Local group wants all kids to experience music

A local group is working to make sure that no kids miss out on experiencing music.

Gary Robins of Playing for Change Saskatchewan explained that the Playing for Change campaign is a large worldwide movement.

“Playing for Change globally is a movement of musicians … filmmakers and educators, who believe that music is a very strong force to bring communities, to bring people together.”

Robins said that music education can be a very positive force in the lives of young people and can help to teach young people a variety of life skills from organization to cooperation.

To further this goal around the world the Playing for Change Foundation has been established, which has raised money and built music schools in countries in Africa, Asia and South America.

However Robins said Playing for Change Saskatchewan supports many music programs around the province.

“Half (of the money we raise) stays here in the province and we use it to fund arts and music education projects.”

Robins says one of the groups they support is a Saskatoon choir called kids of note, which is a choir for kids with disabilities.

Robins said the groups also supports another program called the AIM program, which is a preschool music program for kids with down syndrome.

Robins said the group has done work with creative kids, which works to pay for underprivileged kids to attend music lessons.

Besides education programs Robins said the group is working on a program called Feel the Rhythm.

“(Feel the Rythm) is a musical instrument resource library, that organizations can access when they have work shops or short term music programs where they need access to good quality instruments that they can’t always get.”

Robins said that the groups work can be summed up as educational.

“It all falls within that jonrah of helping kids to learn the arts and in particular … music because we believe not only is it a lot of fun it’s really vital to any young person’s development.”