Submitted by hcpp.edmonton on Wed, 09/09/2009 - 23:22. Last updated on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 00:54.
Vital Stats
ongoing project
09/09/2009
3000
100
N/A
The Problem
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is a diverse city that provides services to over 1 million people (730 000 live in the city limits alone). As in any city, poverty is a concern especially in certain parts of the city. Many children who want to take music lessons are unable to do so for various reasons. Some simply do not have the money to pay for private or even group lessons. Some cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument for practice. Some are not able to find transportation to lessons because their parents are either working or do not have a means of transport themselves. Finally, the child’s musical education may not be supported by his/her family.
Why It's Important
The Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) began in 1995 as a dream to enhance the lives of at-risk youth through a structured music program. Beginning in Saskatoon, the program expanded nationally to include Edmonton in 2002, and has further expanded into other cities in Canada. This year, HCPP Canada is in the works towards becoming a national registered charity.
-
In Edmonton, the HCPP is registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta, run by students in collaboration with the City Centre Education Project. In 2008-2009, HCPP Edmonton operated in 13 schools, and we had 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students to play the piano.
-
HCPP volunteers teach piano to 2 or 3 children for 20 or 30 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. Including travel time and lesson preparation, the total time commitment per week is approximately 3 hours. Most lessons are after school though some occur during lunch hour. Volunteers teach at inner-city elementary schools where students might not otherwise be able to take piano lessons. Our volunteers promote discipline, community, self-esteem, pride and self-confidence in students.
-
The purpose of the Heart of the City Piano Program is to not only teach the children piano and music skills, but to help them build their self confidence as they learn, and develop a sense of pride and accomplishment from their effort and achievement.
-
Another goal of the program is to provide positive role models for the children. Ultimately the aim is to ensure at-risk youth make positive choices in life, and enriching their lives with some music.
The Plan Of Action
A series of steps were taken to create the Heart of the City Piano Program in Edmonton in 2002. Executive members and a few volunteers were recruited for the organization as Student Group registration requires 10 members. HCPP was then registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta through the creation of submission of a constitution along with a registration form. This allowed the group to create a bank account, applying for a start-up grant and utilize some of the resources of the university such as meeting space and fundraiser venues. A website and an email account were created under the domain of the University of Alberta.
-
A partnership was developed with the City Centre Education Project (CCEP), an “innovative collaboration that allows seven different city centre schools to combine resources, energy and talent, and offers enriched learning opportunities for all students.” The CCEP was able to fund the police information checks of the organization, while the HCPP was able to operate in all seven elementary schools of the project. Elementary schools were in the CCEP were contacted to build the foundation for the program. Meetings with each school were set up to explain the program and to discuss how it would function in the individual school. Most of the time, the music teacher was the contact person between the school and HCPP. Sometimes, the assistant principal or the principal was the main contact person.
-
Simultaneously, volunteer piano teachers were recruited at the University of Alberta Clubs Fair and through networks of the executive. The volunteers filled out an application form, police information check and were asked to provide a reference. This process took the first few weeks of September, and after it was finished, they were matched with different schools and teaching times which worked for both the school and the volunteer. Volunteers taught three students for 20 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. They were given a package which contained the location of the school, a plan for the first few lessons and directions on how to take public transit to the school from the University of Alberta.
-
In 2007 it was revamped under the leadership of new executive members. The website was redeveloped and both the volunteer application form and the school application form were put online. Expansions included volunteer events, fundraising commitments and the first annual year-end recital at Muttart Hall, Alberta College Conservatory of Music. These major developments had both immediate and long-lasting results. Each year since 2007, HCPP has added new elementary schools to the program, and in 2008-2009, it operated in 13 elementary schools across Edmonton with over 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students.
-
Feedback from music teachers and principals within the elementary schools has been very encouraging. When music teachers move schools, they have contacted HCPP to set the program up in their new schools while ensuring that the program remains in operation at their old schools. The children and the parents of the children are very grateful for the program. At the year-end recital, volunteers and executives of HCPP get continuous verbal praise from parents and students alike. Additionally, the volunteers enjoy the rewards of the program. Year after year, volunteers register for the program because they have had a great experience in the previous year. Students often request the same volunteer that they had the previous year while volunteers often request to teach the same students.
-
HCPP was featured on ACCESS Television during the Alberta Primetime television show which was aired across the province. The University of Alberta Students’ Union awarded HCPP the Community Outreach Award for 2008-2009, an award presented to the registered Student Group at the University of Alberta who has made the greatest overall effort to involve its members in the local/international community.
HCPP is always looking for volunteers to teach piano as well as music teachers and administrative staff who are willing to help to start the program in their school. We are also building a library of piano books and learning materials, and any donations of used or new piano books would be greatly appreciated. The program is completely volunteer-run, but we do have some operating costs. Monetary donations would be used to help fund the musical education of inner city children. Please contact us at hcpp@ualberta.ca if you are interested in any of the above.
Project Updates
12/14/09
Update: We held a successful Winter Celebration Event on November 18 with over 40 children attending. This gave the participants in the program a chance to interact with their peers and their piano teachers outside of the school environment. Some students had never been bowling before, and it was overall, a very rewarding experience.
