An exhibition of Cambodian traditional instruments offering hands-on experience and history lessons was held earlier this month at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center in Phnom Penh.
Chin Chorvathana, head of the Khmer Traditional Instrument Exhibition of Cambodia, said it was aimed at promoting culture among the youth. “We want to support and promote the love of Cambodian culture among the youth,” she said.
A lot of students were exposed to the instruments through this month’s event, said Keat Sokim, an adviser for Cambodian Living Arts, which helped organize the exhibit.
That’s good, he said, because there’s a general misunderstanding out there, that learning a traditional instrument can be expensive. “Actually, the price of a class is cheaper than for the price for modern instruments,” he said.
Tang Kimcheng a student from the Royal University of Law and Economics, stopped by to see the exhibit. She said it made her “happy.” “I got a chance to learn how to play traditional Khmer instruments, which I’ve wanted to learn many times.”