Photo courtesy of: PVNCCDSB
Students at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School in Lakefield will have more instruments and opportunities to make music thanks to a $16,000 grant from MusiCounts.
The funding will be used to expand the school’s music program with new instruments and materials, provide storage for the equipment and support a music program subscription for this school year and next.
The grant application was developed last year by former principal Jennifer DeMaeyer, who has since retired from PVNC Catholic, and music teacher Elena Johnson.
Principal Jean-Paul St-Amour says the new resources will give students hands-on opportunities to learn about rhythm, melody, musical traditions and composition.
Planned purchases include egg shakers, xylophones, bells, recorders, bucket drums, drumsticks and ukuleles.
The school also plans to incorporate Indigenous drums and music into its programming and hopes to invite Indigenous music leaders to share their knowledge through workshops.
“Incorporating Indigenous drums, like djembe drums, will diversify our program and enhance our cultural context,” St-Amour said. “Additionally, integrating music software will foster creativity and composition skills.”
St-Amour says the expanded program will encourage collaboration while giving students opportunities to experiment with different instruments and creative tools.
“Together, these resources will create a vibrant, hands-on music program that would inspire creativity and a lifelong love of music among our students,” he said.
The $16,000 grant is part of a broader MusiCounts investment in music education across Canada.
