suzuki in zimbabwe: how it all began by ivy decker jones · suzuki in zimbabwe: how it all began by...
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Suzuki in Zimbabwe: How it all Began by Ivy Decker Jones
“Do you think you are in Africa to teach Math or PE?” my pastor asked me. “No, you are here to share your gift of music.”
A year later, in 2005, Maggie Giles, a Music Teacher at the International School of Tanzania visited Harare International
School, Zimbabwe for a job interview.
During the interview, she outlined her experience of initiating a Suzuki program in Tanzania and her intention to do the
same in Zimbabwe. The Director at Harare International School (knowing that I was a violinist) called me to his office
during the interview and asked me if I would be interested in such an endeavour. My answer was yes!
That same year, Harare International School sponsored Michele Higa George, SAA Violin Teacher Trainer, to come to
Zimbabwe to train Violin Teachers in the Suzuki Method™. I was one of the first trainees in this Teacher Training program.
In 2008 I started teaching Suzuki Violin to 22 orphan children on Saturday mornings in the Church Orphanage with the
help of a donation of violins from the USA and Tinotenda Chikoto, who had done some ESA Suzuki Violin Teacher training
in South Africa. The children excelled from the outset and received an Award at a National Music Festival in their first
year. Since then, they have regularly performed in church, local schools, old people’s homes and other community centers
and these Suzuki children continue to be a shining light in the Harare community.
As part of my job at Harare International School, I travelled to
Italy on a school tour in 2006. Whilst there, I was inspired with a
vision of bringing Zimbabwean violinists to perform
there. Funding came from generous donors in our church and
community with particular support from Pastor Bonnie Deuschle.
After six years of planning and fundraising, the dream was
realised and the Celebration Children’s Orchestra of Zimbabwe
performed in Italy in June 2012.
After this tour, the demand for more Suzuki Violin lessons
became apparent and I began to teach full time at Harare
International School. At the same time, Amy Macy, Suzuki Cello
Teacher arrived in Zimbabwe. Amy was both a Suzuki parent and an SAA Suzuki Teacher from the USA and introduced
Play-a-Thons and an Annual National Suzuki Concert in Zimbabwe. Under the leadership of a Suzuki parent, Mara Galante,
a strong group of dedicated Zimbabwe parents have helped support the National Concerts and Play-a-Thons. This same
group of parents also host and cater for Suzuki Teacher Training weeks.
Africa falls within the region of the European Suzuki Association
(ESA), and in February 2014, Helen Brunner, ESA Violin Teacher
Trainer visited Harare from the UK for a week to see what was
happening in Zimbabwe with the Suzuki Method™. Helen had
expected to see perhaps twenty to thirty students but found
that they kept coming and coming……over 130 Suzuki Violinists!
The ESA recognised the good work that had been done by Suzuki Teachers from the Suzuki Association of the Americas
(SAA) in bringing the Suzuki Method™ to Zimbabwe and the time had come for the ESA to build on this foundation and
give Zimbabwe access to funding from the European Suzuki Teaching Development Trust (ESTDT) to train more Suzuki
Teachers. It was also the time for Zimbabwe to set up a national Suzuki association and become a country member of the
ESA – the second country in Africa to do so, with South Africa being the first in 2004.
In June 2015, Karen-Michele Kimmett, ESA Violin Teacher Trainer came to Zimbabwe from Canada and gave a short
Introductory Course on the Suzuki Method™ to nine interested teachers.
Before her return to the USA this year, Amy Macy worked with Karen-Michele Kimmett to ensure the establishment of
the first ESA Level 1 Teacher Training Course in Zimbabwe.
Karen-Michele Kimmett with Level 1 Teacher Trainees
Since April there has been an exponential demand for Suzuki Violin lessons with twelve ESA Teacher Trainees on the Level
1 Course, including one from Zambia, all working hard to share quality music making through the Suzuki Method™ with
the young children in Harare, Bulawayo and Lusaka.
Karen-Michele Kimmett has also given an ESA Practicum Course for SAA Teachers to enable them to apply for ESA
Recognition and continue their training in Zimbabwe under the ESA Teacher Training Program.
The process of founding a national Suzuki association in Zimbabwe (ZIMSA) is nearing completion with Founder Board
Members being Catherine Stirling, Owen Chimuka, Shirley Warhost, Thembani Mhambi, Vinita Goyel and myself.
The journey continues!!
ESA = European Suzuki Association (Europe Middle East & Africa)
SAA = Suzuki Association of the Americas (North and South America)