Recently MusiCounts announced the 2026 recipients of their MusiCounts grants through their MusiCounts School Music Funding Programs. This year MusiCounts made an investment of $1.4 million spread across 96 schools throughout Canada.
MusiCounts grants support all approaches to music education through their MusiCounts Band Aid Program and their MusiCounts Slaight Family Foundation Innovation Fund. Grants of up to $20,000 are awarded for the purchase of instruments, equipment, and resources to help make music education accessible, and inclusive to all students.
Out of the 96 schools across the country to be selected for grants, two Upper Grand District School Board schools were selected. After a rigorous application process, East Garafraxa PS was selected to receive a $20,000 grant, and Westminster Woods PS was selected to receive a grant worth $17,500.
At East Garafraxa PS, educator Terri-Ann Gawthroupe applied to the program, completing the lengthy application, which included letters from students and staff about what impact a music program could have on student learning and experience. The application also demonstrated the need for a music program at the school, and how the program could thrive for years to come.
After being granted the application in the spring, Gawthroupe put in an order at the local music store for band instruments and equipment. The goal of getting these instruments is to start an instrumental band this school year.
When reflecting on this experience, Gawthroupe said, “The MusiCounts grant will provide the students at East Garafraxa with the unique opportunity to learn band instruments in elementary school. To be able to provide this kind of access to music education is such a gift. We believe in the transformative power of music in our lives, and in its ability to create community through playing together."
At Westminster Woods PS, educator David Scott submitted a similar application and was awarded a MusiCounts Slaight Family Foundation Innovation Fund grant. With this grant, Scott is purchasing 27 Akai MPC Sample units. An Akai MPC Sample is a compact, portable, and completely standalone beat-making device. It allows musicians to record, edit, sequence, and process audio without the use of another device.
Scott indicated that over the past few years, “Westminster Woods has been working to add an electronic music / music production component to our music program. With support from UGDSB's experiential learning grants and community partners such as Ableton, we have been introducing our students to the skills necessary to create and produce original music using technologies such as MIDI, Drum Machines and computer-based recording software.” He continued to say that with the MusiCounts grant the school will be able to amplify this program and sample sounds from the world around us, build drum kits from these sounds, and create music with them, which can then be edited and transformed by students.
Congratulations to East Garafraxa PS and Westminster Woods PS, we cannot wait to hear the music that students make with their new instruments and devices.