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Music Education (36)

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Music Monday @ Home shines a spotlight on the importance of equitable access to music education

Today marks Music Monday, an annual event in which thousands of Canadians come together in song and in support of music education. Hosted by the Coalition for Music Education, Music Monday unites musicians in communities from coast to coast to make a powerful statement about the importance of equitable access to quality music education for all students. This year, the celebration will move online with Music Monday @ Home, allowing all Canadians to participate safely while practicing social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each year on Music Monday, students, educators, and music makers from across the country participate in the collective singing of the Music Monday Anthem, an original song written by a Canadian artist. This year’s anthem is “Hymn to Freedom,” the iconic civil rights anthem by Oscar Peterson and Hariette Hamilton, in a new bilingual translation. Resources to perform the anthem, including sheet music, lyrics, and translations are available on the Coalition website.

“Music Monday celebrates the power of music, and the importance of music education. Equitable access to music education is important to Music Canada, which is why we have partnered with the Coalition for Music Education, the Canadian Music Educators Association, MusiCounts / CARAS, People For Education, and the Canadian Network Arts and Learning on a national study to assess the state of music education in every province and territory,” said Sarah Hashem, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives at Music Canada. “This research will help all stakeholders to better understand the state of K-12 Music Education from region to region, and to provide information to support its future growth and development.”

Music Monday @ Home begins at 9am EST, with a series of regional broadcasts, including live performances, messages from prominent Canadians, interactive activities for children of all ages, and more. To join in the celebration and add your voice, tune into the Coalition’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.

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Thousands of Canadian students to sing Oscar Peterson civil rights anthem for Music Monday 2019

Photo Credit: Coalition for Music Education in Canada

On Monday, May 6th, The Coalition for Music Education in Canada will celebrate its 15th anniversary of Music Monday with thousands of students, teachers, musicians, music lovers, and parents across the country. This year, Canadian jazz legend Oscar Peterson’s 1963 composition “Hymn To Freedom,” written during the Civil Rights Movement, will be this year’s anthem.

With music by Oscar Peterson and lyrics by Harriette Hamilton, the iconic “Hymn To Freedom” exemplifies a deep desire for respect and equality among all people living in Canada, united as a peaceful nation. The official Music Monday video, featuring a new bilingual arrangement, is available to watch below, while an Oscar Peterson learning resource has also been made available by the Coalition for teachers to review with their students ahead of next Monday’s sing-a-long.

The Coalition for Music Education in Canada was established in 1992 to raise awareness and understanding of the role that music education plays in Canadian culture and to promote the benefits that music education brings to young people. Leading up to next week’s celebration, the Coalition has also launched a fundraising campaign to support the future of Music Monday and develop new and updated advocacy materials.

Beginning at 12pm EST, Ottawa’s National Arts Centre will livestream their celebration on Music Monday’s Facebook page, which will include a massed children’s choir of over 350 youth from 10 local schools under the direction of Jackie Hawley, who will lead the sing-along of “Hymn To Freedom.”

Register your school or community organization’s music program today, and join the thousands of Canadians from coast-to-coast next Monday in singing #TogetherInHarmony.

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Music March For Music Therapy returns to Toronto’s west end for 6th year

Music Canada is proud to return as a rockstar sponsor for the 6th annual Music March for Music Therapy in Toronto on Sunday, March 31, 2018, in support of the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund (CMTTF).

This year’s march will follow the same route as last year’s event, beginning at 11:30am at the Music Therapy Centre at 1175 Bloor St. W. At noon, participants will begin their march eastward on Bloor to Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor St. W) for some amazing entertainment, refreshments, and awesome raffle prizes.

The after-party at Lee’s Palace will feature performances by some incredible local acts including Matata 6, Rachel Romu, Havelin, Aviva, and Darrelle London, plus a special performance from Music Therapy Centre’s music therapists.

This year’s fundraising goal is $40,000, and you can help contribute by purchasing a ticket to the after-party or creating a fundraising page. In addition to the Music March, music therapy supporters can still purchase the CMTTF’s hats designed in collaboration with CDN. All proceeds from the sale of the hats will be donated to the CMTTF.

