Keyboards for Kids
Initiated in 1999, the Keyboards for Kids program has offered hundreds of children the opportunity to participate in piano lessons during their lunch hour. Along with the support of the Alberta Music Education Foundation, Keyboards for Kids also partners with Conservatory Canada, who provides music examinations to the children free of charge.
Recently the program expanded to Red Deer with the help and commitment of teachers Gloria Hulyk and Teresa Allred and is in its second year in Calgary‘s inner city with dedicated teachers Beth Olver and Rita Thurn.
NEWS | Fall 2010
Keyboards for Kids, a program that offers free piano lessons to children at risk, is once resuming its classes in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer. All students participating in the program receive a weekly 45-minute class and are provided with keyboards for their at-home practice.
With the support of Conservatory Canada, offering examinations to students in the program at no charge, Andrea Lui of Edmonton successfully completed her Grade One Piano Examination receiving a First Class Honours mark of 81% . Congratulations to Andrea on her achievement and to her Keyboards for Kids teacher Sarah Bouthillier for her dedication!
The program, which is entering its 12th year, thrives because of the generous volunteer teachers who share their gift of music with children who would not otherwise have an opportunity to learn to play the piano.
Although there will be approximately 50 students participating in the group classes this coming term, there continues to be a waiting list of children we are unable to accommodate due to a shortage of teachers. Teachers volunteering in the program dedicate about one hour a week to teach a group of up to four children, ages 7 to 12. The classes are generally held during the lunch hour in an inner city school. There are approximately 30 classes yearly.
Keyboards for Kids strives to inspire children through the world of music! If you are interested in becoming a volunteer teacher, please contact the Provincial Coordinator Pat Frehlich at frehlich@shaw.ca.
AMEF and its partners celebrate another successful year of Keyboards for Kids!
Thank you to our volunteer teachers who provide countless hours of instruction to our students, the schools who provide the lesson space and storage for our equipment, and lastly the students, for their enthusiasm and dedication to Keyboard for Kids.
| Pat Frehlich | Program Coordinator Sherwood Park, AB |
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| Teresa Allred Red Deer, AB |
Allison Fernandes Edmonton, AB |
Beth Olver Calgary, AB |
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| Sarah Bouthillier Edmonton, AB |
Mark Fukushima Sherwood Park, AB |
Helen Parks Edmonton, AB |
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| Sandy Edey Red Deer, AB |
Gloria Hulyk Red Deer, AB |
Shelagh Scott Edmonton, AB |
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| Ethel Elliot Red Deer, AB |
Ernan McLoughlin Calgary, AB |
Rita Thurn Calgary, AB |
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Alberta Music Education Foundation
5401 – 39 St.
Red Deer, Alberta T4N 1A1
Canada
AMEF wishes to thank the Alberta Foundation for the Arts
and the Alberta Lottery Fund
for their generous support of our programs and initiatives.
| Phone: | 403-346-4004 |
| Fax: | 403-346-4009 |
| Email: | |
| Gomez Design | |