With the school year underway, 74 schools across Canada will be getting a share in a $1 million music program grant, inlcuding the Kootenay’s Nakusp Elementary School.
According to MusiCounts, the country’s leading music education charity, the funding focuses on keeping school music programs alive while supporting education outside the mainstream such as indigenous drumming, steel pan percussion, Hip Hop, and music production.
Along with keeping programs alive, the money will also provide instruments, equipment, and gear to students.
They say as students return to class, school music education is in a critical state of despair across the country.
“Many school music programs are under-resourced as they try to adapt to the evolving needs and interests of students,” said MusiCounts.
“58 of the 2024 MusiCounts School Funding recipient schools identified that the success of their program hinges on receiving a MusiCounts grant.”
They say the funding comes through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program, a stream that’s been used since 1997, and the Slaight Family Innovation Fund, which looks to provide up to $20,000 for culturally relevant or technological forward programming.
MusiCounts president Kristy Fletcher says they hope this funding can also give students a safe space to connect with others and find their voice while learning.
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