Please direct questions about this study to Creative Trust or PAONE.

info@creativetrust.ca

http://paone.ca/2011/06/performing-arts-education-exchange/

The correct answer? Panic!

Well, not exactly. But a landmark new research paper underscores that the difference between a strong teacher and a weak teacher lasts a lifetime. Having a good fourth-grade teacher makes a student 1.25 percent more likely to go to college, the research suggests, and 1.25 percent less likely to get pregnant as a teenager. Each of the students will go on as an adult to earn, on average, $25,000 more over a lifetime — or about $700,000 in gains for an average size class — all attributable to that ace teacher back in the fourth grade. That’s right: A great teacher is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to each year’s students, just in the extra income they will earn.

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And yes, the VSO School of Music’s enrolment level has surpassed its expectations of having 300 students registered by June 2012, something it managed to do in less than six months.

What it didn’t know was who it would draw the most attention from: children and seniors.

She is new to the instrument, but isn't shy about showing off what she has learned at Sistema Toronto, the city's first program modeled after the highly successful free music education system from Venezuela known internationally as El Sistema.

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Tuba festival is an annual institution, and similar events took place in Calgary, Vancouver and Waterloo. The celebration was designed to showcase the talents of our young musicians, and demonstrate the importance of quality music education in Canada’s classrooms. The Toronto concert was conducted by Battle of the Blades and Hockey Night in Canada’s Music Director Orin Isaacs.

Tuba festival is arranged in part by the Coalition. Executive Director Holly Nimmons said:

“Our schools are filled with talented young music makers and Tuba festival is a joyous way to see – and hear – what a difference great music programs can make for our children. This time of year is about celebration.  Families, friends and communities come together to do so. Music brings us together joyfully.  Across Toronto, schools are filled with music. It’s vital we remember the remarkable efforts made by music teachers who support our young people. Too often they do so with limited resources but make great efforts to ensure that music is part of every child’s education – because music is key to every child’s life.”

However, many music programs across Canada are under supported or at risk. We need to ensure that local decision makers know how important music is to a young person’s development. Music can make all the difference in so many ways.  It helps students learn skills that can support academic achievement. Learning to play an instrument in a group or sing in a choir helps us work collaboratively.  Music has powerful capacity to comfort, heal and connect us.  Music is an integral part of any arts program.

The enthusiasm of the musicians at Tuba festival is infectious, and it’s a great way to kick start the holiday season."

See it on the Globe and Mail site,

Each choir performed to a live audience in their own city, with Ottawa choristers at the NAC. The young people came from the Ottawa Children’s Choir, Cantiamo Girls Choir, Cantiamo Training Choir, Chœur de l’École Sécondaire De la Salle and the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir. In St. John’s, it was the award-winning Shallaway youth choir performing at the D.F. Cook Hall at Memorial University.

Internationally renowned children’s rights activist Craig Kielburger, founder of Save the Children, gave an interactive presentation about the power of music to change the world for the better to the hundreds of young people who took part.

Find more information and find the application here

Each month, we’ll be profiling one of the Coalition’s board members, and discussing the challenges and successes experienced by music makers in their province. You can read the full version on Coalition’s new Board Blog, HERE