RSVP to the Music March for Music Therapy’s Facebook event to stay informed on the latest news and updates leading up to the exciting event. Watch highlights from last year’s march below.

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Strumbellas drummer Jeremy Drury delights students in hometown with surprise instrument donation

On November 6, 2018, we were thrilled to hold the first presentation of musical instruments collected through The Three Rs Music Program with students at Central Senior Public School in Lindsay, Ontario. Our first donation event was a special one for the students, who were surprised by Jeremy Drury of The Strumbellas. Drury had donated a drum set of his to The Three Rs Music Program during our Lindsay instrument drive a few weeks prior.

After picking up the drums and a few other instruments at Van Halteren Music Centre, one of the local repair shops refurbishing instruments collected during our inaugural drive in Lindsay, Jeremy and the Music Canada Cares crew waited patiently outside of the school for a break in hall traffic as students went from class to class. They made their way to a boiler room beside the music class, before music teacher Holly Smith announced the surprise to her students.

Watch Jeremy surprise students with his drum set donation below.


“When I heard that Music Canada Cares was doing the drive for instruments, I looked in my basement and I saw all of the drums I have collected over the years, which is a lot, and my girlfriend would tell you that they need to go,” said Jeremy. “So this kit, I used for rehearsals, practicing on my own, and then when we were working on rehearsals for the new Strumbellas record, this is the drum kit that I used. And I am so very happy to donate it to you guys today and I hope you guys get good use out of it.”

Following Jeremy’s remarks, Sarah Hashem, Managing Director for The Three Rs Music Program, thanked Jeremy for his generosity and encouraged students to find ways to impact others’ lives with acts of kindness like Jeremy had done for them.

Jeremy then took questions from students about his favourite touring memories, making music his full time job, and what led to him pursuing a career in music. He then set up the students’ new kit and played a quick percussion set. He signed autographs and took one on one questions from students, including requests for Jeremy to follow them on Instagram.

A few other key members of the team behind the Lindsay instrument drive were on hand to witness the presentation, including Beth Wilson, Music Consultant for the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, and Rob Barg from the Coalition for Music Education.

The Three Rs Music Program aims to improve equitable access to music education by increasing the inventory of instruments in Ontario’s publicly funded schools. We also strive to connect students to Canadian artists and Canada’s dynamic music industry to inspire career opportunities and enrich their classroom experience.

We were thrilled and inspired to see the students’ reaction to our first surprise donation and look forward to many more to come!

Check out a few photos from the donation event below.

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The Three Rs Music Program needs your musical instrument donations for Ontario students

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.

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The Three Rs Music Program Portal is now open

Schools across Ontario invited to apply for support for musical instrument programs

Publicly funded schools across Ontario are now invited to submit expressions of interest to The Three Rs Music Program for musical instrument repair grants of up to $2,500, and requests for refurbished instruments. The Three Rs Music Program Portal provides a one-stop location to facilitate requests and applications.

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

Qualified applicants to The Three Rs Music Program 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

Through the portal, schools can identify what type of refurbished instruments are most needed for their program and enter up to 20 instruments in their possession requiring repair. They can also enter local repair shop information where the repairs are to be done in their community.

“We’re pleased to announce that our portal is accessible, bilingual and user-friendly,” says Sarah Hashem, Managing Director of The Three Rs Music Program. “We want to make a big impact for music education in the province in a short period of time, so we’re encouraging schools and educators across the province to seize this opportunity and apply early.”

Requests through the portal can be submitted until November 18, 2018. In addition to repair grants, The Three Rs Music Program conducts community instrument drives to collect gently-used instruments from Ontario communities. After a successful inaugural drive in Lindsay, the program is now accepting donations in the Greater Toronto Area.

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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 3 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.

About Music Canada

Music Canada is a non-profit trade organization that represents the major record companies in Canada: Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. Music Canada also works with some of the leading independent record labels and distributors, recording studios, live music venues, concert promoters, managers and artists in the promotion and development of the music cluster. For more on Music Canada, please visit www.musiccanada.com

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Schools across Ontario invited to apply for support for musical instrument programs

 

October 24, 2018, Toronto: Publicly funded schools across Ontario are now invited to submit expressions of interest to The Three Rs Music Program for musical instrument repair grants of up to $2,500, and requests for refurbished instruments. The Three Rs Music Program Portal provides a one-stop location to facilitate requests and applications.

