MusiCounts Band Aid Program

This program exists because music education is chronically underfunded across Canada. This results in the most in-need young people not having access to the benefits of music education. To learn more about the benefits of music education, the barriers that schools face in offering inclusive music education programs, and how MusiCounts’ programs address these issues, click here.

This grant program is open to all schools in Canada. In particular, this program is geared towards schools that do not have the instruments, equipment, and resources needed to offer an inclusive and sustainable music program for students. The MusiCounts Band Aid Program aims to ensure that the most in-need youth in Canada have access to the benefits of music education.

Each fall, schools may apply to the MusiCounts Band Aid Program. Applicants are asked to provide information about their school and community, the instruments they hope to purchase should their application be successful, and why these requested materials are needed.

Once all applications are received, our team of adjudicators review all submitted materials very carefully. Adjudicators are asked to identify the schools that:

1. Are in most urgent need of new musical equipment
2. Serve high-needs/under-represented student communities
3. Have strong plans in place to utilize the requested materials

The number of applications we’re able to support and the amount of funds we have available to allocate varies from year to year. In 2022, MusiCounts allocated $870,000 to 77 schools across Canada.

MusiCounts is proud to support all music education practices and teachings in Canada. In MusiCounts’ 25 year history of investing in music education, however, the majority of our resources have been allocated to music programs that reflect a Western colonial music education tradition.

In an effort to promote equal access to music education, and to foster a more diverse and inclusive music education landscape in Canada, MusiCounts is committed to investing in music education programs that empower young people to celebrate their cultural identity, as well as music programs that support BIPOC youth and other underrepresented communities.