2019-20 Applications Open Now
Apply Below - Early Bird Deadline Oct 17
MusiCounts Band Aid Program Overview
What: The MusiCounts Band Aid Program provides up to $15,000 worth of musical instruments and equipment to school music programs to ensure their continued success and sustained growth. Instruments provided are awarded in allotments between $5,000 and $15,000.
Who Can Apply: Elementary, Jr. High, Secondary, and Separate schools in Canada for their school music programs.
When: Applications for the 2019-20 school year open on September 17, 2019. Schools who by the early application deadline of October 17, 2019 will have a chance to receive one of two Peace brand drum kits generously donated by Heartbeat Distributors (value approximately $2,500).
How: Please review all information and criteria below, and then you may apply using the Apply Now button below starting on September 17th.
Information On This Page
- Application Process & Timelines
- Materials & Information You Need To Apply to the MusiCounts Band Aid Program
- Sample Application
- Eligibility Criteria
- Evaluation Criteria
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Materials & Information You Need To Apply
View the sample application here for full details.
1. Specific information on the school music program(s)
- # of students in the school and music program(s)
- Information on the school’s music teacher(s) and the framework of your school’s music program
2. Inventory of current musical instruments
- What instruments does your program already have, and what condition are the instruments in?
3. Musical instrument wish list
- What instruments does your school music program require to be more successful and continue to grow?
4. Business Number/ Charitable Number of the School or School Board
5. Supporting Information
6. Information on your music program’s need level, unique stories, and the potential impact of an instrument grant. To demonstrate this you will be asked to answer questions such as:
- Why you need this supply of instruments (including any information on need level of school and school community)?
- Are the instruments you’re requesting essential to the current success and future growth of your music program?
- What makes your music program unique? Are there any individual stories that make this program stand out?
- Does your music program serve any in-need, at-risk or marginalized communities?
- What barriers do students face to accessing music education?
Band Aid - Sample Application
Application Process
Applications Open
September 17, 2019
Evaluation Period
December - January
Early Bird Deadline
October 17, 2019
Applicants Notified
February 2020
Applications Close
November 14, 2019 5pm ET
Post Reports & Content Sharing
Starting in March-April
Eligibility Criteria
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program is open to elementary, jr. high, secondary and separate school music programs in Canada operating within a government board of education. The music program may be curricular or extracurricular, but the instruments and equipment received through this program must be owned by the recipient school and must be used by the school’s students on a regular basis.
Ineligible Applicants:
- Community music programs, but don’t worry we have another program for that! Please visit the MusiCounts TD Community Music Program page.
- Schools that have received a grant from MusiCounts in the last five years.
- School music programs outside of Canada.
- Individuals
- Other groups or organizations including private foundations, political organizations, athletic teams, social groups, research organizations, universities, fundraising initiatives or scholarship organizations.
- Schools that discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, disability or religion.
Band Aid Impact Numbers
1029
Schools
$9.725
Million Dollars
Evaluation Criteria
There are many factors considered when evaluating MusiCounts Band Aid Program applications. Each school program is unique, but below are the main criteria used to evaluate applications:
- Socio-economic need of the program and the school community
- Inventory and condition of current instruments
- Program framework, sustainability of the program, and dedication of school staff to support the program
- Number of students participating in the program and overall impact on the school community
- Community support of the program, which could include people such as parents, school board members, parent council members, etc.
- Unique stories about students and the program that show the need level and the potential impact of MusiCounts instruments
ACCESS THE APPLICATION
Band Aid Program - Frequently Asked Questions
MusiCounts is Canada’s music education charity. The MusiCounts Band Aid Program provides instruments and equipment to school music programs in Canada that are in need of instruments to ensure their sustained growth.
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program supplies instruments to curricular or extracurricular school music programs in Canada.
You can access the online MusiCounts Application Portal through this page on the MusiCounts website and begin your application starting on September 17, 2019. If you require a physical application, please contact the MusiCounts team at [email protected]
Anyone can apply for the MusiCounts Band Aid Program on behalf of the school music program, however applications are typically submitted by the school music teacher, principal or member of parent council. Please make sure the music teacher and the principal at the school are aware of the application. To find out if your school is eligible to apply, please review the eligibility section above.
We are looking for information on any factors that identify the need level of your particular school and school community. Each situation is unique but some factors may include: number of students from low-income families, number of students from single parent households, number of students who would be classified as English language learners, geographic isolation, barriers students face to accessing music education, assistance programs at the school such as breakfast or lunch programs, special needs students, etc.
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program should be used to purchase musical instruments and equipment that will be actively used by your school’s music program.
Up to 15% of your estimated wishlist may be used to purchase music stands, sheet music, guitar hooks, cases and other instrument related equipment.
Up to 35% of the instrument grant can be use to fund instrument repairs. The MusiCounts Band Aid Program will not pay for teacher salaries, travel costs, music room renovations, etc.
Should your application be successful, MusiCounts pays the instrument supplier directly.
Yes. A separate application must be submitted for each school music program.
Schools are selected based on criteria such as socio-economic need; inventory and condition of instruments; number of students; dedication of school staff; and overall impact the grant would make within the school community.
We encourage you to submit your applications prior to the Early Bird application deadline of October 17 for your chance at prizes. The final application deadline is Thursday November 14, 2019 at 5pm EST.
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program provides up to $15,000 worth of musical instruments and equipment to school music programs. Instruments provided are awarded allotments between $5,000 and $15,000.
The amount of schools selected as MusiCounts Band Aid Program recipients and the amount of instrument funding they receive varies from year to year, depending on available funds and the number of applications received.
Currently MusiCounts is able to help about 1 in 4 schools who apply to receive instruments.
Absolutely not! This program supports school music programs that include all instruments and various different musical genres. Orchestral programs, rock bands, Orff programs, DJ/ recording programs, cultural programs and everything in between are eligible to receive support from the MusiCounts Band Aid Program and are encouraged to apply.
MusiCounts will let you know the status of your application by no later than the end of February 2019. Should your application be successful, we will also let you know about the public announcement plans.
Congratulations! We will contact you with all of the information that you need to submit. This includes a maximum of 3 quotes from your preferred suppliers. Once we approve them, we contact your suppliers to have the instruments shipped to you directly and we take care of the invoices. We also require our recipients to keep us up-to-date on their program and submit stories and photos.
Due to the limited funding available every year, schools that have received support through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program in the last 5 years are ineligible.
Past recipients are welcome to apply again after the 5 year period. For example, in 2018-19 schools who received instruments in 2012-2013 are eligible to apply, but schools who received instruments in 2013-2014 are not eligible to apply.
Once you submit your application online, you will receive a confirmation email stating that we have received it.
If this happens, please reach out to [email protected] Please note that adjustments cannot be made following the final application deadline.
Please contact the MusiCounts team at [email protected] Due to the volume of questions we receive, it may take us a few days to respond.