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

Qualified applicants to The Three Rs Music Program 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

Through the portal, schools can identify what type of refurbished instruments are most needed for their program and enter up to 20 instruments in their possession requiring repair. They can also enter local repair shop information where the repairs are to be done in their community.

“We’re pleased to announce that our portal is accessible, bilingual and user-friendly,” says Sarah Hashem, Managing Director of The Three Rs Music Program. “We want to make a big impact for music education in the province in a short period of time, so we’re encouraging schools and educators across the province to seize this opportunity and apply early.”

Requests through the portal can be submitted until November 18, 2018. In addition to repair grants, The Three Rs Music Program conducts community instrument drives to collect gently-used instruments from Ontario communities. After a successful inaugural drive in Lindsay, the program is now accepting donations in the Greater Toronto Area.

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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 3 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.

About Music Canada
Music Canada is a non-profit trade organization that represents the major record companies in Canada: Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada. Music Canada also works with some of the leading independent record labels and distributors, recording studios, live music venues, concert promoters, managers and artists in the promotion and development of the music cluster. For more on Music Canada, please visit www.musiccanada.com

 

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Les écoles publiques ontariennes invitées à s’inscrire à des programmes d’aide centrés sur les instruments de musique

 

Toronto, 24 octobre 2018 : Les écoles financées par des fonds publics de l’Ontario sont invitées à présenter au Programme musical des trois R une déclaration d’intérêt concernant la possibilité de lui soumettre soit une demande de bourse de réparation d’instruments de musique d’une valeur de jusqu’à 2 500 $, soit une demande de don d’instruments remis à neuf. Le portail du Programme musical des trois R est le guichet unique où les écoles peuvent faire leurs demandes et s’inscrire.

Administré par Musique Canada vous aime, un nouvel organisme sans but lucratif national affilié à Music Canada, le Programme musical des trois R vise à fournir un accès équitable à l’éducation musicale en Ontario en enrichissant l’inventaire d’instruments de musique des écoles financées par des fonds publics de la province, en amenant le public à s’impliquer davantage dans le soutien de l’éducation musicale et en établissant un trait d’union entre l’expérience d’apprentissage des élèves et différents aspects de l’industrie musicale dynamique du Canada.

Pour être admissible au Programme musical des trois R, l’école doit :

  • faire partie du système scolaire francophone, anglophone, publique ou catholique de l’Ontario;
  • avoir un professeur ou une professeure de musique à son emploi actuellement;
  • avoir manifestement besoin de faire réparer des instruments de musique;
  • être autorisée par son directeur ou sa directrice à présenter une demande.

En se rendant sur le portail, l’école peut déterminer le type d’instruments remis à neuf dont elle a le plus besoin pour son programme de musique et inscrire jusqu’à 20 instruments en sa possession qui ont besoin de réparation. L’école peut également fournir les coordonnées d’un atelier de réparation local si les réparations doivent se faire sur place.

« Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer que notre site est accessible, bilingue et convivial », a déclaré Sarah Hashem, directrice générale du Programme musical des trois R. « Nous tenons à avoir un profond impact sur l’éducation musicale dans la province à brève échéance, et nous encourageons donc les écoles et les éducateurs et éducatrices de partout en Ontario à profiter de cette chance et à s’inscrire sans tarder. »

Les écoles ont jusqu’au 18 novembre 2018 pour s’inscrire sur le portail du Programme musical des trois R. En plus d’accorder des bourses de réparation d’instruments, le PM3R organise régulièrement des collectes d’instruments usagés à travers la province. La première collecte, qui a eu lieu à Lindsay, a remporté un vif succès, et l’équipe accepte actuellement des dons d’instruments dans le Grand Toronto.

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Pour de plus amples renseignements :
Corey Poole, Musique Canada vous aime
cpoole@musiccanadacares.com
+1 (647) 808-7359

Suivez Musique Canada vous aime sur Facebook et Twitter.

