Music for Peace: Support for Kyiv Suzuki School

Your attention please!

 

A Ukrainian music school, its teachers, and students require urgent assistance. Here is how you can help.

 

In the Akademmistechko neighborhood, in the outskirts of Kyiv, not far from where the Russian advance already threatens the local population, is the Kyiv Suzuki Music Academy. The Academy is run by Nataliia, who is violinist, school founder, Suzuki teacher and also chair of the Ukrainian National Suzuki Association. The school relies on seven instructors and has more than seventy students, ages two through twelve, hailing from families across the socioeconomic spectrum.

 

For those unaware, Suzuki is a popular method for teaching music to young children pioneered by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki, is based on communal group learning and is grounded on the belief that every child can develop talent through early childhood education.

 

Unfortunately, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has spelled disaster for the music academy and community of young musicians. The school has suspended operations as teachers and students and their families have sought refuge in the local bomb shelters or have fled the violence to safer parts of the city and its surroundings, West Ukraine, or across the western borders.

 

School director, Nataliia, chose to remain in Kyiv and reiterated her commitment to support her community until peace returns. The students and their families, Nataliia explains, are either fearful to move to safe locations or lack the resources to do so. With the academy closed, the teachers have no income. And those that have fled worry how they may support themselves and their families while away from home for an extended period. Nataliia remains in contact with them and tries her best to keep the music school community together.

 

We are Arianna and Jay and have been on diplomatic assignment in Ukraine over the past 1.5 years, but were lucky enough to be evacuated before the attacks began. Our four and two year old boys attended the Suzuki music academy and they loved Nataliia, the community, and their time learning violin at the school.

 

We are organizing this fundraiser to help the Suzuki community in Kyiv. 100% of funds donated will go directly to the music academy teachers and students and their families to ensure their safety and wellbeing and for aiding the reestablishment of the music school following the conflict. We are deeply committed to the transparency and integrity of this fundraiser and I invite you to please contact me directly with any inquiries.

 

Thank you in advance for your willingness to help.

 

'Perhaps it is music that will save the world.' - Shinichi Suzuki

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arianna and Jay