Music Canada Supports Music Education with New Program

As someone who spent a lot of time in the band room in high school and then went on to study music in university, I am a huge supporter of any program that aims to improve music education. That’s why I love this new program from Music Canada.

Music Canada’s new national affiliated non-profit, Music Canada Cares has a new program called The Three Rs Music Program. This program aims to provide equitable access to quality music education by increasing musical instrument inventory in publicly funded Ontario schools, increasing public engagement to support music education, and connecting students’ learning experience to many aspects of Canada’s dynamic music industry. 

Publicly funded schools in Ontario are able to submit expressions of interest in The Three Rs Music Program for instrument repair grants of up to $2500 as well as requests for refurbished instruments. The program portal provides schools a one-stop location to facilitate requests and applications. The portal allows schools to identify what type of refurbished instruments their music program needs most and enter up to 20 interments for repair. Schools are also able to enter in the information of a local repair shop so that repairs can be done in their community. 

To qualify for the program, applicants must:

●  Be part of the English or French public or Catholic school systems in Ontario
●  Currently employ a music teacher
●  Have a demonstrated need for instrument repair
●  Have the school Principal’s approval to submit an application

Additionally, The Three R’s Music Program holds community instrument drives to collect gently-used instruments from Ontario communities. The inaugural drive in Lindsay was a success and the program is now accepting donations in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas. Something to keep in mind if you have a band instrument sitting at home, collecting dust, and want to support a great cause.

Requests through the portal may be submitted until November 18, 2018.