{"id":2044621,"date":"2025-09-23T20:41:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T20:41:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2044621"},"modified":"2025-09-23T20:41:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T20:41:59","slug":"a-song-for-small-schools-how-1-1m-in-new-instruments-is-putting-music-back-in-hutterite-kids-hands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/a-song-for-small-schools-how-1-1m-in-new-instruments-is-putting-music-back-in-hutterite-kids-hands\/","title":{"rendered":"A song for small schools: How $1.1M in new instruments is putting music back in Hutterite kids\u2019 hands"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\" class=\"article-header article-header--story\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\" data-aqa=\"nav-breadcrumb\">\n<p>Breadcrumb Trail Links<\/p>\n<ol class=\"breadcrumbs__items list-unstyled\">\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" data-tb-category-link=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/winnipegsun.com\/category\/news\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"breadcrumbs__item\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"breadcrumbs__item-link\" data-tb-category-link=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/winnipegsun.com\/category\/news\/provincial\/\">Manitoba<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"article-header__detail\">\n<div class=\"article-header__detail__texts\">\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<p><span class=\"published-date__since\">Published Sep 23, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span class=\"updated-date__since\">Last updated 2\u00a0hours ago<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span class=\"published-date__word-count\">3 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta__bottom\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Join the conversation\" class=\"article-meta-comment-count\" data-story-comment-component=\"\" href=\"#comments-area\">   <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"popover\" data-aqa=\"popover\" data-click-to-appear=\"True\" data-container=\"\" data-container-offset=\"\" data-no-style=\"\" data-popover-component=\"\" data-position=\"top\" data-sticky=\"\" data-tail-offset=\"200\" data-tail-position=\"right\"><button class=\"popover__trigger bookmark-button\"><span class=\"save-article-button save-article-button--default\" title=\"Save article\" data-article-id=\"5a884c92-3726-4d29-b13b-c69f8361b979\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<div aria-describedby=\"popover-desc-popover-bookmark\" class=\"popover__content\" hidden=\"\" role=\"dialog\">\n<div class=\"popover__content__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"popover__content__text\" id=\"popover-desc-popover-bookmark\">\n<div class=\"bookmark__popover__content\">\n<p>You can save this article by registering for free <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"bookmark-link\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\" href=\"http:\/\/winnipegsun.com\/register\/\">here<\/a>. Or <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"bookmark-link\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\" href=\"http:\/\/winnipegsun.com\/sign-in\/\">sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"popover__content__close\" data-evt-skip-click=\"true\" title=\"Close\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\" class=\"icon--close\" height=\"12\" version=\"1.1\" width=\"12\"><polygon points=\"12 0.95 11.05 0 6 5.05 0.95 0 0 0.95 5.05 6 0 11.05 0.95 12 6 6.95 11.05 12 12 11.05 6.95 6\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"featured-image\" data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture class=\"featured-image__ratio\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=564&amp;h=423&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=FULBJKiK0H77lbiRopRqMw,&#10;            https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1128&amp;h=846&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=nkHmTFlW1Ekzo1Efi5LGpw 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=564&amp;h=423&amp;type=jpg&amp;sig=lsj4Uq2t7xG83rhiKOKpQQ,&#10;                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1128&amp;h=846&amp;type=jpg&amp;sig=jJNzycR6eGIs7xAQkvyO8Q 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=472&amp;h=354&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=raLadPVgnITXUx9R840UGw,&#10;            https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=944&amp;h=708&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=OvTCw54tABLTV0WC3ZCI7A 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=472&amp;h=354&amp;type=jpg&amp;sig=XuEwv49iaj6QlT6Tle_XYg,&#10;                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=944&amp;h=708&amp;type=jpg&amp;sig=rXB7XMGeXv419SMAT3ry2w 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;h=216&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=ap1-7xVIJtS5TC7Vcn2TpQ,&#10;            https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=576&amp;h=432&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=eZjZeKyk4LFm_P7EUy6-9A 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"featured-image__caption image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">MusiCounts\u2019 record $1.1 million investment is bringing guitars, ukuleles, and drums to 85 under-resourced schools across Canada, including tiny Albright School near Morris, giving children who once had no instruments the chance to make music together.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Photo by Winnipeg Sun<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<h2 class=\"visually-hidden\">Article content<\/h2>\n<p>In a quiet classroom on the Oak Bluff Hutterite Colony, just east of Morris, a group of children now cradle brand-new ukuleles. Their fingers stumble over chords until the sound, imperfect but undeniably joyful, fills the room.