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that, yes, the program had delivered on that promise.
Why is this program so important? It’s because
exposure to the arts at a young age helps a student
in every facet of his, her or their school life. A study
by the Children’s Music Workshop indicated the
graduation rate for schools with music programs is
18 per cent higher than schools without them.
This is just one of the reasons ECF provided the
Rock and Roll Society of Edmonton with a $34,700
Community Grant in 2023 and a $60,500 grant
in 2024. The funding supported staff positions,
enabling the Society to expand its Centre for Arts
and Music Program to more schools.
“We know that after-school programs are
essential for many parents and children,” says
Joanne Currie, ECF’s Director of Grants and
Community Engagement. “Beyond improving
grades and graduation rates, these programs create
safe, supportive environments where kids can
engage with positive role models, while also helping
parents balance their work and home lives.”
Those hours after 3 p.m. can be risky times; the
parents aren’t yet home from work, so the kids often
fend for themselves. And that’s when they can get
themselves into trouble. So, why not bash away at
the guitar, instead?
“For a lot of kids, there’s not something else for
them to do after school,” says Sokol. “If you ask some
of them, I just go home, or I’d play video games or
whatever. So, it’s something to do after class. The
parents like that. It’s a safe space for their children
to be.
“They also have a huge choice in the songs
that are played, you know, within limits, of course.
So I think that’s something that maybe they don’t
get in other music programs … I hear a lot from
the students who I’ve spoken with that they’re
just happy to be with their friends as well, doing
something that’s different and something that they
really like.”
And, it’s a free program. Let’s face it, guitars are
expensive. Drum kits require a lot of effort to lug
around. So, having them set up and ready to go at
the local school is a big deal.
After the kids get familiar with the instruments,
they’re challenged to write their own songs.
And they’ll play them live, too. Ross says he’s
regularly blown away by the quality of music being
produced by the kids.
“That’s my favourite part of the program,”
he says. “I’m so proud of them. In this program,
they go from learning basic covers to writing
and recording their own music. Some of them
come in with experience. Some of them have
no experience at all. But, over the course of the
school year, they do everything that a modern
band would do. We do a recording session, we
write songs, we do performances, we’ll even do
a photo shoot. Once the songs are finished, we
publish them on Bandcamp and Spotify.
“As instructors, we’re there to help and guide.
And if we hear a really cool idea, we’ll push for it
and help them along with it.”
In a world where all music is available because
of streaming services, Sokol and Ross are
amazed by the kids’ out-of-time tastes. To them,
everything is new, everything is interesting. A girl
who loves Metallica goes down a guitar-player’s
rabbit hole and begins to learn all about the Delta
Blues. A kid asks to play a deep cut from David
Bowie’s Aladdin Sane. Kids find songs from bands
none of the instructors have even heard of.
As Bon Scott once sang, “It’s a long way to the
top, if you want to rock ‘n’ roll.” But, thanks to this
program, the kids are getting a boost to get them
on their way.
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