We are currently developing a music resource library to support volunteers at schools with limited books and other resources. We hope to fully launch this in January right after the Christmas break!
01/12/10
Update: We just held a Winter Kick-off event for all our new and continuing volunteers for the winter semester. It was well attended, and we debuted our music resource library! We have over 100 books in the library and other resources such as flashcards for volunteers to borrow to assist them with their lessons. Lots of our volunteers showed interested and quite a few borrowed books. We have developed an electronic tracking system using a simple spreadsheet on a computer system donated to our office. We are in the midst of another recruiting drive to coincide with the beginning of a university semester, and already many potential volunteers have contacted us!
Additional hours volunteered: 200
Final Grant Update
02/14/10
Shaughnessy Fulawka
Number of people in the organization: 150 Number of people impacted: 500 Describe the impact the grant had: At the end of the 2008-2009 school year, HCPP was left without any financial room. The program was faced with an additional challenge with a large turnover of executives. Many executives were leaving who had been involved with the program for several years. A DoSomething grant revived the energy of the executive team. We were able to worry less about finding the money to finance the program for another year and more about improving the quality of the experience for everybody involved. We were able to hold a successful Winter Celebration bowling event which we hope to make an annual event. We were able to pay for office space to house a new music resource library, also funded in part by the DoSomething grant. The DoSomething grant also allowed us to pay for our major recruitment campaign at the beginning of the year. Project highlights: 1. Winter Celebration – the children had a great time and enjoyed a rare opportunity to interact with their volunteers outside of lessons.
-
2. Winter Semester Kick-off – this provided a great chance for volunteers to mingle with each other, sharing teaching experiencesand meeting the executive.
-
3. Creation of the Music Resource Library – having teaching books and other resources such as flashcards available for our volunteers to use, with a good tracking system, will eliminate various costs for the program and its participants while enriching the quality of the education offered to students. How did the project unfold and develop? At the beginning of September, 2009, the response from volunteer recruitment was not as strong as expected. Instead of expanding the program with an increase in volunteers, HCPP had the same number of volunteers this year as last year. While this unfortunately did not allow us to expand to more schools, it did allow us to focus on improving the organization and its operations.
-
Volunteers were matched successfully to 12 schools to teach almost 100 students each week for one hour or more. To open the lines of communication with each volunteer, executive members were assigned two or three schools each, and the executive member was responsible for staying in contact with all the volunteers at those schools. This made it easier to personalize what would otherwise have been mass emails and also to focus on the situation in each school.
-
After lessons were underway and running smoothly, a Winter Celebration event was held on November 18, 2009. Students, volunteer piano teachers and music teachers were invited to bowl together for an evening of fun and social interaction, which many of the students do not experience often. Parents were invited to attend as observers.
-
The City Centre Education Project (CCEP) provided and organized bussing, and a HCPP representative ensured everything ran smoothly on the bus ride to and from the six schools from which students required transportation. In total, 21 students rode the bus with 3 siblings, 4 parents and 2 music teachers. The rest of attendees found their own transportation to the bowling alley.
-
57 individuals attended the event, including 4 executive members, 5 volunteers, 35 students, 10 parents and 3 music teachers. Snacks were given to the students – brownies, vegetable platters and juice boxes. Thank you cards were purchased and sent to CCEP and music teachers who helped to make the event possible.
-
Some students had never been bowling before, and seeing their happiness and the way they responded to the volunteer piano teachers as role models and group leaders was a very rewarding experience. The children appreciated the snacks, and the Project Coordinator of CCEP commented that the school board would be happy with the healthy options presented.
-
Southgate mall contacted HCPP in October to arrange for piano performance in the mall during the Christmas season in exchange for an honorarium. Last year, Southgate did not pay HCPP an honorarium but instead allowed HCPP to ask for donations. This year, Southgate requested professional performances, but we were able to negotiate an honorarium which was consistent with the rates charged by local piano performers. Our volunteers with a high level of performance and other supporters of HCPP filled the three, three hour time slots with Christmas piano music. This event provided an opportunity to showcase HCPP to the community and candy canes with our contact information were distributed.
-
A music resource library was developed in November and December and debuted at a Winter Semester Kick-off event on January 11. An individual was found who sold piano books to HCPP at a greatly discounted price, and University of Alberta Students' Union Activity Grant was able to cover part of the cost of the library. The library consists of over 150 music books, offering volunteers an assortment of teaching materials to supplement the lessons. HCPP also purchased flashcards which provide volunteers with another avenue to enhance their teaching techniques. The Winter Semester Kick-off was popular with the volunteers. Snacks were provided and the volunteers were able to talk to executives and each other as well as look through the music resources available. Many volunteers borrowed one or more resources from the library.
-
From January 11-15, HCPP participated in Involvement Fair, a week-long event organized by Student Group Services of the University of Alberta. We were successful in recruiting more volunteers who would be able to start teaching in late January or early February. With enough volunteers, we were able to assign volunteers to all our current schools which are now at maximum capacity, setting the stage for a possible expansion next year. Our annual year-end recital is currently planned for March 25, and plans are already underway, with the venue booked, the Muttart Hall of the Alberta College Conservatory of Music.
