AIFECGuest Performer Sarah Lawrence AHit At Dr.Davey School, Feb. 14

In addition to our quality instrumental instruction, AIFEC also regularily brings in local musicians from the community to demonstrate and explain their instruments, giving the kids an added perspective and enhancing their appreciation and understanding of music more.

On February 14th, flutist Sarah Lawrence came to Dr.Davey School with a bag full of whistles, harmonicas and other"cool" woodwinds and gave the children a seminar on the flute.

Ms. Lawrence is a 2nd-year Mohawk College student and took the kids on a tour of her instrument before going around the room and assisting the youngsters in getting their first sounds on it..

Before a wide-eyed and attentive crowd, she also performed a little bit and told the kids a bit about the history of one of man's oldest musical tools.

The budding musicians in the audience were thoroughly impressed. Some of the comments were:

"That is so COOL!!!" "Can Iplay it?!!""Can Ihold it?!!"

"It was really rewarding, and watching their eyes light up when they got toactually touchit made my day," Ms. Lawrence said. "You wonder if these kids would getto experiencesomething like this in their daily lives and perhaps this will start them on the path to getting more interested in music, and maybe even picking up a flute themselves one day and learning how to play."

AIFECconducts guest performances once a month at all three schools it currently works with and this will continue as the program expands to towards our goal of being in ten local schools by 2015.

There is a full album of pictures on our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000112832440#!/media/set/?set=a.349049285116496.79337.332599980094760&type=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVAGsTJG_cI&context=C3b9bee1ADOEgsToPDskJEBw_GRqarhuOWHAVoh2Uo

Media Release Oct 2011 (300.8 KB)

Release
For Immediate Release

HAMILTON MUSIC COLLECTIVE EXPANDS PILOT PROJECT
AN INSTRUMENT FOR EVERY CHILD (AIFEC)
TO THREE ELMENTARY SCHOOLS IN HAMILTON

Internationally renowned, award-winning artists Emma Rush and Zimfira Poloz join AIFEC Faculty as instrumental instructor and guest performer

October 19, 2011 - An Instrument for Every Child (AIFEC), the successful Hamilton inner-city free music program for children in Grades 1 through 4, is expanding to two additional Hamilton schools for the 2011-12 program, Dr. Edgar J.E. Davey elementary school and Holy Name of Jesus elementary school .
As the program enters phase two of the pilot project at King George Elementary School, The Hamilton Music Collective is pleased to announce the appointment of five additional, highly qualified AIFEC instructors, among them guitarist Emma Rush, winner of the 2011 City of Hamilton Arts Award, and guest instructor Zimfira Poloz, Artistic Director of the Hamilton Children’s Choir.

Said Ms. Rush, “I'm so pleased to be a part of the AIFEC program, especially in the project's exciting second year. Much of my early music education came through different school programs so I know first-hand the incredible impact that these kinds of initiatives can have. Making music enhances our lives in so many ways - as a means of personal development and expression and as a way of connecting with those around us. The excitement the children in the AIFEC program have about their new instruments and learning to use those points to the success of this remarkable endeavour.”

With the appointment of Ms. Zimfira Poloz as a guest instructor, AIFEC will put a strong emphasis on vocal instruction and singing. Said Ms. Poloz, “AIFEC is a great program and an idea we strongly support. Every child has an inherent musical talent and I am thrilled to share my knowledge as a choir instructor with the instructors and students of this life changing program.”

The Hamilton Music Collective is a partner and founder of An Instrument for Every Child, a visionary music project aimed at providing elementary school children with the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. Hamilton is the first city in Canada to offer this free musical education program to students starting in Grade 1. AIFEC, in partnership with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, was started in September 2010 with Grade 1 students at King George School after a $125,000 seed grant to fund the program was donated by Hamilton philanthropist, Paul Lloyd. AIFEC is modeled on a similar program in Germany and on the El Sistema Program in Venezuela.

An Instrument for Every Child follows students from Grades 1 through 4. In the first year (Grade 1) elementary school children are introduced to a variety of instruments by an AIFEC instructor and receive forty minutes of in-class music lessons each week. In the second year (Grade 2), students choose the musical instrument that they want to play. The instrument is on a free loan basis for the next three years (grades, 2, 3 and 4) with the students attending free after school weekly music lessons as part of the program.

The Hamilton Music Collective gratefully acknowledges the support of the program’s sponsors: Paul Lloyd, President Pasword Protection, The Hamilton Community Foundation, Arcelor Mittal Dofasco, Turkstra Lumber, Corus Entertainment, The Hamilton Spectator and OKD Marketing.

For more information about An Instrument for Every Child, or if you would like to make a donation, please visit www.aninstrumentforeverychild.ca <http://www.aninstrumentforeverychild.ca> <http://www.aninstrumentforeverychild.ca> . Media Contact: Allyson Wenzowski, Publicity Works, 905-379-73

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 Archive -- There was a Canadian Idol winner, a Mohawk College jazz band, Mayor Bob Bratina willing to part with a violin he gave up trying to play and a gym full of students, staff, parents and guests thrilled that instrumental music is centre stage at King George Elementary School.

