Get ready to sing — it’s Music Monday!
Fresh off some wildly successful shows in Hamilton, Toronto and other cities, Triumph is once again headlining a major effort, as the band’s hit song “Hold On” was selected as the theme for this year’s Music Monday.
Organized by the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, Music Monday is the “largest annual celebration of music education,” taking place on the first Monday in May in concert with Teacher Appreciation Week.
“Each year, we see the impact Music Monday can have when people come together across the country,” says Stacey Sinclair, the coalition’s executive director. “What makes this year especially meaningful is the message behind ‘Hold On.’ Its lyrics speak to resilience, hope and perseverance, and that is something students connect with in a very real way.”
In commemoration of Music Monday, students from across Canada will join with their teachers and musicians to sing the song at the same time.
As cliche as it may be, music does hold an important place in the lives of so many and it is foundational to education — we learn the alphabet by singing it, just as we learn where our ‘head, shoulders knees and toes’ are — in addition to our sense of community, as we celebrate the moments of our lives by singing songs and dancing together. Music is how people tell stories and share history; it’s how people who don’t speak the same language communicate and it’s how those who are losing their memory catch a glimpse of their true selves.
“Music was fundamental to my childhood. I started piano lessons at age four and joined my school choir in grade one and it never really stopped,” says Shannon Johnston, a high school music teacher in Streetsville Secondary School in Mississauga who happens to be the daughter of Rik Emmett. She’s also the mother of a young student performing in Music Monday today.
“As a teacher, I see every day how essential it is for students to have access to music education, especially for those who may not otherwise have the opportunity. Music gives students a sense of belonging, confidence and a way to express themselves. It is not an extra, it is fundamental to how young people learn, connect and find their voice.”
There are a number of larger events taking place for Music Monday, including a live event at Hugh’s Room in Toronto that brings together students, musicians and educators for a multi-artist event leading up to the national sing-along at 12:30 p.m. EST. Later on, Johnston will host the Music Monday Peel Music Showcase at the Living Arts Centre, with more than 250 students from 56 schools, culminating with a performance of ‘Hold On’ with more than 200 voices and 55 instruments on the same stage.
More information on Music Monday, including a full list of participating sites and events, can be found at www.musicmonday.ca.