-
Efforts are also underway to create some financial sustainability for HCPP. HCPP holds several fundraisers a year, usually barbecues and bake sales at the University of Alberta. We also were able to perform at a local mall, Southgate, this past December in exchange for an honorarium. This sparked the idea of creating a Performance Troupe. A new executive position is being created to facilitate the implementation of this initative, the Performance Troupe Director. This individual will be responsible for recruiting and managing a group of volunteer piano performers with a high standard of performance. He/she will seek out performance opportunities in the community in exchange for sponsorship. Possible performance events would include mall performances such as Southgate, performance at corporate parties and weddings.
-
A Sponsor A Child program is also being developed. A plan of action has been proposed and accepted. This sponsorship program would give individuals the opportunity to contribute to a specific element of a child's musical training or to sponsor the entire cost for a child for a year. The first actions include breaking down the costs of a child musical education, creating promotional materials, and marketing the program as an annual fundraising drive with help from volunteers. We hope to have the annual drive in February of each year, starting in 2011.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is a diverse city that provides services to over 1 million people (730 000 live in the city limits alone). As in any city, poverty is a concern especially in certain parts of the city. Many children who want to take music lessons are unable to do so for various reasons. Some simply do not have the money to pay for private or even group lessons. Some cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument for practice. Some are not able to find transportation to lessons because their parents are either working or do not have a means of transport themselves. Finally, the child’s musical education may not be supported by his/her family.
Why is it important to you?:
The Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) began in 1995 as a dream to enhance the lives of at-risk youth through a structured music program. Beginning in Saskatoon, the program expanded nationally to include Edmonton in 2002, and has further expanded into other cities in Canada. This year, HCPP Canada is in the works towards becoming a national registered charity.
<dt>-
<dt>In Edmonton, the HCPP is registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta, run by students in collaboration with the City Centre Education Project. In 2008-2009, HCPP Edmonton operated in 13 schools, and we had 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students to play the piano.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP volunteers teach piano to 2 or 3 children for 20 or 30 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. Including travel time and lesson preparation, the total time commitment per week is approximately 3 hours. Most lessons are after school though some occur during lunch hour. Volunteers teach at inner-city elementary schools where students might not otherwise be able to take piano lessons. Our volunteers promote discipline, community, self-esteem, pride and self-confidence in students.
<dt>-
<dt>
The purpose of the Heart of the City Piano Program is to not only teach the children piano and music skills, but to help them build their self confidence as they learn, and develop a sense of pride and accomplishment from their effort and achievement.
<dt>-
<dt>
Another goal of the program is to provide positive role models for the children. Ultimately the aim is to ensure at-risk youth make positive choices in life, and enriching their lives with some music.
What's your plan of action?:
A series of steps were taken to create the Heart of the City Piano Program in Edmonton in 2002. Executive members and a few volunteers were recruited for the organization as Student Group registration requires 10 members. HCPP was then registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta through the creation of submission of a constitution along with a registration form. This allowed the group to create a bank account, applying for a start-up grant and utilize some of the resources of the university such as meeting space and fundraiser venues. A website and an email account were created under the domain of the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
A partnership was developed with the City Centre Education Project (CCEP), an “innovative collaboration that allows seven different city centre schools to combine resources, energy and talent, and offers enriched learning opportunities for all students.” The CCEP was able to fund the police information checks of the organization, while the HCPP was able to operate in all seven elementary schools of the project. Elementary schools were in the CCEP were contacted to build the foundation for the program. Meetings with each school were set up to explain the program and to discuss how it would function in the individual school. Most of the time, the music teacher was the contact person between the school and HCPP. Sometimes, the assistant principal or the principal was the main contact person.
<dt>-
<dt>
Simultaneously, volunteer piano teachers were recruited at the University of Alberta Clubs Fair and through networks of the executive. The volunteers filled out an application form, police information check and were asked to provide a reference. This process took the first few weeks of September, and after it was finished, they were matched with different schools and teaching times which worked for both the school and the volunteer. Volunteers taught three students for 20 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. They were given a package which contained the location of the school, a plan for the first few lessons and directions on how to take public transit to the school from the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
In 2007 it was revamped under the leadership of new executive members. The website was redeveloped and both the volunteer application form and the school application form were put online. Expansions included volunteer events, fundraising commitments and the first annual year-end recital at Muttart Hall, Alberta College Conservatory of Music. These major developments had both immediate and long-lasting results. Each year since 2007, HCPP has added new elementary schools to the program, and in 2008-2009, it operated in 13 elementary schools across Edmonton with over 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students.
<dt>-
<dt>
Feedback from music teachers and principals within the elementary schools has been very encouraging. When music teachers move schools, they have contacted HCPP to set the program up in their new schools while ensuring that the program remains in operation at their old schools. The children and the parents of the children are very grateful for the program. At the year-end recital, volunteers and executives of HCPP get continuous verbal praise from parents and students alike. Additionally, the volunteers enjoy the rewards of the program. Year after year, volunteers register for the program because they have had a great experience in the previous year. Students often request the same volunteer that they had the previous year while volunteers often request to teach the same students.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP was featured on ACCESS Television during the Alberta Primetime television show which was aired across the province. The University of Alberta Students’ Union awarded HCPP the Community Outreach Award for 2008-2009, an award presented to the registered Student Group at the University of Alberta who has made the greatest overall effort to involve its members in the local/international community.
