The Hammer Band-From Violence to Violins
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Mission Statement
The Hammer Band was created to help vulnerable children who may be experiencing the isolating effects of poverty to learn about the inclusionary power of music instead. The Hammer Band gives children the opportunity to gain life skills, community and confidence through professional music lessons.
About This Cause
The Hammer Band is a charitable organization that started in 2007 as renowned violinist Moshe Hammers’ response to Toronto’s tragic “summer of the gun”. With his belief in the power of music as a tool to help children living in at-risk neighbourhoods to “change their tune”, he entered into a public school in the Jane and Finch corridor and offered to teach violin there. That year saw two schools with 40 children participating. From these humble beginnings, The Hammer Band organization has consistently grown and flourished. Today, The Hammer Band Program is delivered in the classrooms of 40 schools reaching over 1000 children and youth in grades 4 through high school. We have also expanded the program into at-risk neighbourhoods beyond our home community of Jane and Finch including in East York, North York, Regent Park, St. Jamestown, Malvern, Brampton and Durham. The Hammer Band Program reaches children in priority neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto Area who may otherwise not have an opportunity to learn music or play an instrument. Students participate in free ensemble violin lessons and are loaned instruments for the year for home and school practice. The in-school program consists of 30 weeks of instruction, during and after school hours. Lessons are taught by professional musicians, and are offered to children regardless of their background, financial situation or previous musical experience. Students are eligible to participate in the program from year to year until graduation from The Hammer Band school. The program runs from early October through mid-May. Before the winter holidays and at the end of the school year, students perform for their colleagues, teachers and parents, both at their schools and in the community. The year ends with a community-wide concert in May with students from multiple participating schools coming together in one Hall.