Laurentian Senior Public School receives $10,000.00 MusiCounts BandAid grant from The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Students at Laurentian Public School in Kitchener will be playing new instruments this spring after receiving a MusiCounts grant for 2013-14. Each year, schools across Canada are selected to receive grants to help develop existing or new instrumental music programs and to receive assistance to help promote music education to students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument.

Laurentian has a long history of providing its students with the opportunity to learn how to play instruments. In addition to music classes for 500 students, the school offers students a variety of performance opportunities through its bands and choirs. Students have performed in school assemblies, evening concerts, Music Monday activities, Kiwanis Music Festivals, and at Canada’s Wonderland.

Last October, students participated in the application process by writing letters to the MusiCounts committee. Almost two hundred letters were submitted by students, former students, staff, parents and members of the community on behalf of Laurentian School.

Students at Laurentian are keen to learn to play an instrument, however the instruments are very old and require some repairs. The MusiCounts Band Aid grant will provide almost 20 new instruments to replace the oldest ones on the shelves. The new instruments will arrive at the school at a special assembly on Thursday March 6.

Laurentian is grateful to MusiCounts for recognizing their need and for helping them to continue to offer its students the opportunity to play an instrument.