How Can Others Help?:
HCPP is always looking for volunteers to teach piano as well as music teachers and administrative staff who are willing to help to start the program in their school. We are also building a library of piano books and learning materials, and any donations of used or new piano books would be greatly appreciated. The program is completely volunteer-run, but we do have some operating costs. Monetary donations would be used to help fund the musical education of inner city children. Please contact us at hcpp@ualberta.ca if you are interested in any of the above.
Total hours volunteered (to date):
300
Start Date:
09/09/2009
Money Raised:
N/A
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[value] => Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is a diverse city that provides services to over 1 million people (730 000 live in the city limits alone). As in any city, poverty is a concern especially in certain parts of the city. Many children who want to take music lessons are unable to do so for various reasons. Some simply do not have the money to pay for private or even group lessons. Some cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument for practice. Some are not able to find transportation to lessons because their parents are either working or do not have a means of transport themselves. Finally, the child’s musical education may not be supported by his/her family.
[view] => Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is a diverse city that provides services to over 1 million people (730 000 live in the city limits alone). As in any city, poverty is a concern especially in certain parts of the city. Many children who want to take music lessons are unable to do so for various reasons. Some simply do not have the money to pay for private or even group lessons. Some cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument for practice. Some are not able to find transportation to lessons because their parents are either working or do not have a means of transport themselves. Finally, the child’s musical education may not be supported by his/her family.
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[value] => The Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) began in 1995 as a dream to enhance the lives of at-risk youth through a structured music program. Beginning in Saskatoon, the program expanded nationally to include Edmonton in 2002, and has further expanded into other cities in Canada. This year, HCPP Canada is in the works towards becoming a national registered charity.
-
In Edmonton, the HCPP is registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta, run by students in collaboration with the City Centre Education Project. In 2008-2009, HCPP Edmonton operated in 13 schools, and we had 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students to play the piano.
-
HCPP volunteers teach piano to 2 or 3 children for 20 or 30 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. Including travel time and lesson preparation, the total time commitment per week is approximately 3 hours. Most lessons are after school though some occur during lunch hour. Volunteers teach at inner-city elementary schools where students might not otherwise be able to take piano lessons. Our volunteers promote discipline, community, self-esteem, pride and self-confidence in students.
-
The purpose of the Heart of the City Piano Program is to not only teach the children piano and music skills, but to help them build their self confidence as they learn, and develop a sense of pride and accomplishment from their effort and achievement.
-
Another goal of the program is to provide positive role models for the children. Ultimately the aim is to ensure at-risk youth make positive choices in life, and enriching their lives with some music.
[view] => The Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) began in 1995 as a dream to enhance the lives of at-risk youth through a structured music program. Beginning in Saskatoon, the program expanded nationally to include Edmonton in 2002, and has further expanded into other cities in Canada. This year, HCPP Canada is in the works towards becoming a national registered charity.
<dt>-
<dt>In Edmonton, the HCPP is registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta, run by students in collaboration with the City Centre Education Project. In 2008-2009, HCPP Edmonton operated in 13 schools, and we had 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students to play the piano.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP volunteers teach piano to 2 or 3 children for 20 or 30 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. Including travel time and lesson preparation, the total time commitment per week is approximately 3 hours. Most lessons are after school though some occur during lunch hour. Volunteers teach at inner-city elementary schools where students might not otherwise be able to take piano lessons. Our volunteers promote discipline, community, self-esteem, pride and self-confidence in students.
<dt>-
<dt>
The purpose of the Heart of the City Piano Program is to not only teach the children piano and music skills, but to help them build their self confidence as they learn, and develop a sense of pride and accomplishment from their effort and achievement.
<dt>-
<dt>
Another goal of the program is to provide positive role models for the children. Ultimately the aim is to ensure at-risk youth make positive choices in life, and enriching their lives with some music.
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[value] => A series of steps were taken to create the Heart of the City Piano Program in Edmonton in 2002. Executive members and a few volunteers were recruited for the organization as Student Group registration requires 10 members. HCPP was then registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta through the creation of submission of a constitution along with a registration form. This allowed the group to create a bank account, applying for a start-up grant and utilize some of the resources of the university such as meeting space and fundraiser venues. A website and an email account were created under the domain of the University of Alberta.
-
A partnership was developed with the City Centre Education Project (CCEP), an “innovative collaboration that allows seven different city centre schools to combine resources, energy and talent, and offers enriched learning opportunities for all students.” The CCEP was able to fund the police information checks of the organization, while the HCPP was able to operate in all seven elementary schools of the project. Elementary schools were in the CCEP were contacted to build the foundation for the program. Meetings with each school were set up to explain the program and to discuss how it would function in the individual school. Most of the time, the music teacher was the contact person between the school and HCPP. Sometimes, the assistant principal or the principal was the main contact person.