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--story article-content__ad-group ad_counter_2\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment5758451228136838343950396397977600\" class=\"ad\">\n<p>Advertisement 2<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-2\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[6,6],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"6x6\" data-ad-loc=\"2\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[6,6],[320,50],[300,50],[300,250],[300,600]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-2\" style=\"--desktopheight:250px;--mobileheight:600px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-block article-block-bg article-content__sign-in-group hidden\" data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async=\"\" id=\"article-block\">\n<section class=\"row\">\n<header class=\"identity-intro col-xs-12 col-md-6 flex-justify-center\">\n<div class=\"col-xs-12 col-sm-10 col-md-10\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Winnipeg Sun\" class=\"market-logo\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.6.0\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-wsun-new.svg\" width=\"280\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"intro-body__premium hidden\">\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p class=\"identity-intro__description\">Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled list-checkmark\">\n<li>Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. 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In its largest disbursement in 28 years, MusiCounts is investing $1.1 million in instruments and equipment, placing guitars, drums, ukuleles, and recorders in the hands of students from Lac Brochet to downtown Winnipeg.<\/p>\n<div>Since 1997, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/musicounts.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\">MusiCounts<\/a> has provided over $19 million worth of resources to under-resourced schools. The mission is simple yet profound: To ensure every child in Canada has access to music education, regardless of their postal code.<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"js-widget-content article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--content-slot12 article-content__widget-group--newsletter-slot\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"TheWinnipegSun'sDailyHeadlineNews3450372255140835574855157269135360\" class=\"newsletter-widget__new-story-page wpgsun-headlinenews background--primary-light-gradient\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component=\"\" data-target-list=\"WPGSUN_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-new-story-page-template\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__header__new-story-page\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__banner__new-story-page\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Winnipeg Sun's Daily Headline News Banner\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.6.0\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-sun-headlineNews.svg\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>The Winnipeg Sun&#8217;s Daily Headline News<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page\">Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"newsletter-widget__body__new-story-page\">\n<div class=\"js-replace-main__new-story-page\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__disclaimer__new-story-page text-size--tiny\">By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"js-submit-success\" hidden=\"\" id=\"submitSuccessWPGSUN_HeadlineNews\">\n<p>Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-widget__text__new-story-page\">A welcome email is on its way. 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Please try again<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--story article-content__ad-group ad_counter_3\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment2364959767457530671364615545290752\" class=\"ad\">\n<p>Advertisement 3<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-3\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[7,7],[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-interscroller=\"7x7\" data-ad-loc=\"3\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[7,7],[300,250],[320,50],[300,50]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-3\" style=\"--desktopheight:250px;--mobileheight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMusic classrooms are the beating heart of any school,\u201d said Kristy Fletcher, President of MusiCounts. \u201cWith these resources, students nationwide will build connections, find their voice, and discover healthy ways to cope with their emotions. Though we\u2019re proud of what we\u2019ve done in these 85 communities, the truth is, there\u2019s still so much work left to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hutterite Music Program\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-961070\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Hutterite-Music-Program-scaled-e1758651911343.jpg?quality=100&amp;strip=all\" height=\"1200\" width=\"900\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Jessica Maendel teaches students to play their new instruments.<\/p>\n<p>The demand is staggering. Only one in five schools that applied for MusiCounts funding this year received support. Among those, 20% reported having no annual funding at all for music programs.<\/p>\n<p>At Albright, where every student is an English-as-an-Additional-Language learner, the barriers are compounded by scale. The school receives the same per-pupil funding as any other in the Red River Valley School Division, but with only a few dozen students, the money doesn\u2019t stretch far.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--story article-content__ad-group ad_counter_4\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment8056769888120818803838010611728384\" class=\"ad\">\n<p>Advertisement 4<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-4\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"4\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-4\" style=\"--desktopheight:250px;--mobileheight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLast year we had a guitar program,\u201d Maendel recalled. \u201cBut only kids with a guitar at home could participate. It meant interested students were left on the sidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This fall, thanks to MusiCounts, every student who wants to play can. The colony\u2019s high schoolers now have access to brand-new guitars, while younger grades are strumming ukuleles. The excitement, Maendel said, is palpable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was posting an announcement for guitar class last week and told them, \u2018Don\u2019t worry about bringing guitars, we have guitars now.