2009 BAND AID GRANT IMPACT SURVEY

The full 2009 questionnaire was distributed to former Band-Aid recipient schools from across Canada.  These results highlight the positive impact that has been made by the Band Aid grants.

POSITIVE IMPACT ON MUSICAL ENDEAVORS
Jump-Started, Revived, & Accelerated Programs
• All schools that responded to the survey spoke about the major improvement to their music program as a result of new instruments.
• Old, worn-out instruments were replaced with brand new ones by all schools and as a result students were more enthusiastic, responsive and interested in signing up for, or sticking with band and music programs in all schools.
• In schools like Jarvis C.I, instruments were over 25 years old, and were incapable of even producing sound.
• The music teacher of Dr C.F Public High School described the 90 instruments that the school already possessed as being in the worst possible condition that she had ever seen in over 25 years of teaching. In this school, it is evident that without the Band Aid grant, there would be no music program and this grant is clearly the miracle the school needed to keep music alive in the curriculum.
• A wide variety of schools were able to expand and introduce new components to their existing music programs. Ensembles, jazz groups, brass bands, percussion groups and choirs were just some of the diverse ways in which students could take advantage of the music program in their respective schools and work with high quality instruments while also expanding their knowledge of different forms of music overall.
• Numerous teachers also described the rise in numbers to their existing music program as a result of new instruments being made available. Schools like Dr. C.F. Canon Public School and Ionview Public School demonstrated a phenomenal increase in numbers to the existing music program, nearly three times higher than before the grant was awarded, clearly demonstrating that children need to work with instruments that are in good working order and in tune.
• Schools like Harbord Collegiate and Ecole Marie-Derome stated that the fact that each student now had the chance to work on one instrument rather than sharing in larger groups meant that they were more focussed, enthusiastic and responsive to the content of what was taught to them.
• Many music teachers also stated quite candidly that if it weren’t for the Band Aid grants, they themselves would continue to struggle with regards to maintaining enthusiasm for their work.

Increased Awareness
• River Valley School and St Helena Junior School were able to offer the band program to all students at no extra cost for the first time, which resulted in greater community awareness and a more positive social and music making experience for students irrespective of their difficult financial and economic background.
• Jarvis Collegiate Institute, Clifton School, and McCaskills Mills Public School are just some examples of schools that have managed to integrate within the community through performances in local festivals, community halls and nursing homes.
• Terry Fox Secondary School has managed to start and maintain Junior & Senior Concert Bands, 2 Jazz Bands, a 55 piece Concert Choir and a 30 piece Vocal Jazz Group. All these are involved in performances in the school and within the community.
• The newspaper press and publicity surrounding Crystal City Early Years School receiving the grant has resulted in community members taking a renewed interest in the school’s music program.
• Many schools commented on the fact that new instruments have resulted in a renewed, revived music program, which in turn has resulted in new repertoire being performed at school concerts thereby increasing the reputation of the school’s ensembles, and providing greater enjoyment to audience members and those who attend any concerts and performances.

POSITIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS
Equal and Increased Participation
• All schools commented on the fact that students have benefitted tremendously from having new instruments that they can play rather than 5-8 students having to share an old, out of tune or broken instrument.
• Schools like Delburne Centralized School and Marion Bridge Elementary School will have students enrolled in competitions for the first time ever.
• In Carihi High School, the new equipment has inspired not only the regular band students but other musically talented students in the school to either join the regular band program or start combos of their own - which we encourage them to do. This has been the case in quite a few other schools that responded to the survey.
• Some schools have found ways to include the parents in their school community when it comes to participation and involvement with the music program.

Student Role-Models
• Nearly all schools commented on the fact that the new instruments have resulted in students learning to take greater pride in what they do, and a more hands on approach in taking care of these beautiful instruments.

Building Self-Esteem
• A very large group of the schools, including Island View School, confirmed that the self esteem of their students was significantly raised.
• Students at Catholic Central High School are able to learn and develop their music education with pride and confidence and be proud to share their talents with the greater community. This is a trend that so many schools have commented on - the fact that being a part of band and music is no longer something to be ashamed about, because high quality instruments and numerous performance opportunities have resulted in a surge in confidence across the board, for all participating students.
• Brookfield High School’s Guitar Program purchased sixty guitars using the Band Aid grant, meaning that any student in the school who has little to go home to, or does not even have access to a guitar is able to play and learn to use this instrument thereby opening up avenues and tapping talent that would have normally never be explored.

SCHOOL ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE GRANT
Awards/Competitions
• Nearly all schools have reported an increase in awards at local, national and in some cases even international festivals and competitions.
• Some impressive results include Brookfield High School’s performances at Musicfest Ottawa, Senior Band Gold, Junior and Senior Jazz, Silver and Silver. Ottawa Kiwanis Festival Junior Jazz Gold. The Senior Jazz Band was invited to perform at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival’s Youth Day.
• The music teacher of Dr. C.F. Cannon Public School writes that “for the first time in Dr. C.F. Cannon history (1967) the concert band will be entering the Kiwanis Music Festival. The music students eagerly look forward to this exciting venture….it is all due to your generosity and support!!!”