-
Simultaneously, volunteer piano teachers were recruited at the University of Alberta Clubs Fair and through networks of the executive. The volunteers filled out an application form, police information check and were asked to provide a reference. This process took the first few weeks of September, and after it was finished, they were matched with different schools and teaching times which worked for both the school and the volunteer. Volunteers taught three students for 20 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. They were given a package which contained the location of the school, a plan for the first few lessons and directions on how to take public transit to the school from the University of Alberta.
-
In 2007 it was revamped under the leadership of new executive members. The website was redeveloped and both the volunteer application form and the school application form were put online. Expansions included volunteer events, fundraising commitments and the first annual year-end recital at Muttart Hall, Alberta College Conservatory of Music. These major developments had both immediate and long-lasting results. Each year since 2007, HCPP has added new elementary schools to the program, and in 2008-2009, it operated in 13 elementary schools across Edmonton with over 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students.
-
Feedback from music teachers and principals within the elementary schools has been very encouraging. When music teachers move schools, they have contacted HCPP to set the program up in their new schools while ensuring that the program remains in operation at their old schools. The children and the parents of the children are very grateful for the program. At the year-end recital, volunteers and executives of HCPP get continuous verbal praise from parents and students alike. Additionally, the volunteers enjoy the rewards of the program. Year after year, volunteers register for the program because they have had a great experience in the previous year. Students often request the same volunteer that they had the previous year while volunteers often request to teach the same students.
-
HCPP was featured on ACCESS Television during the Alberta Primetime television show which was aired across the province. The University of Alberta Students’ Union awarded HCPP the Community Outreach Award for 2008-2009, an award presented to the registered Student Group at the University of Alberta who has made the greatest overall effort to involve its members in the local/international community.
[view] => A series of steps were taken to create the Heart of the City Piano Program in Edmonton in 2002. Executive members and a few volunteers were recruited for the organization as Student Group registration requires 10 members. HCPP was then registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta through the creation of submission of a constitution along with a registration form. This allowed the group to create a bank account, applying for a start-up grant and utilize some of the resources of the university such as meeting space and fundraiser venues. A website and an email account were created under the domain of the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
A partnership was developed with the City Centre Education Project (CCEP), an “innovative collaboration that allows seven different city centre schools to combine resources, energy and talent, and offers enriched learning opportunities for all students.” The CCEP was able to fund the police information checks of the organization, while the HCPP was able to operate in all seven elementary schools of the project. Elementary schools were in the CCEP were contacted to build the foundation for the program. Meetings with each school were set up to explain the program and to discuss how it would function in the individual school. Most of the time, the music teacher was the contact person between the school and HCPP. Sometimes, the assistant principal or the principal was the main contact person.
<dt>-
<dt>
Simultaneously, volunteer piano teachers were recruited at the University of Alberta Clubs Fair and through networks of the executive. The volunteers filled out an application form, police information check and were asked to provide a reference. This process took the first few weeks of September, and after it was finished, they were matched with different schools and teaching times which worked for both the school and the volunteer. Volunteers taught three students for 20 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. They were given a package which contained the location of the school, a plan for the first few lessons and directions on how to take public transit to the school from the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
In 2007 it was revamped under the leadership of new executive members. The website was redeveloped and both the volunteer application form and the school application form were put online. Expansions included volunteer events, fundraising commitments and the first annual year-end recital at Muttart Hall, Alberta College Conservatory of Music. These major developments had both immediate and long-lasting results. Each year since 2007, HCPP has added new elementary schools to the program, and in 2008-2009, it operated in 13 elementary schools across Edmonton with over 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students.
<dt>-
<dt>
Feedback from music teachers and principals within the elementary schools has been very encouraging. When music teachers move schools, they have contacted HCPP to set the program up in their new schools while ensuring that the program remains in operation at their old schools. The children and the parents of the children are very grateful for the program. At the year-end recital, volunteers and executives of HCPP get continuous verbal praise from parents and students alike. Additionally, the volunteers enjoy the rewards of the program. Year after year, volunteers register for the program because they have had a great experience in the previous year. Students often request the same volunteer that they had the previous year while volunteers often request to teach the same students.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP was featured on ACCESS Television during the Alberta Primetime television show which was aired across the province. The University of Alberta Students’ Union awarded HCPP the Community Outreach Award for 2008-2009, an award presented to the registered Student Group at the University of Alberta who has made the greatest overall effort to involve its members in the local/international community.
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[value] => HCPP is always looking for volunteers to teach piano as well as music teachers and administrative staff who are willing to help to start the program in their school. We are also building a library of piano books and learning materials, and any donations of used or new piano books would be greatly appreciated. The program is completely volunteer-run, but we do have some operating costs. Monetary donations would be used to help fund the musical education of inner city children. Please contact us at hcpp@ualberta.ca if you are interested in any of the above.
