Capilano University shuts down popular community music program

An extremely popular music program that's been around for decades in North Vancouver, B.C.,is being cancelled.

Capilano University says its Community Music School courses will end this fallnews that hasupsetparents and students of the program.

The programhas been around for 35 years. It offers courses to people of all ages, but primarily focuses on young children.

"I feel kind of sadbecauseI love it," said six-year-old Simona Fournier, who has been taking music lessonswith the program for three years.

"I like it because we can do lots of fun songs and it sounds really good."

Her father, Guy Fournier, is also shocked by the news. He and his wife pay $120 per semester for their daughter to take music courses every Saturday. Their plan was to also register their two-year-old son in the fall.

"[The children] are very well tempered because of music. They have an outlet to express themselves that they can put out whatever it is that's going on in their little heads."

Focusing on credit programs

The university says the program breaks even, but it's time for it to focus on its credit courses instead.

"When resources are tight ... we have to focus on what we do well things that really prepare students with credentials to go out and be successful," said Capilano University presidentKris Bulcroft.

Bulcroft says there are plenty of music providers in Metro Vancouver, so the university isn'tlimiting its students' access to quality education by cutting theprogram.

She also saidparents having a hard time finding a private teacher for their childshould contact the school and it willhelp them get in touch with one.

Unique program

But music teacher Justin O'Donohue says the program is unique and tailoredto each student's development.

"We have been around for 35 years. That's a lot of time to develop top-tier programming," he said."We havefantastic instructors,all of whom are experts in their field."

He adds the program doesn't affect the university's credit-based courses and should be allowed to stay.

"Our program is really healthy. We have lots of registrants," he said. "It's very populartons of repeat clients."

As for the Fournier family, it's hoping the university will reverseits decision.

With files from KiranDhillon