À propos de Musique Canada vous aime
Musique Canada vous aime est un organisme sans but lucratif voué à la promotion des bienfaits exceptionnels de la musique pour la société. Nous avons à cœur d’améliorer la qualité et l’efficacité de l’éducation musicale dans le système scolaire public, d’encourager le public à soutenir l’éducation musicale et de célébrer la valeur de la musique et de ceux et celles qui la créent. Musique Canada vous aime est une filiale de Music Canada.

À propos du Programme musical des trois R
Le Programme musical des trois R – récupérer les instruments, les restaurer pour les remettre en bon état de fonctionnement et les réaffecter à des élèves – ajoute à l’efficacité des programmes d’éducation des écoles financées par des fonds publics de l’Ontario grâce à la remise en état d’instruments de musique, au lancement d’appels de fonds dans la collectivité et à la complicité des artistes. Dans une démarche centrée sur la collectivité, nous verrons à ce qu’un plus grand nombre d’élèves aient accès aux bienfaits développementaux, cognitifs et sociaux de la musique.

À propos de Music Canada
Music Canada est une association professionnelle à but non lucratif qui représente les grandes maisons de disques au Canada, notamment Sony Music Entertainment Canada, Universal Music Canada et Warner Music Canada. Music Canada collabore également avec de nombreux chefs de file de l’industrie musicale indépendante – étiquettes et distributeurs de disques, studios d’enregistrement, lieux de spectacles, promoteurs de concerts, gérants et artistes – pour assurer la promotion et le développement du secteur de la musique. Pour en savoir plus sur Music Canada, veuillez vous rendre sur www.musiccanada.com

 

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GTHA Instrument Drive

October 10th- November 30th, 2018
in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area

Calling on residents in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to donate gently-used musical instruments in support of music education. Instruments collected will be restored and reunited with students in Ontario’s publicly funded schools.

Donors can arrange donations online through Second Closet, Official Storage and Logistics Partner or visit the following drop-off locations:

Donations drop-off Locations:

Toronto:

Music Canada
85 Mowat Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario, M6K 3E3
Donations accepted Monday to Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
416-697-7272

Re:Sound
1235 Bay Street Suite 900
Toronto, Ontario, M5R 3K4
Monday to Friday 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Film & Entertainment Industries Office
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen St. West
Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2
416-338-3255
Tuesdays and Thursday 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Fridays 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM

Humber College
3199 Lakeshore Blvd. West
Building A, Office 120E
Toronto, Ontario, M8V 1K8
416-949-3710
Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

SoundCheck Youth Arts
1122 Castlefield Ave.

Toronto, Ontario, M6B 1E9
Please call 416-206-8556 before your visit
Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

North York:

Second Closet
1500 Lodestar Road, Unit 11
North York, Ontario, M3J 3C1
1-888-800-2824
Monday to Sunday 10:00 AM-7:00 PM
Second Closet Customers can arrange pick-up directly online

Warner Music Canada
155 Gordon Baker
Toronto, Ontario, M2H 3N5
Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Please call 416-456-9289 before drop-off

East York:

St John’s Music
109 Vanderhoof Avenue
East York, Ontario, M4G 2H7
416-785-5000
Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Mississauga:

Metalworks Production Group
#22-3611 Mavis Rd

Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 1T7
(905) 890-4500 ext. 4025
Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Oakville:

Oakville Naturopathic Wellness Centre
2172 Wyecroft Rd.
Oakville, Ontario, L6L 6R8

905-825-9996
Monday to Thursday 8:30AM to 8:00 PM, Friday 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Saturday 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Hamilton:

Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
120 King St. W. Plaza Level

Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 4V2
Monday to Friday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
905-522-1151

Dr. Disc
20 Wilson Street

Hamilton, Ontario, L8R 1C5
(905) 523-1010

Monday – Thursday & Sat: 10 AM to 6 PM, Friday: 10 AM to 8 PM, Sunday: Noon to 6 PM

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Playback 2018: Executive Vice President Amy Terrill recaps Music Canada’s accomplishments from the last 12 months

On October 16, 2018, at The Great Hall in Toronto, Music Canada hosted Playback 2018, our annual industry dialogue and celebration.

Close to 100 members of the Canadian music industry were in attendance, including representatives from record labels, awards programs, royalty collectives and funding institutions, as well as artists, journalists, politicians and other government representatives.