\u2019 Seeing their faces light up, that was worth everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Winnipeg\u2019s Norquay Community School, where children have been making music with little more than buckets and their voices, MusiCounts funding will introduce ukuleles, drums, and recorders. The goal is simple: Move from noise to harmony, from improvisation to understanding.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"ad__section-border ad__section-border--story article-content__ad-group ad_counter_5\">\n<section aria-describedby=\"advertisment2511650505975084857302825968861184\" class=\"ad\">\n<p>Advertisement 5<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad__container\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\" id=\"ad__inner-5\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner__container\" data-ad=\"[[1200,250],[1200,90],[970,90],[970,250],[728,90],[300,250]]\" data-ad-loc=\"5\" data-ad-mobile=\"[[320,50],[300,50],[300,250]]\" data-aqa=\"advertisement\" id=\"ad-5\" style=\"--desktopheight:250px;--mobileheight:250px\">\n<div aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad__placeholder\">\n<p>This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<figure class=\"embedded-image\" data-aqa=\"embed-image\"><picture class=\"embedded-image__ratio\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=564&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=3VOCfGr3rKmrGfrv1mSUtQ,&#10;            https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1128&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=cILU1P6ymYAPwluCat-5rA 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"data:,1w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=564&amp;type=jpg&amp;sig=N-yM803iWNJbdbKQzdC_2w,&#10;                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1128&amp;type=jpg&amp;sig=6jIDOA08Csli8fo2bXuSow 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"data:,1w\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=472&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=HncTZR_Su202MJKwX7KzcA,&#10;            https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=944&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=46-Ot_cuWctgs8xK6o5aog 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"data:,1w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=472&amp;type=jpg&amp;sig=L70-EWxAxMjORKFW-4OLDA,&#10;                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=944&amp;type=jpg&amp;sig=l0MYvMaKtYmT616sGC3nbA 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"data:,1w\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=srCEBgXPTQFEsqUrgtV3pA,&#10;            https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=576&amp;type=webp&amp;sig=5SeErD9RlXt3hDRAVs3jIA 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"data:,1w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Since 1997, MusiCounts has delivered more than $19 million worth of resources to under-resourced schools.\" class=\"embedded-image__image lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;sig=QjF_Yflh6cI6co8L7R5kCg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=288&amp;sig=QjF_Yflh6cI6co8L7R5kCg,&#10;                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/winnipegsun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Music-Aid-Program-2.jpg.jpeg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=576&amp;sig=PxyzhzxgZsXjlJ76ye6fxA 2x\" height=\"720\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"720\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"image-caption\"><span class=\"caption\"> Since 1997, MusiCounts has delivered more than $19 million worth of resources to under-resourced schools.<\/span> <span class=\"credit\">Photo by Winnipeg Sun<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Other Manitoba schools benefitting this year include \u00c9cole New Era School in Brandon and Petit Casimir Memorial School in Lac Brochet, underscoring the reach of the program across urban, rural, and remote communities.<\/p>\n<p>The instruments are already arriving, already being played. In Albright, the sound of guitars now threads its way through the hallways, a little clumsy, a little raw, but alive with possibility.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s super rewarding,\u201d Maendel said. \u201cWe might not be able to offer every instrument \u2014 flutes, cellos, those are still out of reach. But now our kids can start somewhere. They can explore, gain confidence, and maybe one day pursue more on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the point, Fletcher insists. Music is not just about producing musicians. It\u2019s about giving children a way to express themselves, to connect, to thrive.<\/p>\n<p>A new generation of kids, many of whom might never have touched an instrument, are beginning to pluck, strum, and drum their way into a world of music.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2014 Steven Sukkau is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div><em>Have thoughts on what\u2019s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at <\/em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"mailto:wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca\"><em>wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story\">\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"article-content__share-group article-delimiter\" data-evt-val=\"{\" control_fields=\"\" data-evt-typ=\"page_scroll\">\n<p>Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source winnipegsun.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breadcrumb Trail Links News Manitoba Published Sep 23, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 2\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. MusiCounts\u2019 record $1.1 million investment is bringing guitars, ukuleles, and drums to 85 under-resourced schools across Canada, including tiny Albright [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2044622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2044621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/A-song-for-small-schools-How-11M-in-new-instruments.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2044621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2044621"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2044621\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2044622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2044621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2044621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2044621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}