“Azerbaijan Lives in My Music!” — Saadat Farziyeva
Saadat Farziyeva is a talented composer who has dedicated her creative work primarily to children’s themes and is an inspired educator deeply committed to both art and family values. With extensive experience in the field of music education, Saadat Khanum has devoted her life to nurturing the younger generation, composing bright and memorable children’s songs and plays, and later engaging in scientific research. Her love for music, which began in childhood, shaped her path as a composer, teacher, and researcher. Love for folk music and her people has always been an inseparable part of her identity.Her dissertation titled “Songs and Dances ‘Khalay’ of Southern Azerbaijan”, written under the academic supervision of Professor Gulnaz Abdullazadeh, is a significant study in the field of musical folklore. Today, this work is used as a teaching resource in the study of Azerbaijani folklore. Her love for national music and culture became even more profound while living abroad. Despite being far from her homeland, she continued to live through art—composing songs in the Azerbaijani language and educating children through music and culture.The establishment of a private music school in London by her and her family was a heartfelt endeavor. As one of the first Azerbaijanis to take such an initiative, they managed to turn this school into a space where music merges with culture, traditions are preserved, and passed down from generation to generation.In parallel, the Karabakh School Online Education Project, initiated by the First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and supported by the Azerbaijani diaspora, began operating throughout the United Kingdom and has become an important platform for working with English-speaking children. This project is a vivid reflection of Saadat Farziyeva’s deep dedication to culture, enlightenment, and service to her people.Saadat Farziyeva is one of those rare educators for whom music is not just a profession, but a true philosophy of life.
— Ms. Saadat, please tell us a little about yourself. How did your music education and teaching career begin?
— My love for music began in childhood. The first person to notice my interest was my mother. When I was very young, she gifted me a piano. At the age of four, I started picking out familiar melodies by ear, singing and playing them with great joy. In school, I sometimes found it difficult to memorize poems, but when I combined them with music, it became much easier to remember. I would read poems from books, turn them into melodies, and improvise based on what my heart felt. Later, as a teacher, I applied this method — I taught children poems through music, and I saw how effective this approach was in the educational process.
After graduating from music school, I was admitted to the Music College, which I successfully completed. I then began working both as an accompanist and a piano teacher. A year later, I entered the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Azerbaijan State Music Academy, majoring in piano, and continued my education while working simultaneously. Being promoted to the position of head of the piano department was not only an important step in my professional growth, but also an enlightening experience. It allowed me to better understand the organizational aspects of the educational process, the dynamics of working with a team of teachers, to view students’ abilities from a new perspective, and to identify the difficulties they faced. All of this inspired me to explore new teaching methods, expand my methodological toolkit, and develop a fresh approach to nurturing students’ performance skills.
Working in a kindergarten was a new and exciting phase for me — very different from traditional school teaching. It was there that I discovered another side of myself — as an educator capable of adapting to the age and emotional needs of very young children.
I worked as a music director at Kindergarten No. 40 in Sumgait, located close to our home. My main goal was to support children’s emotional and speech development through music. I actively organized morning performances, holiday events, and various themed programs, incorporating both my own poems and songs, as well as those of other authors, to help develop proper Azerbaijani language skills in the children. Due to a lack of new children’s songs, I composed original music for almost every occasion — be it New Year, International Women’s Day, Nowruz, or others. These songs quickly gained popularity among teachers and caregivers. Over time, they formed my own personal repertoire. One of the most special songs in this collection is “Xoş gəlmisən, Novruzum!” (“Welcome, My Novruz!”), which I composed during that period. In 2013, it won first place in a children’s song composition contest and remains a beloved piece among children and educators to this day.
I remember that during that period, I was restless — I felt a powerful urge every day to write something new, to compose, or to return to earlier piano pieces I had started. Children’s preludes and pieces were especially close to my heart. In those works, I tried to combine musical expressiveness, accessibility, and beauty in a way that would be both interesting and educational for young performers.
When I presented my compositions to the prominent Azerbaijani composer, Professor Arif Melikov, I was extremely nervous — I didn’t know how he would react or receive my music. He assigned me two pieces as a sort of homework, but said, “Write them in your own language. Your compositions reveal that you grew up with Rachmaninoff and Mozart. Now go and write from within — music that comes from your roots.”
And so, after a year and a half, I completed two new works and, again with great excitement, presented them to Professor Melikov. After reviewing my drafts and listening to both pieces, he said words that changed my life and are forever etched in my memory:
“You are already a composer. Accept it and grow in that direction.”
His words and support became a turning point in my life. Starting my scientific work further strengthened my belief in the power of music and in myself. Under the guidance of Professor Gulnaz Abdullazadeh, I began a serious academic research project as a PhD student titled “Dance Songs ‘Khalay’ of the Southern Region of Azerbaijan.”Over time, these three areas — working with children, a love for music, and academic research — merged into one for me, becoming not just a profession, but a true philosophy of life.
