Ontario Boosting Support for Music Education in Schools

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by ahnationtalk on May 2, 20181180 Views

Province Restoring Musical Instruments and Supporting Music Programs

May 2, 2018

Ontario is partnering with Canada’s music industry to refurbish and restore musical instruments in schools, and boost music education programming.

Indira Naidoo-Harris, Minister of Education, was at St. Joseph’s College School in Toronto today to announce that the province is investing in Music Canada‘s musical instrument refurbishment program, called The Three R’s Music Program. The funding will improve the inventory of musical instruments available to Ontario’s publicly funded schools through repairs and refurbishments. It will also:

Increase public engagement in support of music education
Develop community partnerships across Ontario to increase the capacity and sustainability of music programs
Raise students’ awareness about different aspects of Canada’s music industry and provide students with access to Canadian artists.

This program is part of the $21 million boost to arts education announced in Ontario’s 2018 Budget. Other programs through this investment will enhance student learning about and through the arts, and will create space to support cultural diversity, including respect for Indigenous peoples’ culture, perspectives, and knowledge.

Investing in arts education is part of the government’s plan to support care, create opportunity and make life more affordable during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes free prescription drugs for everyone under 25, and 65 or over, through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, and free preschool child care from ages 2.5 to kindergarten.

Quick Facts

Ontario is investing $3 million in Music Canada’s musical instrument refurbishment program, called The Three R’s Music Program.
The Musical Instrument Refurbishment Program will be implemented equitably across all publicly funded school boards.
Music Canada will prioritize outreach to at-risk, racialized and Indigenous youth across the province, where the identified need is greatest.
Ontario is investing an additional $21 million over three years in arts education ($7 million each year for three years), as announced in the 2018 Budget.
Arts investments are also based on feedback received from the arts education roundtable held in October 2017, co-hosted by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. The roundtable was attended by 33 organizations, representing educators (subject associations and federations), community arts educators, cultural organizations and cultural industries.

Additional Resources

Quotes

“Studying music and art leads to creative and enriching learning experiences. This innovative program helps students grow and develop a greater sense of well-being. We’re partnering with Music Canada on this important commitment that supports music education and gives students new opportunities to explore.”

Indira Naidoo-Harris
Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care

“We are excited to support Music Canada in their efforts to put working musical instruments into the hands of our students. Working with the community to refurbish used instruments is a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly way for more students to enjoy the pleasure of creating music. Music also plays an important role in developing critical and creative thinking skills that help our students succeed in school. This is a win-win for everyone.”

Daiene Vernile
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

“Music education delivers a power pack of benefits, preparing young people for careers, not just in music but in any profession requiring creativity and problem-solving. With top-notch instruments we can remove one more obstacle standing in the way of quality music education for all young people no matter where they live or their economic circumstances.”

Amy Terrill
Executive Vice-President, Music Canada

Media Contacts

Richard Francella
Minister’s Office
Richard.Francella@ontario.ca

Public Inquiries
1-800-387-5514

Heather Irwin
Communications Branch
416-325-2454

TTY
1-800-268-7095

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