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] or call Leah Bedford at 604-205-3048.
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 free opportunity by providing an instructor and the instruments required for your specific program directly 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] or call Lia Miller, Community Arts Programmer, at 604-205-3013.
Music education grants
A final phase of this program will provide monetary grants to low income Burnaby residents to help them pay for City of Burnaby music programs and lessons held at the City’s community centres and Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. This component of the program will be introduced in the fall of 2023.
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 financial grant towards low income musicians 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 communi[email protected].
Donate a pre-loved instrument
We are currently not accepting instruments due to the enormous success of the first 2 instrument drives that were held. Check back for dates of upcoming donation drives or events related to this program.
Have questions?
Email [email protected].