74 schools across Canada to receive music program grants as students head back to the classroom
MusiCounts, the music education charity associated with the JUNOS, has announced that the charity is awarding $1 million to 74 schools across the country for instruments, equipment, and gear.
We’d love to look at setting something up with your team with one of the Toronto 2024 MusiCounts recipient schools (Jarvis Collegiate Institute – Toronto, ON) and a representative from MusiCounts in the first two weeks of September.
Speaking to the teacher, students and MusiCounts can help show that as kids head back to the classroom the schools often struggle to maintain and expand their music programming for students. But it can also celebrate the educators who are evolving their music programs to meet student needs offer culturally relevant programming with the help of MusiCounts, and demonstrate how students feel about their new music equipment.
At Jarvis Collegiate Institute in Toronto, the music educator hosted a workshop celebrating hip-hop’s 50th anniversary and saw a strong student interest. As a result, he’s introducing a new DJ/Hip Hop program to feed kids’ interest using MusiCounts’ funds. The school’s population is overwhelmingly low-income, with many students identifying as BIPOC (~50%). They don’t have funds to develop culturally relevant programming like this without MusiCounts’ help. The school (teacher and select students) is happy to speak with you about the difference this new equipment and programming will make at Jarvis Collegiate Institute.
We had a chat with Kristy Fletcher, MusiCounts President to find out more!
First off, care to introduce MusiCounts to our readers.
MusiCounts is Canada’s music education charity associated with the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the JUNO Awards. We make direct investments into schools and communities across Canada to help music education thrive – in fact, since 1997, we’ve disbursed over $14M worth of instruments, equipment, and gear to keep music programs alive, or to build programs where previously there was nothing. We also offer mentorship programs for emerging musicians and music industry professionals, we provide teaching resources to bring diverse artists and music into classroom discussions, and we celebrate educators by recognizing an exceptional teacher with the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award.
MusiCounts recently awarded $1 million to 74 schools across Canada. Can you share how this funding is making a difference in schools like Jarvis Collegiate Institute?
Most of the schools that seek our help report having an annual budget of around $500 or less for their music program – many schools don’t have any funding at all. A grant like this has a transformative effect on music education in each school we fund, whether it’s for the replacement of old, unusable instruments, or – like Jarvis Collegiate Institute – the implementation of a new program that fuels students’ passion for certain kinds of music.
Teachers often tell us that the music room is like the heartbeat of the school; when music is thriving, so are kids. They’re more confident and creative, are better equipped to cope with mental health challenges, and can relate to their peers. Investments like these have a snowball effect because music has the power to spark positive change in everyone.
How does MusiCounts decide which schools to support, and what factors made Jarvis Collegiate a recipient?
We take this part very seriously! Because we only have the resources to support one out of every five schools that seek MusiCounts funding, we make decisions through a needs-based lens. The challenges faced by a community and by the school itself are taken into account. For example, is the school in a remote area? Do the students belong to underserved communities, or have exceptionalities that require specific support? Each application is reviewed by at least two of our expert adjudicators, and all of these factors are considered.
Jarvis Collegiate Institute was selected because the educator was seeking funds for a new program to serve students with innovative programming that was catered to their interests. After a workshop at the school about the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, it was clear that there was a huge appetite for engaging with hip-hop music and culture – over half the students at JCI are BIPOC, and music programming that followed the European Western tradition wasn’t resonating well. The teacher proposed a stellar plan to deliver technology-forward and culturally relevant music education for the students – it’s a slam dunk!
Jarvis Collegiate is introducing a DJ/Hip Hop program to reflect student interest and cultural relevance. How does MusiCounts encourage or support schools in developing programs that resonate with the diverse backgrounds of their student populations?
MusiCounts recently implemented a specific stream of funding for precisely this kind of programming. The MusiCounts Slaight Family Foundation Innovation Fund was established to incentivize the evolution of music education both for technology-forward programs and for those that speak to specific cultures and traditions. We offer up to $20,000 to schools looking to establish this kind of approach to music education, some of which can be used to hire clinicians with specific technical expertise or local Elders and Knowledge Keepers who can pass on traditional songs, practices, and music.
Through targeted outreach and our strong connections with educators and school boards across the country, we’re able not only to make these investments but to support the investments with additional resources like our teaching guides to help educators feel empowered to put this innovation into practice.
In your conversations with educators across Canada, what trends or themes are emerging in terms of students’ musical interests?
One of the biggest trends we see is the desire to engage with popular music styles through technology. Most kids know they might not be the next great Canadian performer, but it’s becoming more and more apparent that the music industry is a huge sector with many different kinds of career paths for kids to follow. The skills they learn in music class, whether it be on production or recording equipment, songwriting, or beatmaking, can be the next step toward a fulfilling career.
Can you share any other standout success stories from past MusiCounts-funded schools or programs that demonstrate the transformative power of music education for students?
One of my personal favourite stories from our schools is that of John Norquay Elementary in Vancouver, BC, who received funding from MusiCounts in 2021. The school serves a population that includes many low-income households, students belonging to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities, and new Canadians. The educator there recognized the role of music as the gathering place for the school, and worked with a local Elder to host a drum-making workshop. The Elder gifted the school permission to use “The Gratitude Song”, which has since been used at the graduation ceremonies each year. The educator there has reported that students feel a strong sense of belonging and community, which is music to my ears!
Last but not least, How do you see MusiCounts evolving in the future to continue supporting music education in Canadian classrooms?
MusiCounts prides itself on being responsive to needs in the music education space. Currently we’re seeing a need for resources to empower teachers to bring technology into the classroom effectively, and we’ve got some exciting things in the works on that front.
We’re also seeing a need for education beyond the classroom for artists and industry professionals who are getting their start. The music industry is cloaked in a fair bit of mystery, and we’re hoping to help the next generation de-mystify the sector and get a head start on their careers.