— Please also tell us a bit about your family and the support they’ve given you.
— My husband, Rasim Farziyev, has always been a reliable pillar of strength and a constant source of support in every step of my life. He is not only a talented musician but also a caring father, a dependable friend, and a true life partner. His role in my life goes far beyond words — it’s about faith, understanding, patience, and being there for me, especially in the most important and challenging moments.
Thanks to his support, I was able to raise our children, complete my research project that I worked on for many years, and successfully defend my dissertation. For a woman, having support at home is incredibly important. When you have a man who believes in you, it gives you the strength to move forward, to fulfill your potential, and not to fear creative challenges.
We have three children — one son and two daughters. Each of them has grown into educated, responsible, and respectable individuals. They received their higher education in London and each has found their own path in life. As a mother, I am truly proud of them.
— How did the idea of establishing a music school in London come about, and whose initiative was it?
— The idea of founding a music school was a family initiative, inspired by our eldest daughter. Although she studied International Business at the University of London, music has always been a part of her life. Even during her student years, she gave private lessons at home, and later worked as a manager at a music school in London, where she also substituted for teachers when needed. This experience, combined with the creative atmosphere in our family — with both parents being musicians — laid a solid foundation for establishing our own school.
Today, our daughter manages the school with love and professionalism, combining precise organization with a sincere attitude toward the arts.
— What are the school’s main areas of activity and its goals?
— The primary goal of our school is not only to teach music but also to preserve and promote our national identity and rich cultural heritage. The school offers both individual and group lessons. The diaspora plays a very important role here, as the teaching model we apply abroad acts as a bridge to be introduced in Azerbaijan. This demonstrates that the experience gained in a diaspora environment can also enrich the educational system within the country.
Our curriculum focuses not only on the development of technical skills but also on cultivating aesthetic taste. I would especially like to note that the opening ceremony of our school was attended by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK, the Mayor of the Enfield Borough, as well as members of the media and public. This was a clear sign of community support and attention to our project. We see our school as an important cultural initiative with a national mission, and such support continues to inspire us to embark on even larger-scale projects.
Having worked in music education for many years, I can proudly say that our school is thriving, growing, and inspiring. What makes me especially happy is that the number of students continues to increase — not only from international families, but also from Azerbaijani and other cultural communities. This is truly encouraging, as the interest in Azerbaijani culture grows year by year. For us, this is not only a source of pride but also an opportunity — to share the richness and uniqueness of our culture with other nations as much as we can.
At the school, I teach piano, solfeggio, music theory, and vocal lessons. My husband teaches violin and kamancha. Despite holding a leadership role, our eldest daughter also personally works with the youngest students, introducing them to music with love from an early age.
Teaching abroad is not easy — one must consider not only the education system and language, but also the mentality, upbringing, and individual needs of each child. It’s essential to show genuine kindness and understanding not just to students, but to their parents as well — mutual respect and empathy always yield the best results.
Our school — Music and Dance School “Acapella Academy Rising Harmonies” — offers dance classes in both classical ballet and street dance, as well as visual arts instruction. This section is managed by our son — it is both a part-time job for him and a way to support our family business. This school reflects what our family values most: a love of art, the desire to share knowledge, and a sincere dedication to education.
— How did you instill a love of hard work in your children, and what role has it played in their lives?
— From an early age, I tried to instill a love of hard work in our children — through discipline, personal example, and respect for effort. I remember when my son practiced artistic gymnastics: the training sessions were intense, and the daily schedule was very tight. Sometimes, we would do schoolwork right after practice, even though we were both tired. But he never complained — he understood that effort leads to results. And indeed — before he stopped doing gymnastics, he won 3rd place at the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Championship. That was clear proof for him — and for us — that perseverance, discipline, and hard work always bear fruit.As parents, we paid special attention to our children’s education and development from an early age. It was important for us to support their interest in learning and to witness their progress. In some cases, we even invited private tutors to deepen their knowledge and help uncover their talents.Before we moved, we had a serious conversation with our children. As parents, we openly explained that this was not just a change of country, but a major responsibility and a serious test for the whole family. We agreed that their duty was not to disappoint us — to justify the trust we placed in them and to make full use of the opportunities given to them. They promised to try twice as hard — and they kept that promise.Each stage of their lives brought its own challenges, especially in a new country — dealing with a different language, education system, and environment was not easy. But it was exactly these difficulties that made them stronger, more determined, and more mature. As parents, we always tried to be there for them, to support them, and to remind them that hard work is the path to self-discovery, growth, and self-respect.Today, I can proudly say that they have fulfilled our hopes and become people of value and integrity.
