Getting instruments into the hands of our community
Music has the power to uplift and improve lives. Harmony for All, a community-based initiative for Burnaby residents, provides free musical instrument lending, no cost musical education outreach programs and scholarship opportunities for City music lessons. This initiative is the brainchild of Burnaby City Councilor and musician Joe Keithley, and is geared towards Burnaby residents who cannot afford instruments and lessons or experience barriers to participation. Harmony for All aims to connect people through music, promote positive interactions and build stronger communities.
Instrument lending
Our instrument lending program makes it possible for you to borrow an instrument for 1 year at a time on a loan basis. It's free and easy!
Choose from many different instruments, including acoustic guitars, electric guitars and basses with amplifiers, drum kits, saxophones, synthesizers, clarinets, flutes, trumpets, trombones, violins and accordions.
Once your application has been approved you will be assigned a date and time to pick up your instrument from Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby).
Currently accepting applications
To learn more about the instrument lending program, email [email protected].
Community outreach
Harmony for All also provides opportunities for musical learning through Shadbolt's Community Outreach Program. Focusing on groups and organizations who serve individuals experiencing barriers to participation, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Community Programs staff will work with you to coordinate programs designed specifically for the clients you serve. Harmony for All provides this opportunity to you at no cost.
Who can participate?
- Burnaby School District
- community service organizations
- youth and seniors groups
- social services organizations
- immigrant and refugee services
We can provide a pre-packaged experience for your group or create something suitable for you! Please inquire and let us know what you are looking for and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
For inquiries about our community outreach opportunities, email [email protected].
New! Music program scholarships
The scholarship program supports Burnaby residents aged 0-24 experiencing financial barriers to participation in group music lessons. In order to request financial support for a group music class with the City of Burnaby, applicants are required to:
- reside in the City of Burnaby
- provide a letter of intent (tell us why learning to play an instrument is of value to you)
- be an approved City of Burnaby Recreation Credit client
Seasonal group music lessons are available through the City of Burnaby at Bonsor Community Centre, Edmonds Community Centre and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Once applications have been assessed, successful applicants will be awarded scholarships between September 1 to August 31 on a seasonal basis.
Ways to support the Harmony for All program
Make a financial donation
Make a tax deductible donation in any amount meaningful to you. Your contribution will be used to provide a scholarship towards low income children and youth taking City of Burnaby music lessons.
Protecting your privacy in the donation process
The personal information that you provide to CanadaHelps is collected and used under the authority of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The information is used only for the purpose of processing online donations and providing tax receipts to donors. If you have questions about the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information, please email [email protected].
Donate a pre-loved instrument
We are currently accepting donations for the following instruments only:
- small sized acoustic guitars (full size guitars are not being accepted at this time)
- violins (all sizes)
- ukuleles (all sizes)
- piano keyboards in working condition with all power cables
- trombones
- french horns
- oboes
- cellos
- instrumental supplies (woodwind reeds, guitar strings, etc.)
Please note that donated instruments must be in working order for us to accept them into the program. You can contact [email protected] to arrange drop-off.
Have questions?
Email [email protected].