Van Tech Receives Grant from MusiCounts

On November 4, 2010, Vancouver Technical Secondary School’s music program celebrated getting a $10,000 grant from MusiCounts, a music education charity based in Toronto.

To help kick off the celebration, the school’s concert band performed the theme song from Lawrence of Arabia. With new instruments in hand, the band did an amazing job. Also in attendance were students from Britannia Elementary School and Admiral Seymour Elementary, who also received grants. So what is it about music that has captured the interest of students of all ages?

“Music means so much it’s hard to just pin it down. It’s passion, and it’s creativity, [and] expression. And it’s a way not to just escape everyday life but really to make everyday life better,” says Peter, a member of Van Tech’s concert band. You could tell by the mood of the students that the band was happy to be playing to help celebrate the $10,000 grant awarded to them by MusiCounts.

As a music charity, MusiCounts ensures that children in Canada have access to music programs, but Peter knows that MusiCounts is supporting more than just children – they support the entire music community as well. “The community of the music world is such a welcoming and vibrant group of people. I love it here and I love being able to make music with these people.”

After the band had finished, Steve Cranwell, the executive director of MusiCounts, stepped up and spoke about the importance of music education. Shortly after, all in attendance were treated to a special performance by Canadian indie pop band, Stars. They performed I Died So I Can Haunt You and Your Ex Lover Is Dead.

Following their songs they addressed the group and chatted about the importance of music. One message Stars’ guitar/bass player Evan Cranley shared captures the importance of music programs in schools: “I think the teenage years are the most important times to discover your music; it helps to form your identity, meet your friends through your musical life. It formed me [as] who I am today, people I met back then are still my best friends now.”

Luckily for Van Tech music students and students all over Canada, MusiCounts is doing all that they can to help youth reap the many benefits that music has to offer.