Commander Chris Hadfield says music is not a luxury
It’s Music Monday and today, over 160,000 children across Canada will unite to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
According to Hadfield, who became famous while commanding a 5-month mission to the International Space Station for his social media posts, music should play an important role in everyone’s life.
Led by the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, students, teachers, and music lovers of all ages will come together on May 6th to sing the Music Monday song, penned by a talented Canadian artist.
Commander Chris Hadfield says, he’s an advocate for music education.
When Hadfield blasted into space, he had about 20,000 followers on Twitter. Upon his return, he had more than a million. He was also the first astronaut to make a music video while in space – recording himself singing and playing guitar to David Bowie’s song “Space Oddity.”
From coast to coast to coast, students, educators, and music enthusiasts will join in singing the Music Monday song promoting promote the benefits that music education brings to young people.
This annual event showcases the significance of music education in Canadian schools and fosters a sense of unity and collaboration among youth.
This year’s Music Monday celebrates diversity and inclusion. “We Are One” has been translated into 14 languages.
OTHER NOTABLE MUSIC MONDAY SONGWRITERS:
· Chris Tait (Chalk Circle) A Little Music (2005 & 2006)
· Dala, Our Song (2007 & 2008)
· Serena Ryder, Sing! Sing! (2009 & 2010)
· Luke Doucet, Tomorrow is Coming (2011 & 2012)
· Chris Hadfield & Ed Robertson (2013 & 2014)
· Connor Ross, We Are One (2015 & 2016), Nation-Wide Song Search, 16 yrs old)
· Marc Jordan & Ian Thomas, Sing it Together (2016 & 2017)
· Oscar Peterson Hymn to Freedom (2019 & 2020 & 2021)
· Mimi O’Bonsawin & Nicholas Ma, Music is Our Medicine (2022 & 2023)
The Coalition for Music Education in Canada will continue to support schools nationwide by hosting events celebrating Music Education in Canada.
Written by Joseph Goden