November 6, 2018, Toronto: Music Canada Cares is putting out a call to all greater Toronto and Hamilton area residents for donations of gently-used musical instruments for The Three Rs Music Program. The program is Rescuing musical instruments, Restoring them to fully functional condition at local repair shops across Ontario, and Reuniting them with students in Ontario’s publicly-funded schools.

“Please check your closets, storage lockers, and other dark places for any musical instruments you’re no longer using. Once donated, we’ll give these instruments a second life while increasing equitable access to music education in Ontario,” says Sarah Hashem, Managing Director of The Three Rs Music Program. “If you have an instrument collecting dust, please set it free and donate today!”

Instruments can be donated at the drop off points listed below before November 15:

Toronto

• Music Canada, 85 Mowat Avenue, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
• Re:Sound Music Licensing, 1235 Bay Street Suite 900, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
• Toronto City Hall (Film & Entertainment Industries Office), 100 Queen Street West, Tues & Thurs 9:30am-5pm, Fri 12:30pm-5pm
• Humber College, 3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Building A, Office 120E, Mon-Fri 10am to 4pm

Scarborough

• Warner Music Canada, 155 Gordon Baker Road (call 416-456-9289 before drop off), Mon-Sun 10am-7pm

North York

• Second Closet, 1500 Lodestar Road Unit 11, Mon-Sun 10am-7pm

East York

• St John’s Music, 109 Vanderhoof Avenue, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm

Oakville

• Oakville Naturopathic Wellness Centre, 2172 Wyecroft Rd, Mon-Thurs 8:30am-8:00pm, Fri 8:30am-2:30pm, Sat 8:30am-3:30pm

Hamilton

• Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, 120 King St. W. Plaza Level, Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
• Dr. Disc, 20 Wilson Street, Mon-Thurs & Sat 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm

All instruments will be accepted except accordions, organs and pianos. To stay up-to-date as more drop off locations are announced visit the Music Canada Cares website.

Second Closet is the official storage and logistics partner for The Three Rs Music Program, and Second Closet customers can arrange pick up of musical instruments for donation when using the storage service at no extra cost.

At the end of the drive on November 15, Music Canada Cares will hold Let The Music Play, an instrument donation and celebration event in Toronto at 2nd Floor Events (461 King Street West). Garvia Bailey (broadcaster, arts journalist, and Three Rs Music Program Advisory Committee member) will host the event, which will also feature live performances, art installations, and DJ sets from Ian Campeau (DJ NDN, former member of A Tribe Called Red, and Three Rs Music Program Advisory Committee member) and Justin Peroff (Broken Social Scene). Tickets are $25 with all proceeds going to support the program, and are available through the event website.

If you have instruments to donate but are unable to access any of the drop off locations, please contact info@musiccanadacares.com.

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For more information:
Corey Poole, Music Canada Cares
cpoole@musiccanadacares.com
+1 (647) 808-7359

Follow Music Canada Cares on Facebook and Twitter.

About Music Canada Cares
Music Canada Cares is non-profit organization focused on highlighting the extraordinary benefits of music to society. We are dedicated to advancing the quality and effectiveness of music education in the public-school system, engaging the public in support of music education, and celebrating the value of music and those who create it. Music Canada Cares is an affiliate of Music Canada.

About The Three Rs Music Program
The Three Rs Music Program—rescuing instruments, restoring them to a fully functional condition and reuniting them with students—is advancing the effectiveness of publicly funded music education programs across Ontario through musical instrument refurbishment, community appeals, and artist connections. Using a community-driven approach, we will be ensuring more students have access to the developmental, cognitive, and social benefits of music.