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HCPP is always looking for volunteers to teach piano as well as music teachers and administrative staff who are willing to help to start the program in their school. We are also building a library of piano books and learning materials, and any donations of used or new piano books would be greatly appreciated. The program is completely volunteer-run, but we do have some operating costs. Monetary donations would be used to help fund the musical education of inner city children. Please contact us at hcpp@ualberta.ca if you are interested in any of the above.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is a diverse city that provides services to over 1 million people (730 000 live in the city limits alone). As in any city, poverty is a concern especially in certain parts of the city. Many children who want to take music lessons are unable to do so for various reasons. Some simply do not have the money to pay for private or even group lessons. Some cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument for practice. Some are not able to find transportation to lessons because their parents are either working or do not have a means of transport themselves. Finally, the child’s musical education may not be supported by his/her family.
The Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) began in 1995 as a dream to enhance the lives of at-risk youth through a structured music program. Beginning in Saskatoon, the program expanded nationally to include Edmonton in 2002, and has further expanded into other cities in Canada. This year, HCPP Canada is in the works towards becoming a national registered charity.
<dt>-
<dt>In Edmonton, the HCPP is registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta, run by students in collaboration with the City Centre Education Project. In 2008-2009, HCPP Edmonton operated in 13 schools, and we had 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students to play the piano.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP volunteers teach piano to 2 or 3 children for 20 or 30 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. Including travel time and lesson preparation, the total time commitment per week is approximately 3 hours. Most lessons are after school though some occur during lunch hour. Volunteers teach at inner-city elementary schools where students might not otherwise be able to take piano lessons. Our volunteers promote discipline, community, self-esteem, pride and self-confidence in students.
<dt>-
<dt>
The purpose of the Heart of the City Piano Program is to not only teach the children piano and music skills, but to help them build their self confidence as they learn, and develop a sense of pride and accomplishment from their effort and achievement.
<dt>-
<dt>
Another goal of the program is to provide positive role models for the children. Ultimately the aim is to ensure at-risk youth make positive choices in life, and enriching their lives with some music.
A series of steps were taken to create the Heart of the City Piano Program in Edmonton in 2002. Executive members and a few volunteers were recruited for the organization as Student Group registration requires 10 members. HCPP was then registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta through the creation of submission of a constitution along with a registration form. This allowed the group to create a bank account, applying for a start-up grant and utilize some of the resources of the university such as meeting space and fundraiser venues. A website and an email account were created under the domain of the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
A partnership was developed with the City Centre Education Project (CCEP), an “innovative collaboration that allows seven different city centre schools to combine resources, energy and talent, and offers enriched learning opportunities for all students.” The CCEP was able to fund the police information checks of the organization, while the HCPP was able to operate in all seven elementary schools of the project. Elementary schools were in the CCEP were contacted to build the foundation for the program. Meetings with each school were set up to explain the program and to discuss how it would function in the individual school. Most of the time, the music teacher was the contact person between the school and HCPP. Sometimes, the assistant principal or the principal was the main contact person.
<dt>-
<dt>
Simultaneously, volunteer piano teachers were recruited at the University of Alberta Clubs Fair and through networks of the executive. The volunteers filled out an application form, police information check and were asked to provide a reference. This process took the first few weeks of September, and after it was finished, they were matched with different schools and teaching times which worked for both the school and the volunteer. Volunteers taught three students for 20 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. They were given a package which contained the location of the school, a plan for the first few lessons and directions on how to take public transit to the school from the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
In 2007 it was revamped under the leadership of new executive members. The website was redeveloped and both the volunteer application form and the school application form were put online. Expansions included volunteer events, fundraising commitments and the first annual year-end recital at Muttart Hall, Alberta College Conservatory of Music. These major developments had both immediate and long-lasting results. Each year since 2007, HCPP has added new elementary schools to the program, and in 2008-2009, it operated in 13 elementary schools across Edmonton with over 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students.
<dt>-
<dt>
Feedback from music teachers and principals within the elementary schools has been very encouraging. When music teachers move schools, they have contacted HCPP to set the program up in their new schools while ensuring that the program remains in operation at their old schools. The children and the parents of the children are very grateful for the program. At the year-end recital, volunteers and executives of HCPP get continuous verbal praise from parents and students alike. Additionally, the volunteers enjoy the rewards of the program. Year after year, volunteers register for the program because they have had a great experience in the previous year. Students often request the same volunteer that they had the previous year while volunteers often request to teach the same students.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP was featured on ACCESS Television during the Alberta Primetime television show which was aired across the province. The University of Alberta Students’ Union awarded HCPP the Community Outreach Award for 2008-2009, an award presented to the registered Student Group at the University of Alberta who has made the greatest overall effort to involve its members in the local/international community.
HCPP is always looking for volunteers to teach piano as well as music teachers and administrative staff who are willing to help to start the program in their school. We are also building a library of piano books and learning materials, and any donations of used or new piano books would be greatly appreciated. The program is completely volunteer-run, but we do have some operating costs. Monetary donations would be used to help fund the musical education of inner city children. Please contact us at hcpp@ualberta.ca if you are interested in any of the above.
