For months, MusiCares worked with the organisers of the Ma Wan Easter Egg hunt to make a plan for them to be able to assist with the easter egg hunt itself, as well as providing music for the event. In spite of weather, illness and other challenges which severely curtailed their numbers, a few MusiCares students did brave the weather to fulfil their group’s commitment. Here’s their story of the experience:

~by Amarbir, MaryChun and Naphat

We arrived at Ma Wan to play violin and help with the easter egg hunt. We were supposed to play violin at 1:00 and 3:00, but at 1 o’clock it started raining very lightly. We decided not to play that time because it would not be safe to take out our instruments as they would get wet.

We waited for the first easter egg hunt to finish, then held hands with the other staff and formed a human chain to clear the people off the sand. Then we joined assistants to help bury more easter eggs into the sand using spades. In some of the egg hunts there was light rain, but the staff didn’t allow the people doing the egg hunts to open their umbrella just in case the umbrella might hurt someone.

It was very fun helping the staff bury the eggs. After 1:30 the staff announced that this might be the last egg hunt for today because the weather started getting more humid and the sky looked very dark. When that egg hunt was finished the weather forecast said that it was becoming amber warning as the rain started pouring heavily. We had to hurry and clear off the last people and get all of our belongings and go on the coach.

~ by Ms. Monica

I am so excited after my time spent at the European Suzuki Viola Gathering 2019.  There were 280 people there from 19 countries…all for the viola!  Some were family members, but we had SO MANY VIOLAS all playing on stage together.  Even though we didn’t all speak the same language, we were able to communicate through our music.  https://youtu.be/vD_ei8OwnRM

I was invited to teach a parent class; isn’t it wonderful that you, like so many others around the world, are doing something so special with your children??  This is a one-of-a-kind event…I’ve never been to anything with so many violas in one place before, and with no other instruments! It was truly magical to be surrounded by our rich viola tone.

This year, the event was held in El Escorial, Spain.  It’s about an hour north of Madrid, and was a former capital of Spain.  I got to visit the Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We had students from Pre-Twinkle all the way up through Book 6, and it is growing each and every time we meet.  Two years ago, we were in Watford, which is just outside of London.  I feel so privileged to use Suzuki Viola as a way to explore the world, but especially as a way to meet students all over the globe.  Perhaps in two years time, you’ll join me?

MusiCares thanks all of the students and their families who donated books for Nurture- an Initiative for Children’s Education’s project to build 50 libraries in the Philippines for children who do not have access to books.  

Your generosity will make a big difference in the lives of children in the Philippines.

As Dr. Suzuki said, “Live by looking for things to do for other people.”

      “Character First, Then Ability”    ~Shinichi Suzuki

The Box is ready!   Please bring your English Language Children’s books when you come to KSMA between now and 27 October!

• MusiCares is aiming to have donated books to help the group of the Nurture- an Initiative for Children’s Education.

• Its goal is to have enough books so that the organisation can make 50 more libraries in the Philippines, but…they’ve only made one so far!

• You can help by donating any English books that are un-needed, or any unwanted books that are appropriate from the ages 2 to 18!

• By donating these books it will help in the process of building more libraries for undeveloped schools in the Philippines.

• So, is there a deadline? Well, all the books that your thinking of donating should be donated BY Saturday, October 27th.

• You can drop off the books by reception in the box please, Thanks!