Piano Donations
If you have a piano you’d like to donate for this program, please contact Nadia Riterman.
Donated pianos will be moved at no cost and are eligible for a tax receipt.
Honens presents Keys for Newcomers, a program providing newcomers with accessible music education for students and opportunities for piano teachers.
Keys for Newcomers provides grants to newcomer students from low-income households, aged 5 to 18, to return to their beloved activity as soon as possible. The grant will cover the cost of piano lessons, instruments, and music books.
The program also provides a pathway for piano teachers new to Calgary by supporting the development of their own music studio, including the provision of keyboards, mentorships, and referral of same language students. In addition, Honens has partnered with local organizations to provide rent free spaces for teachers who prefer to teach at a public locale.
Why Keys for Newcomers?
The arrival of thousands of refugees and evacuees in Calgary in the last few years has dramatically increased awareness of their plight, and the need for establishing social supports that facilitate a newcomer’s integration into Canada. Many leave behind homes and jobs, but also interests and passions that are a source of joy and a sense of pride.
Families and children are forced to abandon extracurricular activities as parents labour to provide the basic necessities during the initial stages of resettlement. When it comes to music education, this forced interruption can lead to loss of skills, but more importantly, it takes away from the child a place of solace and enrichment.
Program Pillars
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