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What's the problem you are trying to solve?:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is a diverse city that provides services to over 1 million people (730 000 live in the city limits alone). As in any city, poverty is a concern especially in certain parts of the city. Many children who want to take music lessons are unable to do so for various reasons. Some simply do not have the money to pay for private or even group lessons. Some cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument for practice. Some are not able to find transportation to lessons because their parents are either working or do not have a means of transport themselves. Finally, the child’s musical education may not be supported by his/her family.
Why is it important to you?:
The Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) began in 1995 as a dream to enhance the lives of at-risk youth through a structured music program. Beginning in Saskatoon, the program expanded nationally to include Edmonton in 2002, and has further expanded into other cities in Canada. This year, HCPP Canada is in the works towards becoming a national registered charity.
<dt>-
<dt>In Edmonton, the HCPP is registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta, run by students in collaboration with the City Centre Education Project. In 2008-2009, HCPP Edmonton operated in 13 schools, and we had 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students to play the piano.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP volunteers teach piano to 2 or 3 children for 20 or 30 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. Including travel time and lesson preparation, the total time commitment per week is approximately 3 hours. Most lessons are after school though some occur during lunch hour. Volunteers teach at inner-city elementary schools where students might not otherwise be able to take piano lessons. Our volunteers promote discipline, community, self-esteem, pride and self-confidence in students.
<dt>-
<dt>
The purpose of the Heart of the City Piano Program is to not only teach the children piano and music skills, but to help them build their self confidence as they learn, and develop a sense of pride and accomplishment from their effort and achievement.
<dt>-
<dt>
Another goal of the program is to provide positive role models for the children. Ultimately the aim is to ensure at-risk youth make positive choices in life, and enriching their lives with some music.
What's your plan of action?:
A series of steps were taken to create the Heart of the City Piano Program in Edmonton in 2002. Executive members and a few volunteers were recruited for the organization as Student Group registration requires 10 members. HCPP was then registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta through the creation of submission of a constitution along with a registration form. This allowed the group to create a bank account, applying for a start-up grant and utilize some of the resources of the university such as meeting space and fundraiser venues. A website and an email account were created under the domain of the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
A partnership was developed with the City Centre Education Project (CCEP), an “innovative collaboration that allows seven different city centre schools to combine resources, energy and talent, and offers enriched learning opportunities for all students.” The CCEP was able to fund the police information checks of the organization, while the HCPP was able to operate in all seven elementary schools of the project. Elementary schools were in the CCEP were contacted to build the foundation for the program. Meetings with each school were set up to explain the program and to discuss how it would function in the individual school. Most of the time, the music teacher was the contact person between the school and HCPP. Sometimes, the assistant principal or the principal was the main contact person.
<dt>-
<dt>
Simultaneously, volunteer piano teachers were recruited at the University of Alberta Clubs Fair and through networks of the executive. The volunteers filled out an application form, police information check and were asked to provide a reference. This process took the first few weeks of September, and after it was finished, they were matched with different schools and teaching times which worked for both the school and the volunteer. Volunteers taught three students for 20 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. They were given a package which contained the location of the school, a plan for the first few lessons and directions on how to take public transit to the school from the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
In 2007 it was revamped under the leadership of new executive members. The website was redeveloped and both the volunteer application form and the school application form were put online. Expansions included volunteer events, fundraising commitments and the first annual year-end recital at Muttart Hall, Alberta College Conservatory of Music. These major developments had both immediate and long-lasting results. Each year since 2007, HCPP has added new elementary schools to the program, and in 2008-2009, it operated in 13 elementary schools across Edmonton with over 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students.
<dt>-
<dt>
Feedback from music teachers and principals within the elementary schools has been very encouraging. When music teachers move schools, they have contacted HCPP to set the program up in their new schools while ensuring that the program remains in operation at their old schools. The children and the parents of the children are very grateful for the program. At the year-end recital, volunteers and executives of HCPP get continuous verbal praise from parents and students alike. Additionally, the volunteers enjoy the rewards of the program. Year after year, volunteers register for the program because they have had a great experience in the previous year. Students often request the same volunteer that they had the previous year while volunteers often request to teach the same students.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP was featured on ACCESS Television during the Alberta Primetime television show which was aired across the province. The University of Alberta Students’ Union awarded HCPP the Community Outreach Award for 2008-2009, an award presented to the registered Student Group at the University of Alberta who has made the greatest overall effort to involve its members in the local/international community.
How Can Others Help?:
HCPP is always looking for volunteers to teach piano as well as music teachers and administrative staff who are willing to help to start the program in their school. We are also building a library of piano books and learning materials, and any donations of used or new piano books would be greatly appreciated. The program is completely volunteer-run, but we do have some operating costs. Monetary donations would be used to help fund the musical education of inner city children. Please contact us at hcpp@ualberta.ca if you are interested in any of the above.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is a diverse city that provides services to over 1 million people (730 000 live in the city limits alone). As in any city, poverty is a concern especially in certain parts of the city. Many children who want to take music lessons are unable to do so for various reasons. Some simply do not have the money to pay for private or even group lessons. Some cannot afford to buy or rent an instrument for practice. Some are not able to find transportation to lessons because their parents are either working or do not have a means of transport themselves. Finally, the child’s musical education may not be supported by his/her family.