On June 17, King George hosted the year-end celebration of the pilot music program An Instrument for Every Child (AIFEC). AIFEC exposes students starting in Grade 1 to violins, violas, cellos, trumpets, trombones, horns, flutes, clarinets, guitars, mandolins, accordions, recorders, percussion and two ethnic instruments such as the balalaika.

“We really are feeding the brain today,” Board Chair Judith Bishop told the crowd assembled, before Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo took the stage. “And music is fun, isn’t it?” she asked the students. “It is something that you are going to have life-long.”

Image: Grade 1 student Christian Breen celebrates his diploma for An Instrument for Every Child, beside classmates Katrina Clarke, with Mayor Bob Bratina looking on.

An Instrument for Every Child is being led by the Hamilton Music Collective in partnership with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, with HWDSB a partner. Inspired by similar work in Germany and El Sistema in Venezuela, it began as a pilot project in Hamilton in fall 2010 at King George.

“An Instrument for Every Child is not just another music project. It is a social project at heart, and we are very excited that AIFEC is becoming a reality in Hamilton,” said Astrid Hepner, Chair of the Hamilton Music Collective.

Started with a $125,000 seed grant from local philanthropist Paul Lloyd, the program is in its first year at the Gage Street North school. In fall 2011, however, it will expand to Dr. Davey elementary, thanks in part to an ArcelorMittal Dofasco donation of $15,000 that a company official announced at the event.

Although the Ontario Curriculum reserves space for music at all levels, music with orchestra instruments typically begins in grades 6 or 7. Before that, students usually experience voice, recorders and rhythm instruments.

To augment this, AIFEC will ensure that students in grades 1 to 4 will learn to play a musical instrument and will receive general music education within the Ontario school curriculum. The long-term vision for the program is to have it grow, so that every child in Hamilton is part of An Instrument for Every Child.

Year one is about familiarizing students with instruments. In the second year students, choose the instrument that they want to play. The instructor will work with small groups of four to six children. Lessons take place once a week in the school. Lessons continue in the third and fourth year with an introduction of basic ensemble play.

In Germany, An Instrument for Every Child began when founder Manfred Grunenberg introduced it in 2003 to 300 children in 10 elementary schools. It is based on the belief that cultural education is a basic ingredient in a healthy society, and that culture has the power to transform a city. AIFEC now reaches 50,000 children in 900 elementary schools.

At the King George celebration, Hepner said she’s been “impressed with the enthusiasm and support we encountered in this first year.” Like Bishop, she praised the benefits of music instruction for students. “Music feeds our children’s souls and their minds.”

View more photos here.

The End of Year Celebration for An Instrument for Every Child (AIFEC) took place today at King George School (77 Gage Avenue North), with a morning assembly followed by light refreshments in the school gym.

The event celebrated the success of the Grade 1 students who have now completed the first PILOT year of the four year AIFEC program. Principal Susan Neville welcomed everyone, and HWDSB Chair, Judith Bishop, brought greetings on behalf of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. AIFEC program director, Astrid Hepner, thanked all AIFEC sponsors, teachers, and partners for their tremendous support over the past year.

The audience was then treated to a wonderful musical performances put on by the Grade 1 students, along with guest musicians who had visited with the students over the course of the past year. Following the student performance, ArcelorMittal Dofasco Vice President of Manufacturing, Bob Savage, announced ArcelorMittal’ s $15,000 grant to help fund the expansion of the AIFEC program to two additional schools this coming fall: Dr. J. Edgar J. Davey public school and Holy Name of Jesus separate school. Both schools are high need, inner city schools.

After the ArcelorMittal Dofasco announcement, Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina and his wife, Carol, presented the students with their musical instruments and certificates of accomplishment. The audience was then treated to a fabulous performance by 2007 Canadian Idol winner, Brian Melo.

The Hamilton Music Collective is a partner and founder of An Instrument for Every Child), a visionary music project aimed at providing elementary school children with the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. Hamilton is the first city in Canada to offer this free musical education program to students starting in Grade 1.

AIFEC, in partnership with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, was started in September 2010 with Grade 1 students at King George School after a $125,000 seed grant to fund the program was donated by Hamilton philanthropist, Paul Lloyd. AIFEC is modeled on a similar program in Germany and on the El Sistema Program in Venezuela.

An Instrument for Every Child follows students from Grades 1 through 4. In the first year (Grade 1) elementary school children are introduced to a variety of instruments by an AIFEC instructor and receive forty minutes of in-class music lessons each week. In the second, year (Grade 2) students choose the music musical instrument that they want to play and receive instrumental lessons with the AIFEC instructor. The instruments are on a free basis over the next three years (grades, 2, 3 and 4) with the students attending free after school weekly music lessons as part of the program.

