Carol recently launched the Midlands Suzuki Music School, teaching piano and violin from her home in Lidgetton and at Lions River Primary, as well as several schools in Pietermaritzburg. With the help of BackaBuddy and a pupil’s parent, she raised funds to take a group of her Lions River pupils – many from underprivileged backgrounds – to Cape Town for a national Suzuki workshop. “Seeing those children perform so beautifully, many for the very first time outside their community, was incredibly moving,” she recalls.
Her journey into music started long before that. After a brief attempt (which proved uninspiring) at studying architecture, she told her father, “All I truly want is to study music.” With his support, she completed a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (B.Mus (Ed)) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her teaching career began in Durban North, then she moved with her husband to a farm near Pietermaritzburg. “Living on a farm was wonderful for family life,” she says. “I could teach at school, run choirs, and still have the freedom to be outdoors. It suited me perfectly.” Many of her junior and senior primary choirs achieved success at local and provincial competitions – but Carol insists, “The best part was seeing the children develop confidence and joy in their music.”
In 2016, with more time in her schedule, she began studying the Suzuki Method on violin and later on piano. “I was hooked after attending a national Suzuki concert in Johannesburg,” she remembers. “To see young children play the violin so beautifully, from memory, so naturally, was inspiring.”
The Suzuki Method teaches music in a similar way to how one would teach a language: children learn by listening first, and reading comes later. Parents are central to the process, attending lessons and guiding daily practice. “It’s a partnership,” Carol explains, “Teachers, parents, and pupils all need to work together. When the Suzuki triangle happens, progress is remarkable.”
Now seventy, Carol shows no signs of slowing down. She recently completed Level 3 Suzuki piano training. “I’ve learned whole pieces and books from memory – something I never thought possible,” she says with a laugh. Her greatest joy, however, remains watching her students flourish. “Every small improvement is worth celebrating. It’s like watching a flower open slowly – magical and unforgettable.”
From her farm to classrooms, Carol continues to nurture not just musicians, but a love of learning that lasts. In our community, her work quietly inspires and reminds us of the power of patience, dedication, and heart. “Music has always been my heart’s calling,” she says, smiling. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
WORDS: Accacia Foggin