Why is it important to you?:
The Heart of the City Piano Program (HCPP) began in 1995 as a dream to enhance the lives of at-risk youth through a structured music program. Beginning in Saskatoon, the program expanded nationally to include Edmonton in 2002, and has further expanded into other cities in Canada. This year, HCPP Canada is in the works towards becoming a national registered charity.
<dt>-
<dt>In Edmonton, the HCPP is registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta, run by students in collaboration with the City Centre Education Project. In 2008-2009, HCPP Edmonton operated in 13 schools, and we had 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students to play the piano.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP volunteers teach piano to 2 or 3 children for 20 or 30 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. Including travel time and lesson preparation, the total time commitment per week is approximately 3 hours. Most lessons are after school though some occur during lunch hour. Volunteers teach at inner-city elementary schools where students might not otherwise be able to take piano lessons. Our volunteers promote discipline, community, self-esteem, pride and self-confidence in students.
<dt>-
<dt>
The purpose of the Heart of the City Piano Program is to not only teach the children piano and music skills, but to help them build their self confidence as they learn, and develop a sense of pride and accomplishment from their effort and achievement.
<dt>-
<dt>
Another goal of the program is to provide positive role models for the children. Ultimately the aim is to ensure at-risk youth make positive choices in life, and enriching their lives with some music.
What's your plan of action?:
A series of steps were taken to create the Heart of the City Piano Program in Edmonton in 2002. Executive members and a few volunteers were recruited for the organization as Student Group registration requires 10 members. HCPP was then registered as a Student Group at the University of Alberta through the creation of submission of a constitution along with a registration form. This allowed the group to create a bank account, applying for a start-up grant and utilize some of the resources of the university such as meeting space and fundraiser venues. A website and an email account were created under the domain of the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
A partnership was developed with the City Centre Education Project (CCEP), an “innovative collaboration that allows seven different city centre schools to combine resources, energy and talent, and offers enriched learning opportunities for all students.” The CCEP was able to fund the police information checks of the organization, while the HCPP was able to operate in all seven elementary schools of the project. Elementary schools were in the CCEP were contacted to build the foundation for the program. Meetings with each school were set up to explain the program and to discuss how it would function in the individual school. Most of the time, the music teacher was the contact person between the school and HCPP. Sometimes, the assistant principal or the principal was the main contact person.
<dt>-
<dt>
Simultaneously, volunteer piano teachers were recruited at the University of Alberta Clubs Fair and through networks of the executive. The volunteers filled out an application form, police information check and were asked to provide a reference. This process took the first few weeks of September, and after it was finished, they were matched with different schools and teaching times which worked for both the school and the volunteer. Volunteers taught three students for 20 minutes each for a total of one hour of teaching per week. They were given a package which contained the location of the school, a plan for the first few lessons and directions on how to take public transit to the school from the University of Alberta.
<dt>-
<dt>
In 2007 it was revamped under the leadership of new executive members. The website was redeveloped and both the volunteer application form and the school application form were put online. Expansions included volunteer events, fundraising commitments and the first annual year-end recital at Muttart Hall, Alberta College Conservatory of Music. These major developments had both immediate and long-lasting results. Each year since 2007, HCPP has added new elementary schools to the program, and in 2008-2009, it operated in 13 elementary schools across Edmonton with over 40 volunteer piano teachers teaching 110 students.
<dt>-
<dt>
Feedback from music teachers and principals within the elementary schools has been very encouraging. When music teachers move schools, they have contacted HCPP to set the program up in their new schools while ensuring that the program remains in operation at their old schools. The children and the parents of the children are very grateful for the program. At the year-end recital, volunteers and executives of HCPP get continuous verbal praise from parents and students alike. Additionally, the volunteers enjoy the rewards of the program. Year after year, volunteers register for the program because they have had a great experience in the previous year. Students often request the same volunteer that they had the previous year while volunteers often request to teach the same students.
<dt>-
<dt>
HCPP was featured on ACCESS Television during the Alberta Primetime television show which was aired across the province. The University of Alberta Students’ Union awarded HCPP the Community Outreach Award for 2008-2009, an award presented to the registered Student Group at the University of Alberta who has made the greatest overall effort to involve its members in the local/international community.
How Can Others Help?:
HCPP is always looking for volunteers to teach piano as well as music teachers and administrative staff who are willing to help to start the program in their school. We are also building a library of piano books and learning materials, and any donations of used or new piano books would be greatly appreciated. The program is completely volunteer-run, but we do have some operating costs. Monetary donations would be used to help fund the musical education of inner city children. Please contact us at hcpp@ualberta.ca if you are interested in any of the above.
Total hours volunteered (to date):
300
Start Date:
09/09/2009
Money Raised:
N/A
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Post your comment and it will be sent to the owner of this project!
Comments
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aashton says:
This looks like a great project, you should apply for grant (if you haven't already)... go to http://www.dosomething.org/grants for more info and to apply!
Get some cash to get your project to the next level. Weekly grants are available.
Comments
You must Login or Register to post comments or replies.
This looks like a great project, you should apply for grant (if you haven't already)... go to http://www.dosomething.org/grants for more info and to apply!