MusiCounts donated over $800,000 in musical instruments to Canadian schools in 2023
[From Elisa F.G. – AC]
Unless you are the ambidextrous musical genius that is Walk Off The Earth, eight people can not share a guitar, Three kids to one ukulele is madness. Even two high-schoolers to one djembe is asking for trouble. We’ve done all the math. It doesn’t work.
If music is in you, it courses through and calls to a part of you that (dormant or not) will need to crank a stereo, pick up an electric guitar, cry at a concert, write your first song, karaoke-the-hell out of Dolly, drum pencils in science class, win music trivia championships, secretly play your sisters piano, sing the swear parts, serenade your fiancé… if you love music, at some point or another you will need an outlet, bad. If you know, you know.
Chase Secondary School in British, Columbia is one of many schools across the country that have been forced to turn music students down (or away) due to lack of funding, equipment, and/or resources. An instrument inventory creeping past 20 years old, one that is already insufficient in numbers vs. the demand is going to be in need of a miracle and big bucks. Luckily for Chase Secondary and 72 other schools across Canada, they are getting both.
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program annually allocates grants to schools needing support in order to sustain music education programs. This year 73 schools will receive $825,000 in musical instruments and equipment.
“We are so excited for the 2023 MusiCounts Band Aid Program recipients! With these much-needed funds, educators will be able to help the kids who need it most get the benefit of music in their lives,” says President of MusiCounts, Kristy Fletcher.
“While it’s a thrill to make this announcement, we must remember the overwhelming need of schools and communities across the country. We still have so much more to do, and I would encourage anyone who believes in the power of music to reach out and get involved.”
Steelpan drums, ukuleles, octave guitars, violins, violas… make your lists and check them twice. And yes, the children need octave guitars.
To read up on MusiCounts, go here.
