ColourStrings School Fund: help us deliver music education
Donation protected
" We are seeing music and music education disappear from our city and society. Donate as little or as much as you can, $20 goes a long way to covering rising costs of running our Family Owned music school."
Share, yes a simple couple of clicks is a great way to help also!!
"Support Colourstrings Music School: Keeping Music Alive in Canada"
We recognize that times are difficult all around, but are reaching out to you with a heartfelt plea for help during these challenging times. We are looking for donations to help pay back Government Loans we had to take out to keep our school afloat, which are now due to be paid back in January 2024, so we can move forward and continue to offer the best community music classes for all.
Laura 2004 - First Beginnings in Vancouver
Colourstrings Music School, founded by Laura Hasthorpe B.A, is a family-owned institution dedicated to bringing the transformative power of music to thousands of students in Vancouver over the past 20yrs!!
Laura introduced the renowned Colourstrings method to Canada, and her passion for music education has enriched countless lives. Now, we find ourselves at a point that rising costs & Covid loans are due, and we need your support to help us continue to develop and grow again!!
2014 thank you to our friends for donating a piano to start the journey, our daughter plays it first!!
Our Story (2004 - 2024) - Heading into Our 10th Year at 129 East 8th Ave:
Colourstrings Music School has been an integral part of Vancouver's vibrant musical community since 2004. Our Main Street location at 129 East 8th Ave has been a hub for aspiring musicians, both young and old, for almost a decade. We proudly built the school ourselves, and we are not a franchise, our goal has always been to "offer the best music lessons for the community, making music education accessible to all."
The Impact of COVID-19, rising rent & costs
1. Soaring Operating Costs: COVID-19 safety measures significantly increased our operational expenses, also rent, tax, and several other operational costs have increased significantly in the past two years.
2. Government Loans: To keep our school afloat, we had to take out government loans, which are now due to be paid back in January 2024. We want to get moving forward and invest in the community again through creating more programs.
3. Investment in Learning: We've had to adapt to online learning, investing in technology and resources to support our students. The constant adapting has cost us dearly. We want to offer more programs, hire & train new and experienced teachers, and continue to deliver engaging music lessons!
4. Loss of Group Classes and Choir Students: Unfortunately, we've lost over 50% of our Music & Movement group classes and 75% of our choir students due to the pandemic. We would like to hire back more teachers and admin staff to create jobs.
5. Financial Strain: Despite our best efforts, we are facing loan repayments & rising costs. We want to go into our 10th year celebrating & to continue to make musicians in the community!
2017 - three years into Colourstrings Conservatory 129 E8th. Ave
Why We Need Your Help:
Without you, your family, and neighbours, we are not able to deliver music to others. We are turning to you, our community, to ask for your support. Laura and our dedicated team are committed to ensuring that Colourstrings Music School continues to thrive and inspire future generations of musicians. With your help, we can overcome these financial challenges due to Covid & continue to offer exceptional music education. We thank you and look forward to moving past this to a brighter musical horizon.
How You Can Help: Scholarship & Recovery Fund
1. Donations: Your contribution will go directly toward covering the increased operating costs and repaying the government loans, enabling us to maintain our programs and facilities & training for teachers.
2. Discover and Enrol in Our Programs: Experience our fun & captivating music programs designed to enhance musical literacy, comprehension, and musicianship. " Our dedicated instructors are not only skilled in their respective instruments but also well-trained educators."
3. Share on Social Media: Sharing our GoFundMe campaign on your social media platforms is a powerful way to get the word out and encourage others to support our cause. Use the hashtag #KeepMusicAliveWithColourstrings and tag @ColourstringsMusicSchool to increase visibility.
4. Leave Reviews: If you have experienced the magic of Colourstrings Music School, leaving a positive review on platforms like Google, Facebook & instagram can help us attract more supporters.
Google reviews : https://g.page/r/CRHrsFdIur4TEBE/review
Closing Words:
Your support, no matter how big or small, can help keep the music alive in Canada. We are immensely grateful for any help you can provide. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our school and mission, please feel free to ask. Together, we can ensure that Colourstrings Music School continues to be a beacon of music education for generations to come.
Thank you for being a part of our journey, and for your kindness and generosity from our family and all of our teaching staff.
Laura Hasthorpe
Dougie Stewart
Isla Stewart
Organizer
Douglas Stewart
Organizer
Vancouver, BC