page_singing__songwriting_registration.html

For other details, visit www.vivomusicschool.com.au & www.internationalartistacademy.com or for further enquiries, please contact Van-Anh Nguyen on (02) 8824 4884 or email: vananh@vivomusicschool.com.au

Hope to see you all there xx