MusiCounts Band Aid Program Overview
What: The MusiCounts Band Aid Program provides up to $15,000 worth of musical instruments, equipment and resources to any type of school music program. Grants are awarded in allotments between $5,000 and $15,000. Funds from the MusiCounts Band Aid Program may be used to support any approach to music education, and purchase any kind of musical instruments.
Who Can Apply: All public, separate and First Nations schools in Canada are welcome to apply. Schools can apply for support with an existing music program, or schools with no music program may apply to build a music program at their school. Teachers, administrators and/or school support staff may prepare an application on behalf of their school.
When: Applications for the 2020-21 application cycle open on September 15, 2020. The final application deadline has been extended to December 11, 2020.
- Early Bird Prizes: Applicants who submitted prior to Oct. 20 were entered for a chance to receive 1 of 2 Peace Paragon Stage II Maple Drum kits, each valued at more than $3,000. These kits were generously donated by Heartbeat Distributors in Surrey, BC.
How: If you wish to apply, you must complete and submit your application online via the MusiCounts Grant Portal. There are two stages to this application. Both must be submitted for your application to be considered for funding. Please consult all the details below for clarity on this process.
Information On This Page
- How to Start Your Application
- Key Dates
- Information Needed to Apply
- Equity Priority Policy
- How Funding Decisions are Made
- Eligibility Criteria
- Application Support and Accommodations
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED
Materials & Information You Need To Apply
View the sample application here for full details.
1. Information about your school, and your music program.
- If you do not yet have a music program, you will be asked to outline your plans for implementing this.
2. A broad overview of your school’s current inventory of musical instruments and equipment.
- You will enter this information directly into the online application.
3. Musical Instrument Wish List
- A wish list of what instruments and equipment you plan to purchase, should your application be successful. You will enter this information directly into the online application. It is expected that you conduct research and provide approximate costs for what you hope to purchase. Providing a retailer quote is not necessary.
4. Supporting Documents.
- You may submit up to 4, 2-page documents with your application. These could be letters, testimonials, photos, etc
5. Information on your school's student population, and the need for the instruments & equipment you are requesting.
6. Information on how you plan to utilize the instruments and equipment you are requesting.
7. Information on the impact that receiving this grant will have on your school's student community.
Band Aid - Sample Application
MusiCounts' Equity Priority Policy
MusiCounts is proud to support all music education practices and teachings in Canada. In MusiCounts’ 20+ 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.
How are funding decisions made?
Every application submitted to the MusiCounts Band Aid Program undergoes a thorough review process. In addition to considering our Equity Priority Policy, we evaluate applications on the following core criteria:
- Need level: is there an urgent need for the instruments and equipment requested?
- Program framework: is there a strong plan in place to ensure the instruments & equipment will be regularly used by your school’s students?
- Impact potential: will receiving this grant have a significant impact on your school’s music program, and your school’s community of students?
Application Process
Applications Open
Evaluation Period
Early Bird Deadline
Applicants Notified
Applications Close
Post Reports & Content Sharing
Eligibility Criteria
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program is open to all public, separate and First Nations schools in Canada. Schools that charge tuition are not eligible to apply. 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 music studios, private music instructors, social groups, research organizations, universities, scholarship organizations.
- Schools that discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, disability or religion.
Eligible Uses of the MusiCounts Band Aid Program
- At least 50% of your grant funds must be used to purchase any kind of musical instruments and equipment. This includes, but is not limited to:
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- Music production and recording equipment, including software, tablets, microphones, etc.
- Traditional instruments that belong to a particular culture and/or raw materials to build these traditional instruments.
- Standard band and orchestra instruments
- Adaptive musical instruments, and instruments for use in a music therapy context.
- Orff instruments
- Guitars and ukuleles
- Amps and speakers
- Whatever instruments are needed by your school.
- Up to 25% of your requested funds may be allocated to repair instruments currently in your school’s inventory.
- Up to 25% of your requested funds may be allocated to the purchase of music accessories & resources, including music stands, storage, sheet music, and online music education resources. In light of COVID-19, you may also purchase air filters, plexiglass, or other materials to make music education at your school more safe and sustainable.
- *New* For schools that are requesting Indigenous musical instruments: up to 40% of your grant may be used for costs associated with having a community member, elder, knowledge-keeper or clinician introduce and/or build these instruments to your students.
Band Aid Impact Numbers
APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED
Band Aid Program - Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any questions about your application or require any accommodations, please email [email protected] or call 647 952 8149.