Music BC: Help Save Music Programs for Vancouver's Kids

The original Music BC article is here.

The Vancouver School Board’s recent budget proposal including either a fee raise or total elimination of the Band and Strings Program, has compelled Access to Music Foundation President and CEO Elka Yarlowe to put out a call to action. She’s written an open letter to the city’s school board engaging Vancouverites to speak up to government and through social media about the importance of early music education in youth development, and take part in the public discussion coming up at 7:00pm, April 15th at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School. The recommendation in the 2014/2015 preliminary budget is “to eliminate the band and strings program for a savings of $630,651. Alternatively, the Board could increase the annual fee for the band and strings program to $25 per month for a total of $250.00 per year. This however would only generate an additional $350,000.”

Access to Music hopes you can help encourage the Vancouver School Board to keep funding in place to ensure VanCity’s kids have access to elementary school music programs. Your voice can make the difference, please join us today to help us make a better tomorrow for our kids.

You can contribute in the following ways:

1. join our Twitter campaign using #InvestInVanKids to show your support of music education;
2. write a letter to Premier Christy Clark asking for improvements to school funding (an example is at www.accesstomusic.ca); and
3. attend the public budget meeting on Tuesday, April 15th at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School at 7pm.

It’s not just about music. It is about providing a creative and innovative way to make the overall learning experience for every child a meaningful and lasting one.

Please click this link to read the full open letter from Elka Yarlowe to the VSB.