Hmong Qeej: Passing down the sound of the Hmong

The qeej is a traditional musical instrument played by the Hmong people, It’s a wind instrument made of bamboo with 6 pipes of varying lengths, each producing a different pitch with each pitch having its own specific meaning. It’s considered a symbol of the Hmong identity .But teaching the younger generations how to play the qeej has been quite the challenge, a skill that few practice today. However The Hmong Cultural Center is taking measures to ensure that the instrument and the traditions are preserved for generations to come.
#hmong #hmongsong #hmongmusic #hmongstory

[@chuevang3936]

I remember the HCC growing up, 20 years ago. As a child in the 90s, I used to attend the classes in an ancient building above a grocery store with nowadays what would be classified as a shady alley.

[@zenitzoo7307]

i was intrested in the qeej and asked my mom if i could play it, but it took a while to find a spot for me and by that time i wasn't that intrested anymore :( I like music and instriments andi wanted to try another one, but managing multiple instruments is kinda hard, i still look up to the qeej but i am not sure about playing it.

[@xyang0515]

I really appreciate the Hmonglish

[@ThatsoooOlivia]

I’m in there

[@maileeyang1905]

U guy's are amazing... Krep it going. I'm also learning from all of u

[@vinnyyanng]

loj tuaj mas, kuv yeej paub hais tias peb hmoob muaj rab qeej ua peb tshuab rau tej pam tuag, cai dab qhuas, thiab tej kab ke, es kuv ho paub txog li ntawm xwb. Yog hais tias tshuab qeej tsis los txog rau cov laus xwb, ces ntshe kuv yeej xav muaj lub siab xav kawm thiab. Yog tshuab qeej tsis yog siv nruj nruj rau peb hmoob kab lig kev cai xwb, ces kuv yeej xav kawm kom paub. Qhov uas, ntshe, ua rau kuv tsis xav kawm ces yog vim rau qhov yus tau tshuab rau tej pam tuag. Zoo li tshuab qeej yog rau qhov tiag tiag xwb, es yeej ua rau kuv lub siab ntshai ntshai kawm. Tab sis hais li no mas, kuv yeej paub hais tias peb hmoob tshuab qeej yeej los lawm ntev. Yeej los siv rau tej pam tuag, cai dab qhuas, thiab tej kab ke xwb los ntawm hmoob keeb kwm. Tam si no peb yeej pib pom tau hais tias peb tshuab qeej tau rau Tshiab Peb Caug zuj zus lawm. Yog hais tias kuv thov tau ib yam dab tsi los ntawm yav tom ntej, ces kuv xav thov kom peb cov tub hmoob, tsis hais tus laus los tus hluas, los kawm tshuab qeej. Xav kom peb muaj kev lom zem tshuab, es txhob yog nruj nruj rau tej pam tuag, cai dab qhuas, thiab tej kab ke xwb. Cov xav kawm ces kawm, cov tsis xav kawm ces tsis ua li cas. Nws nyob ntawm lawm xwb, tsis thas yuam leej twg li! Tshuab xav kom peb hmoob khaws, puag rawv, thiab hlub peb cov kev cai ib yam lwm cov haiv neeg hlub lawm cov. Txawm peb tsis zoo li luag los, kuv xav kom peb txhob txaj txaj muag los qhia txog peb hmoob txoj kev. Kuv tseem hluas kawg, tab sis txua txua hnub kuv pib khuv xim txog hais tias "ua cas kuv ho tsis hlub kuv tus kheej thiab hlub cov neeg kuv sawv cev". Ib hnub dhau ib hnub, kuv pom tau hais tias "yog koj hlub tau koj cov neeg thiab cov neeg koj sawv cev, ces qhov ntawm yeej yog qhov haib thiab zoo-saib tshaj plaws lawm!" Other words, I really hope that we do not lose our essence. I hope the young can feel prideful of who they are, and who they represent. Even if our culture comes off unconventional and eccentric, it's what makes us unique and special apart from others. I've always felt embarrassed of my parents' great pride to be hmong, specifically my dad, I felt as if he was being condescending though he wasn't, I regret dismissing it. I really hope we can have great festivity, celebratory, and rejoice in our culture and tradition. I'm really happy to see these young hmong boys learning to play the qeej! I think they are really cool haha! Im proud of them!

[@pingpong5877]

I always wondered if females are allowed to play the Qeej.

[@paulvang9865]

Females definitely can play it! There are a few that plays!

[@ThatsoooOlivia]

There’s a girl there because I’m in the hcc=hmongculturalcenter

[@tengvang3539]

If you look up the history. it’s actually the Hmong women played the qeej

[@geelor3086]

You have to pay

[@jovyvue2290]

Lub caijnyoog no thiab nyob txog rau tebchaws Meskas no lawm es thaum nej tshov qeej ncig ua lub vojvoos es nej tseem tshuab ua lub suab MAWB... lino xwb los? Thov nej muaj siabntsws siv pobntseg mloog, qhovmuag mus saib hnov Hmoob hauv lub ntiajteb no uas twb yeej muaj ibtxhia tshuab ua tau zaj suab qeej thiab pos qeej ua ntv qeej muaj lub muaj log zoo saib zoo mloog es lawv twb tsis pos ib tus ntiv nrov MAWB... yoojyim thiab tsis ntxim mloog li.