Empower Through Music

12/02/2025

This Giving Tuesday, your support can put real instruments into real classrooms and give young people a chance to explore music in a way that’s accessible, welcoming, and genuinely empowering.

At Empower Through Music, we work with youth who often don’t get access to music programs. Many arrive unsure or withdrawn. But once they step into a session and get hands-on with an instrument, something shifts. They engage. They participate. They connect.

Your donation helps us provide cost-free lessons, adaptive instruments, and steady mentorship to students who benefit from it most.

If you’re able to support today, thank you. It truly makes a difference.

Learn more or donate: EmpowerThroughMusic.org�

11/21/2025

This week we added something fun and colourful to our sessions… our Musical Salad colouring sheet. 🎶🥗

Each student chose the “ingredients” that made their perfect musical mix. Some picked guitars and drums, others circled pianos, a few even created their own combinations inspired by the music they love most.

Watching students colour, talk about their favourite sounds, and proudly share their finished pages reminded us how powerful choice can be. When students get to express themselves in their own way, creativity grows and confidence shines.

Music comes alive when it reflects who they are.

Learn more about how Empower Through Music brings inclusive, creative learning to classrooms across BC at https://www.empowerthroughmusic.org/

Empower Through Music provides accessible music education for all, fostering growth and confidence through musical learning and community support.

11/19/2025

When an educator tells us that music has changed their classroom and their students’ lives, we are reminded why this work matters so deeply.

At Lord Byng Secondary, the Life Assistance Life Skills program had long wanted to bring music into the classroom but lacked access to instruments, technology, and inclusive instruction. That changed when Empower Through Music arrived.

Each week, students now sing, drum, and explore sound in their own way. Attendance has improved, confidence has grown, and every session ends with smiles, laughter, and calm.

Their teacher shared:

“Empower Through Music has made the biggest impact in my program. They have literally changed ten teens’ lives and impacted their communities. My students look forward to music with them every week. They attend school regularly, and they are so much more regulated when they head home. The self-esteem boost provided by their team is priceless.”

She continued,

“Without organizations making the arts and technology accessible, we wouldn’t be able to make a difference in our communities. Without them, we would have a very quiet, dull world.”

We are deeply grateful for partnerships like this, where educators, families, and communities come together to make music accessible to every learner.

11/12/2025

At Magee Secondary this week, one student arrived clearly not having the best day. She was quiet, withdrawn, and didn’t seem eager to join in.

Then the music began. She picked up one instrument, then another. A soft rhythm on the drums turned into a melody on the piano, and soon she was smiling, laughing, and exploring every sound in the room.

By the end of the session, her laughter filled the space and the energy in the room had completely changed.

Music has the power to shift a moment, lift a day, and sometimes even change a life.

Learn more about how Empower Through Music brings inclusive, joy-filled learning to schools across BC at empowerthroughmusic.ca

11/07/2025

Our recent Empower Through Music session at Killarney Secondary was full of creativity and connection. 🎶

One student learned Lava Chicken from the Minecraft Movie almost instantly, while another kept returning to the piano between rotations to play Twinkle Twinkle from memory. Across the room, someone was working through Rat Dance with quiet focus and determination.

Each song became more than music. It was a moment of confidence, curiosity, and belonging. 💙

11/05/2025

After our Killarney Secondary session on Thursday, the crew came together for another high energy afternoon at The North Shore Disability Research Centre.

We kicked things off with our Welcome Song and a big Seven Nation Army warm up before diving into some Bruno Mars. The room was full of laughter, rhythm, and great vibes all around.

And of course most specially, Mojo got his nails painted by one of the participants 💅 Safe to say they stole the show.

Such a fun session and another great reminder of how much joy music and a little sparkle can bring to the room.

03/27/2025

Only 10 Days To Go - Calling All Supporters

We are officially in the homestretch. With only 10 days to go, the energy is building—and so is the potential for something truly special.

Empower Through Music Society is a registered Canadian charity that offers cost-free music lessons to marginalized & underserved youth. We address diverse opportunities , including physical, cognitive, emotional, and financial barriers, using adaptive teaching methods and instruments. Our compassionate, client-led curriculum fosters inclusivity, builds confidence ands support the holistic development of young individuals.

We need your help to make as much noise as possible and be a part of the solution so kids who wouldn’t otherwise have an opportunity to do so can be given the enriching gift of music.

Our week of events begins with our fundraiser kickoff in Chilliwack on Saturday, April 5 at The Vineyard
Followed by the 24-hour world record guitar lesson on Sunday, April 6 at 6 p.m.

Concluding with our second major fundraiser at the Anvil Centre on Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.
**Links for all three events are below

But perhaps the most moving part of the week will happen out in Hope, BC, where a group of our DJ and music tech instructors will be offering a camp experience to youth from Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. It’s from this deeply emotional and meaningful place that I’m reaching out to all of you today.

This is the moment to activate your networks

Please call, message, and connect with every person you know would be moved to be a part of this special moment.
Let’s fill these rooms—with support, with love, with purpose.

We’ve made a strong start:
• Anvil Centre has over 90 tickets sold, which is encouraging—but we still need more.
• Chilliwack is currently sitting at under 40 tickets, and we need a spark to ignite that community.

If you have any roots, friends, or connections in Chilliwack, this is your cue. Reach out. Let them know their presence matters.

The musical performances are falling into place beautifully. These events are going to be emotional, inspiring, and unforgettable. If you’re inviting people, you can tell them with confidence: this will be one of the most meaningful shows of their lives. I guarantee it personally.

We’ve waited years for a breakthrough like this. While we’re still early in the process, we’ve already raised what I estimate to be over $5,000, which is enough to cover our current programming commitments, and begin new ones.

That includes:

• Developing a Chilliwack satellite program

• Adding more classes in the Vancouver School District

But we’re not there yet.
We still don’t have enough funding to serve every child who needs us.

That’s our challenge.

That’s our mission.

That’s why this moment matters so much.

Want To Sponsor A Youth?

If you’d like to sponsor a young person to be a part of our world record guitar lesson attempt, please respond to me directly. Each 30-minute spot is $50. It’s a great way to show your support and also ensure accessibility and inclusion for underserved youth.

Thank you to everyone who has been supporting this cause, sharing the story and sending kind words.

Your thoughts, ideas, and energy are always welcome.

With gratitude❤️🎶✨

Kris

Event 1: Chilliwack
🗓️Saturday, April 5th Vineyard 7-9pm

Tickets for the Chilliwack show are available for purchase from our website

https://www.empowerthroughmusic.org/events

Event 2: Vancouver/Global
🗓️Sunday-Monday World Record Attempt Sign Up & Info

How to Register
• Email [email protected]
to register as a participant and secure your spot in the world record attempt or sponsor a youth. We need online participants in different time zones so please let your global friends and family know!

Event 3: New Westminster
🗓️Tickets for the New Westminster Show on April 8th are available for purchase through the Anvil Centre

https://www.ticketsnw.ca/event/a-night-of-stories-song-and-impact/

https://anvilcentre.com/our-events/a-night-of-stories-song-and-impact/

https://anviltheatre.ca/event/a-night-of-stories-song-and-impact/