For more information about An Instrument for Every Child, or if you would like to make a donation, please visit; media contact: Allyson Wenzowski, Publicity Works, 905-379-7353; awenzowski1@cogeco.ca

JITH Media Release 2011 (237.4 KB)

Music is in the air for Hamilton children with the return of the popular Jazz in the Hubs concerts for elementary school children in inner-city neighbourhoods in late April and early May.

The performances take place at the following schools:

Friday, April 29th – Queen Mary Elementary School
Monday, May 2nd – Dr. J. Edgar Davey Elementary School

Tuesday, May 3rd – Cathy Weaver Elementary School
Wednesday, May 4th – King George Elementary School

Featuring the Mohawk College Student Big Band, Mohawk College Faculty, and members of the Hamilton Music Collective (HMC), the series includes two interactive 30-minute performances per school during which elementary school children are introduced to various jazz orchestra instruments. Each performance is then followed by a 45-minute ‘Meet the Instrument’ session giving children the opportunity to try out instruments of their choice.

Said Astrid Hepner, chairperson of the Hamilton Music Collective, “This year we are pleased to have Mohawk College and Long &McQuade as the Jazz in the Hubs sponsor. The Jazz in the Hubs initiative is part of the HMC’s educational mandate to give young children the opportunity to experience live music, introduce them to musical instruments and to give them the opportunity to play the instruments.”

The Hamilton Music Collective is a partner and founder of An Instrument for Every Child (AIFEC), a visionary music project aimed at providing elementary school children with the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. Hamilton is the first city in Canada to offer this free musical education program to students starting in Grade 1.
AIFEC, in partnership with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, was started in September 2010 with Grade 1 students at King George School after a $125,000 seed grant to fund the program was donated by Hamilton philanthropist, Paul Lloyd.

Said Paul Lloyd, “The goal of ‘An Instrument for Every Child’ is to help kids who might have a musical talent, but might not have discovered it or might not have the financial resources to develop the ability. The program helps these kids uncover this talent, discover it, play with it, grow it, and to receive positive recognition as a result of their growth.”

An Instrument for Every Child follows students from Grades 1 through 4. In the first year (Grade 1) elementary school children are introduced to a variety of instruments by an AIFEC instructor and receive forty minutes of in-class music lessons each week. In the second year (Grade 2) students choose the instrument that they want to play and receive instrumental lessons with the AIFEC instructor. This September, the Grade 2 students will be given the opportunity to select an instrument which will be given to them on a free loan basis for the next three years of the program (Grades 2, 3 and 4). The Grade 2 students will also be attending free after school weekly music lessons as part of the program.

AIFEC is modeled on the a successful school program in the Ruhr region of Germany that grew in the space of seven years from 300 children to over 50,000, and to the El Sistema Program in Venezuela whereby children in need attend their local El Sistema center, called a “nucleo,” as early as age 2 or 3 for free music lessons with the vast majority continuing well into their teens. Venezuela now has over 60 children’s orchestras, almost 200 youth orchestras, 30 professional adult orchestras and dozens of choruses.

Click here....

HPO Executive Director Annelisa Pedersen joined the ' An Instrument for Every Child' pilot class at King George Elementary school (77 Gage Ave N) as the musical guest. Parents were invited to observe the class.

Annelisa introduced the trumpet and trombone to the Grade 1 students in a brief performance/presentation, followed by a Q & A session providing 20 curious kids with the opportunity to pick a musician’s brain.

During this occasion, Annelisa Pedersen also extended an invitation to all AIFEC students and their families to be the HPO’s guests at this year’s ‘Holiday Celebration’ matinee concert on December 18.

An initiative led by the Hamilton Music Collective in partnership with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, ‘An Instrument For Every Child’ (AIFEC) is a visionary music project aimed at providing Hamilton’s elementary school children with the opportunity to learn to play an instrument.

Past musical guests in our ‘AIFEC’ class included Gary Santucci of the Pearl Company and Hamilton’s talented 11-year old fiddler Liam McGlashon.

HPO Executive Director Annelisa Pedersen - also an accomplished trumpet and trombone player - joined the ' An Instrument for Every Child' pilot class at King George Elementary school (77 Gage Ave N) as the musical guest. Parents were invited to observe the class.

Annelisa introduced the trumpet and trombone to the Grade 1 students in a brief performance/presentation, followed by a Q & A session providing 20 curious kids with the opportunity to pick a musician’s brain.

During this occasion, Annelisa Pedersen also extended an invitation to all AIFEC students and their families to be the HPO’s guests at this year’s ‘Holiday Celebration’ matinee concert on December 18.

An initiative led by the Hamilton Music Collective in partnership with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, ‘An Instrument For Every Child’ (AIFEC) is a visionary music project aimed at providing Hamilton’s elementary school children with the opportunity to learn to play an instrument.

Past musical guests in our ‘AIFEC’ class included Gary Santucci of the Pearl Company and Hamilton’s talented 11-year old fiddler Liam McGlashon.

www.thespec.com/news/local/article/254204