An after-school program designed to teach music and open new doors for children in low-income and troubled communities.

2. Music helps with neurological, social and emotional development in all ages. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most endangered subjects in Ontario schools. The SandBox is an opportunity to bring the tunes back and get your kids rocking to success!

3. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez public music programs have taken 300,000 kids out of slums in a country with some of the “highest murder rates in the world.” 2 A study of grade twos showed that music students scored 27% higher on math tests 1 Young music students are less likely to be disruptive in class 1 27% Students surveyed most often chose a music teacher as an important role model in their learning 1

4. Children who live in persistent poverty are less likely to be included in aspects of society that are critical to their healthy growth and development . They are twice as likely to live with violence or in a " dysfunctional " family. They are more than three times more likely to live with a depressed parent. Only half of the children who lived in persistent poverty participated in recreation at least once a week, compared to three-quarters of children who had never been poor. 3 Living with violence or dysfunction Living with depression Exhibiting delinquent or aggressive behaviour in school 4 Motivated to participate in weekly recreation

6. “ your instrument is the one thing that won't let you down” 5 - Jully Black “ The reality is, music saved my life” 5 - Jully Black Learning to be a musician can keep youth out of trouble or help guide them onto a new path. Especially in low-income areas, children are at high risk of becoming involved in bullying, drugs and other criminality. Some kids just don’t excel in academics so they can’t always see themselves being successful. We would love to change that.

7. Music is a way to interpret, understand and control our emotions. Creating music can be a very helpful tool in growing up with confidence and intellect. Music can be a release from troubles at home, with friends, in the community and can help keep youth motivated to be positive and focused on success. Countless artists have said that their music (or someone else's) has helped them live though problems which would otherwise have left them in jail, in therapy or in the grave. Our goal is to inspire children in problem communities to embrace music as a way to stay out of trouble -- a way to keep them occupied, interested and having fun. We believe having a talent in music can be a weapon against bullying, self-deprecation, and other dangerous influences and hope that it will result in children giving back to their community.

8. The Sandbox is an after-school and weekend program that would work out of local community centres, with a focus on low-income areas. Children are welcome to drop in and see what we’re up to, or come in regularly and follow our casually taught lessons. Instrumental instruction as well as music theory, music history and promotional work will help students find their niche in the music industry and progress at their own pace. Where possible, donated instruments and sheet music will be available for loan so that students who can not afford their own instruments will have the opportunity to continue their practice at home.