TDSB Community Music Program

The Community Music Program is an Artist-in-the-classroom program provided to schools by the TDSB Arts Department.  The program provides a collection of percussion instruments, 3 half day visits from a professional artist who is skilled in that musical tradition.   Teachers are expected to integrate the learning from the program into their delivery of the Music Curriculum through the use of the Creative Process.  

The aim of the Community Music Program is to build strong bonds within our communities through authentic music engagement. This includes intentional music choices, engaging student voice, and re-encountering musical histories and traditions that have been systemically silenced. This will lead to learning about the distinct difference between cultural appreciation vs cultural appropriation. Our aim is to build upon the cultural currency and cultural competency present within our schools. Teachers are required to co-learn alongside their students and local communities. 

Participants are encouraged to establish meaningful collaborations across classrooms and communities with this program. This will allow for rich cross-collaborations across Arts disciplines; and will create future pathways for learning and opportunities for our students. 

Here are some suggestions:  

• working with other artistic forums within a school (e.g., percussion ensembles and dance club)

• working with community and family (e.g., Elders, family musicians) 

• within feeder schools (e.g., elementary and feeder high school dance and guitar ensemble performance)

• Before applying for a kit, consider the following information:

  • • Reflect on your school community and make intentional choices for your kit

    • Review CODE Best Practices and CODE Recognize, Reflect, Refocus

    • Read about the different kits available below

    • Look carefully at the size of each kit and ensure you have a designated space within your school to house the kit securely

• Attend the "Exploring the Community Music Program" Session on June 11th (please note that attending this session is exploratory only, and does not guarantee that your school will get a kit)

• Apply for a kit and select a session to attend (Fall, Winter or Spring session). Applications will be available on this site on June 12th, 2024. The application form link will also be available on the Arts Department Newsletter, Directline and Google Classrooms.

• Commit to attending an online Professional Learning meeting before receiving your kit

• If you are assigned a kit, you will be emailed by the Arts Department

• The Arts Department will share your matched artist's contact information with you

• Please contact the artist directly to co-design the program and schedule classroom sessions

1. Cuban/Brazilian Percussion (all grades)

2. Korean Percussion and Dance (4-12) 

3. Ghanaian Percussion (all grades)

4. Indonesian Gamelan (4-12)