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What is SASS?

              Please click here to view the official
                    "Guiding Principles of SASS"

SASS, the School Alliance of Student Songwriters, is not one, single school, but
rather a network of co-curricular songwriting clubs offered to children in grades
6-12, in 40-50 Ontario schools since 2003. In B.C., the songwriting training takes
place within music classes. Both methods are valid and the flexibility of the
program facilitates songwriting training in a variety of venues.

The program's goals across the country are to make young people's lives
happier, more balanced and well-rounded through musical creativity
explored in a safe and protective environment.   The discipline of
songwriting boosts literacy and welcomes self-expression. SASS also hopes
to improve attendance in school, build character and leadership, and to
provide more forums for caring adults and peers to listen to youth. SASS
songwriting clubs aspire to be 'as much about love as they are about music'.

SASS offers young people an outlet where they can express themselves with
voice or instruments, in whatever genre they wish, and respect each other
as artistic peers, encouraged by fellow artists and professionals.

Since 2003, SASS has provided over 1,500 professional writers' workshops, over
150 concerts, open-mics, and interschool recitals, welcomed thousands of e-mails,
offered over 10,000 teacher-led writers' clubs, made scores of free recordings,
planned 7 national song contests on uplifting themes, and seen thousands of young
lives enriched by music and enduring friendships in the SASS community.

SASS does not guarantee the production of 'famous' musicians, although career-
minded young artists have found the SASS community a helpful place to network
and grow. Star-making is NOT a main goal of SASS. The nurturing of community-
minded artists with solid writing skills and a social conscience IS. SASS creators/
founders and administrators do NOT request any percentage of the future earnings
of any young artists it may help to develop. SASS students retain all rights to their
free SASS studio recordings.

SASS does not attempt to formally teach the instrumental or vocal skills already
covered in band or choir classes. SASS agrees with the Coalition for Music
Education, that more school choirs, bands, and orchestras are needed in every
community, revived by parents’ interest in their children’s musical creativity.

SASS is a community labour of love. We are proud of all of the caring writers,
teachers, sponsors, and parents who make this writers' community happen.