Music Monday 2013 unites Canadians in national day of celebration for music education

Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield leads hundreds of thousands of students in song from orbit

TORONTO, May 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Hundreds of thousands of students from cities and towns across Canada are uniting in song with Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield aboard the International Space Station today to raise awareness about the importance of music education. On Music Monday, students and teachers take their music programs outdoors and into their communities to perform the same song on the same day, at the same time, uniting the entire country in song.

In his last live broadcast link to earth before returning home, Commander Hadfield will lead the performance of this year's official Music Monday song, which he co-wrote with Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies, I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing). The song was co-commissioned by the Coalition for Music Education and CBCMusic, in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency.

The 2013 Music Monday Showcase Concert is being held at the Ontario Science Centre. More than 275 performers will join together to sing and play their instruments and share their messages about the value of music in their lives. Commander Hadfield says music helped him become a better Astronaut. "Learning and making music can enlighten us in so many ways," said Commander Hadfield.  "It even lights up the neurons in our brains."

The concert will be web cast live beginning at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time from the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, courtesy of the Canadian Space Agency. To watch the web cast go to: http://www.musicmonday.ca/

The Coalition for Music Education created Music Monday in 2005 to celebrate the galvanizing power of music and demonstrate how that power is rooted in school music programs. Since then millions of students and music makers from across Canada have participated in the annual Music Monday celebration to protect music education in our schools.

"Music Monday highlights the importance of music education and the need to protect and enhance quality music programs for every child in Canadian schools," said Coalition Executive Director, Holly Nimmons. "Music education is a powerful tool for engagement, harmony, creativity and achievement in our young people. The schools participating in Music Monday are among the fortunate - most of them have music programs.  Many students across Canada do not have music programs in their schools due to funding cut backs and lack of resources. Music Monday is a tangible demonstration of how music programs unite us, shape young lives and contribute to the cultural vitality of Canada."

Music Monday is celebrated on the first Monday of May, with a simultaneous performance of music makers across the country - this year at 9:30 a.m. Pacific, 10:30 a.m. Mountain, 11:30 a.m. Central, 12:30 p.m. Eastern, 1:30 p.m. Atlantic and 2:00 p.m. in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"Music is universal and generations are defined in large part by the music they listen to," said Ontario Science Centre CEO Lesley Lewis.  "I grew up with a strong musical tradition, stemming from my Welsh heritage, and sang in choirs for many years. While music is undeniably a form of artistic expression, people forget the underlying science - the mathematics inherent in the timing of each measure, the physics involved in designing  instruments; the acoustics of a performance space or today's technology that gives constant access to our music. Music is another way of engaging people of all ages with the science that is part of their daily lives."

About the Coalition for Music Education:
The Coalition for Music Education works to raise awareness and understanding of the role music education plays in Canadian Culture, and to promote the benefits music education brings to young people. We envision Canada as a country where the lives of all children are enriched by quality school music programs, and where their active participation in music is valued and supported in our communities. For more information about the Coalition, please visit MusicMakesUs.

Follow us on MusicMonday Facebook  or on Twitter @musicmakesus_ca

About the Canadian Space Agency (CSA):
Established in March 1989, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) coordinates all civil, space-related policies and programs on behalf of the Government of Canada and is committed to leading the development and application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians. Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield has been living and working on the International Space Station since December 2012 as part of the crew of Expedition 34/35. He is currently Commander of the Station.

For more information on the Canadian Space agency, please visit:  www.asc-csa.gc.ca

About the Ontario Science Centre:
The Ontario Science Centre delights, informs and challenges the communities we serve, enriching people's lives and understanding through engagement with science of local, national and global relevance. Since 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has welcomed over 46 million visitors, with an interactive approach that was the model for Science Centres around the world. It is the public centre for innovative thinking and provocative dialogue in science and technology, aiming to inspire a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery and action to create a better future for the planet. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

For more information, visit www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca

Social Media Links: Facebook.com/OntarioScienceCentre; Twitter.com @OntScienceCtr; YouTube.com/user/OntarioScienceCentre

SOURCE: Coalition for Music Education

Media inquires:   

For The Coalition for Music Education:
Sue Lennon [email protected] 416-322-3030 ext. 226

For The Canadian Space Agency:
Julie Simard   [email protected]    450-926-4370

For The Ontario Science Centre:
Anna Relyea  [email protected]    416-696-3273