Tok has been involved in running the club that his grandfather founded 15 years ago.
More youths in Johor are increasingly embracing the traditional musical instruments, favouring them over the modern western counterparts.
Yong Wah Heng Music and Drama Club secretary Andy Tok has observed an increase in interest among the younger generation over the years.
“Thanks to parents who have been supportive by bringing their young children to learn traditional musical instruments at our club, we have a good number of young members.
“Some joined us while they were in school and it is touching that many still return to help out, especially when we have major performances, even while pursuing their tertiary studies overseas.
“However, it hasn’t been easy to get youths to join our activities.
“The challenge is to make traditional musical arts appealing to them,” he said.
As such, the club has been promoting its activities on social media to attract more youths.
Its members range from teenagers to people in their 80s, underscoring the role that seniors play in imparting their knowledge and skills to the newer members.
Tok’s grandfather Tan Pong Ka founded the club 15 years ago with the objective of passing down Teochew traditions including the dialect, traditional musical instruments, singing and opera.
Free lessons are given at the club’s premises in Plentong, Johor Jaya.
The club has also been actively involved in spreading Teochew traditional arts among students through collaborations with schools and villages in other parts of Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur.
“There is no sheet music when we perform.
“We are guided by one lead musical instrument performer and we play according to the overall emotion and mood, so the outcome is different each time. That makes it interesting for the audience as well,” said Tok, who has a full-time job and contributes to the club on a voluntary basis.
At the club, members get to learn at least eight traditional musical instruments such as string instruments like erhu and yehu, Teochew big drums and yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer).
In conjunction with the club’s 15th anniversary, the club will be performing classic Teochew music at the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House in Johor Baru on Saturday at 8pm.
About 90% of the tickets have been sold, according to Tok.
Similarly, the Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) Johor Baru also gives youths many opportunities to perform in public.
Its assistant treasurer R. Shravan said, “With more than 400 students participating in seven disciplines such as traditional dance, singing, musical instruments, yoga and Tamil classes, there is no shortage of young talents in TFA.
“Giving them an opportunity to perform motivates them to pursue the arts and also acknowledges their hard work and efforts.
“TFA gives children a platform to learn wholesome activities and it preserves Indian culture at the same time,” he said.
“Our participants are as young as six years old, and the interest among the younger generation is increasing.
“Although they were brought in by their parents but as they grow, they discover their interest in the arts and develop a passion for it.”
Shravan said TFA was also looking forward to working with schools to promote Indian culture to get more young people interested in learning the performing arts.
“We recently received a grant from the Iskandar Regional Development Authority and Think City to organise performances and we are planning to apply for more grants to increase public awareness of traditional Indian arts,” he said.
TFA in Jalan Dapat, Johor Baru, has been operating for 29 years, and its centre is now undergoing renovations.
Shravan said the renovation project, to provide a more comfortable learning environment for members, was expected to be completed by the end of next year.
Yong Wah Heng Music and Drama Club can be reached at 017-909 2077 and TFA Johor Baru at 07-222 7400.
Tok has been involved in running the club that his grandfather founded 15 years ago.
Shravan says giving youths an opportunity to perform motivates them to pursue the arts.