Universal Music Canada President Jeffrey Remedios opened the event with a reflection on the state of the industry before Music Canada Executive Vice President Amy Terrill recapped Music Canada’s major accomplishments and new initiatives from the last 12 months.

Those accomplishments include our work to close the Value Gap in Canada, the launch of Music Canada Cares and its first program, The Three Rs Music Program, exciting partnerships with other industry groups, and our latest research report, Keys to a Music City: Examining the Merits of Music Offices, Boards, and Night Mayors.

You can watch Terrill’s full presentation below.

Near the end of the presentation, Terrill gave the audience a sneak peek of a just-released video taking you behind the scenes of the production process of our Gold and Platinum award plaques.

Following the annual review, Terrill invited Music Canada President and CEO Graham Henderson to the stage for a special announcement. Henderson shared preliminary results of Music Canada’s year-long, comprehensive governance review that Terrill had announced a year earlier at Playback 2017. To learn more about the changes resulting from the review, read our release.

Stay tuned for more video content from Playback 2018 in the coming days, including a keynote presentation from professor and author Debora Spar, and a ‘fireside chat’ between Recording Industry Association of America Chairman and CEO Cary Sherman and musician, label owner and festival founder, Miranda Mulholland.

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Inaugural Instrument Drive in Lindsay

Music Canada Cares held a successful inaugural instrument drive for The Three Rs Music Program in Lindsay, Ontario last Saturday, September 29th. Over 40 instruments were collected jointly by the Music Canada Cares team and local volunteers from 12:30PM-3:30PM at Mackey Celebrations, a local event venue in the heart of Lindsay’s downtown area. The drive also included an interactive workshop with three of the program’s Artist Ambassadors, including Eon Sinclair, our Artist Ambassador Lead from Bedouin Soundclash, as well as Lindsay natives Jeremy Drury from The Strumbellas and Warren Frank from The Kents. Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale was also in attendance and spoke about the value of The Three Rs Music Program for local schools and young students.

The success of the event is largely due to the approach taken by the program which rests on three key principles: needs-based, artist-driven, and community-supported.

Needs-Based

In partnership with the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, three local schools were identified as recipients of the instruments collected: Archie Stouffer Elementary School, Lady Mackenzie Public School, and Central Senior School. These schools have demonstrated need in alignment with the Program priorities, and the instruments collected will satisfy a number of those programs’ needs. The local Steering Committee for the event, made up of a diverse group of community advocates and educators, will meet later this month to allocate the instruments equitably.

Artist-Driven

The community appeal for instruments was led by the Artist Ambassadors for the program, including a CHEX Morning Show appearance and social media posts. Their messages highlighted the role that music serves in experiential learning for students of all backgrounds. Not all families have the disposable income necessary to provide good instruments when they’re not available in their child’s school. In response to a question on CHEX Daily about The Three Rs Music Program, Warren responded, “When we started out, [our access to instruments] was all on the generosity of others,” a response which is common among artists as they learn about the program.

Jeremy Drury immediately connected with the cause and donated a full drum set he’s no longer using, while his cymbal sponsor Zildjian generously donated a new set of replacement cymbals. Jeremy, Warren, and Eon led an interactive workshop at the event, where they coached a talented local 8th grader Emmett Loignon in cover performances of two songs. Emmett’s already making waves as a singer/songwriter at ‘open mic’ nights in Lindsay, and has been raising money on his own to supplement the equipment at his school so that fellow students may have access to a full music program in the future.

Community-Supported

The event was energized by the incredible amount of support from the local community. During his address at the interactive workshop, MP Jamie Schmale stated,“Music increases brain power, creativity, patience, discipline, and everything we want in our youth, so this is a fantastic program.” Schmale concluded, “Thank you to everyone here who came together to make this happen, and our young people will be richer because of it.”

In addition to those volunteering on our Local Steering Committee, the event was supported by local teachers, our instrument repair partner Van Halteren’s Music Centre, and the Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service, , who will continue to accept instrument donations until October 11th at the Lindsay Fire Hall (9 Cambridge St N).

To donate an instrument as part of the Lindsay drive, please contact info@musiccanadacares.com.

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