LAMPANG – A 6-year-old girl named “Nong Lin” is getting national attention in northern Thailand for a rare skill. She plays the khong wong (a traditional Thai gong circle) with confidence while performing alongside adults. In some moments, she barely looks at the gong keys, yet she keeps the melody moving.
A short clip of Nong Lin playing with her father, who performs on the pi (also called “nae”), has been shared online and praised by many viewers. People who see her perform often talk about her timing, calm focus, and how naturally she fits into a full band.
The young girl lives in Ban Kad Tai, Pong Saen Thong Subdistrict, Mueang District, Lampang. Her father is Jaruay Chaiwan, known in the local music scene as “Samruay Nae Thong.” He leads the folk music group “Nae Thong Sin“ (แนทองศิลป์). In this tradition, “nae” refers to the pi, the wind instrument he plays.
The band performs as a full ensemble with 8 members. Most of the group are older relatives who have kept the music going for years, while Nong Lin is the youngest member.
Nong Lin, whose full name is Prarika Chaiwan, studies at Ban Fon Witthaya School. In the band, she plays the khong wong, which many musicians consider one of the hardest instruments to master.
The girl performs with adults, without missing a beat.
During a practice performance, Nong Lin played smoothly with the full group. She stayed on rhythm, followed changes, and blended with the ensemble as she had done for years. Because of her steady hands and sharp memory, she can sometimes play without watching the gongs closely, which surprises many listeners.
Her father said their band usually plays with about eight instruments, and accepts bookings across Thailand for many types of events, such as funerals, auspicious ceremonies, blessings, ordinations, and community rituals. Depending on the customer’s request, some jobs may also add computer-based accompaniment.
According to her father, Nong Lin has liked music from the start. Once she showed interest, he chose to teach her the khong wong first, even though it is difficult. He trained her step by step, and within less than a year, she learned quickly and built strong control.
Right now, the young girl can play and remember about 20 songs. Her father also teaches her challenging local folk pieces early, and she continues to improve with each event. Because she often joins the band on performances, some audience members offer her tips, sometimes 1,000 to 2,000 baht per event, as encouragement.
Quiet but determined, Nong Lin says she wants more chances to perform and is ready to join any event with the group.
Anyone who wants to hire “Nae Thong Sin” for funerals, ordinations, celebrations, consecrations, or ritual events can contact the band directly.
- Starting price in the Lampang city area: 6,500 baht per job
- Outside the area: additional costs may apply (fuel, travel, lodging, and other necessary expenses)
- Contact numbers: 08-9980-5881, 08-4616-5853
