But this musical relationship works both ways. Amu Nhan has been surrounded by the traditional melodies of the Cham people since he was born in 1952 in the Phu Nhuan Hamlet, Phuoc Thuan Commune, Ninh Phuoc District in Ninh Thuan Province.
His father is a famous musician who played the Ginang drum, and his mother is a Mu-richa dancer.
As soon as he could walk, Amu Nhan's father would take his son to Cham folk festivals such as Richa Prong (A Big Dance), Richa Kan (Village Festival). Over time, Amu soaked up many elements of Cham music.
In high school, he learnt to play the guitar and soon established a band of his own.
Since 1975, Amu Nhan has taught himself musical theory and began composing. After attending a training course for ethnic musicians in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Pleiku, Amu composed more and more songs influenced by themes of Cham culture.
"I have written over 100 songs with various types of lyrics and styles of folk music. All are influenced with the Cham soul.
"Traditional Cham music inspires my own compositions and I often translate my songs into Cham language," said Amu.
There are many famous songs composed by Amu Nhan, such as Thay Mai (Your Shadow), Kathong Glongloi (My Lover), Chek Tien (Silent Love) and festival music such as Chay Kathun (Epic), Par Kalang (Music to Fly Kite), Po Tanghok (Sailing Forth).
"Through the rhythm and melody of Cham musical instruments such as the Ginang drum, Baranung drum, Saranai trumpet, Kanhi musical instrument, I compose songs. Some of them are called Lang Cham On Bac (Cham Village thanks Uncle Ho), Tinh Lang Gom (The Love for Pottery Village), Tieng Trong Hoi Kate (Kate Festival Drum Beats)," said Amu.
Out of Amu's songs, he likes Dat Nuoc Tinh Yeu (Country and Love), Lang Cham on Bac (Cham Village Thanks Uncle Ho, and Tinh Ca Dat Hat (Song About Cham Land) the best.
He said: "The song of Tinh Ca Dat Hat is about the Cham land in Binh Thuan Province, where there are many ancient Cham towers. This was once shown on the Music Span programme on HCM City Television and won the gold medal as the best song."
Amu said that at present there are few musicians who can compose Cham songs. This is not to do with lack of ability but more to do with a lack of teaching about the traditions of the music.
Amu said: "The musical life of ethnic groups, including the Cham people, is rich and very diverse. Music is closely bound with their lives and is like spiritual food.
Ethnic people feel happier and have a greater love of life when they hear the songs of their ethnic groups on television and radio".
Hoping to spread the teaching of Cham music, in the last few years Amu has opened a free composition course on Cham music for students who graduate from music college.
Each course lasts two months and is only open during the summer holidays, attracting many students from different provinces.