On Inclusivity: The BFI Suzuki Program
Every Burundian has a song in their heart. -Kirundi saying
February 4th, 2021
By Malaika Butoyi, Storyteller
At first, they did not have instruments. Julie Marner, Executive Director of Burundi Friends International, shares her story. She brought them chopsticks to work on finger dexterity, along with CDs, the Suzuki Method book, and mats for proper stance. Susanna Han, Musical Director of the program, cites Julie’s commitment. She went to a meeting right after they had arrived in Burundi from San Diego, Susanna said. Julie shares Susanna’s perseverance. Even when electricity cut out, she kept going with lessons, says Julie. Even when they could not hear the beat, they kept going.
Julie met Susanna playing music at Founders Chapel at University of California, San Diego. They share a desire to provide opportunities to those who have few to none. On her many trips to Burundi as an English Communications Professor, Julie played piano at St Thomas Aquinas Church in Bujumbura on Sundays. She was often asked by Burundians to start a music school. With her connections in San Diego, she made it happen.
When you give someone an instrument, it allows their soul to sing.
“The BFI Suzuki Program serves as a megaphone,” says Julie. “Here is my story, it is through song. Which makes the program a great fit for Burundians.”
Susanna became the program’s Musical Director, teaching Burundian students how to read notes remotely before they even received violins, cellos, or flutes. She is no stranger to zoom calls. She was teaching with this method before covid-19 made zoom lessons imperative.
Julie first met Aime Ndayirukiye in 2010 at an orphanage called: My Father’s House. They sang together as they waited for the Supervisor to guide them on a tour. She showed Aime a Ted Talk of talented, young violinist, Ji-Hae Park ‘playing her life,’ in a TedTalk entitled: “The Violin, and My Dark Night of the Soul.” The violin helped Ji-Hae to discover how to let her soul sing.
After the TedTalk was over, Julie asked Aime:
“Do you want to play this instrument?”
He was amazed it was possible. “Yes,” he said.
After that, she gave him the chopsticks. He brought over a keyboard which he had learned to play by ear, and she gave him lessons. Aime was then twelve years old. Since then, playing the violin has become his life. Aime loves playing the violin.
Every Burundian has a song in their heart. -Kirundi saying. The BFI Suzuki Program serves the Burundian. Their soul’s song can be heard.
For more information, visit: www.bufri.org
