Porch diaries MerRi-bek grant - MUSIC lessons

In the winters of 2020 and 2021, during extended lockdowns in Melbourne, photographer Alana Holmberg started photographing people from her front porch. The project began as an act of record-keeping, but became more, a book, and a reflection on community as an antidote for loneliness. After ‘performing’ her book at Tempo Rubato, and selling out her run of the publication, Alana donated the proceeds of the sales to Piano Project. This grant is the result of those proceeds.

Grants are available to support music lessons for children who wouldn’t otherwise have access. For this grant, the music lessons need to take place within Merri-bek.

Available for any child under the age of 18.

We encourage and prioritise applications for piano lessons, but music lessons for other instruments are also accepted.

Applications can be made by a music teacher, someone associated with the child, or the parent/guardian, but they must be signed by a parent or guardian.

Applicants need to specify the place where the lessons will take place and this place needs to be at an established music school or in the school that the child attends for their general education.

In the description below, the subheadings are in bold. Our explanations are in italics, these explanations form our eligibility criteria.

To apply, please prepare a document including all the subheadings outlined below.

  1. Grant type
    Porch Diaries Merri-bek Grant - Music lessons

  2. Applicant
    Please provide the full name of the person making the application and their relationship to the person who will be receiving the lessons. Include an email address and phone number.

  3. Child
    Please provide the following information about the child who will have the music lessons:
    Name
    Age
    Grade at school
    Name of the school

  4. Parent/guardian
    Please confirm if the applicant is the parent/guardian of the child. If not, please provide the name, email address and phone number of the parent/guardian who is providing permission.

  5. Eligibility
    In order to be eligible for a Music Lessons Grant from Piano Project, the household income must be under the limit set by Services Australia to apply for the Low Income Health Care Card, as defined here: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/income-test-for-low-income-health-care-card. Please confirm that the household income of the recipient of this grant is under this limit. 

  6. Music Lessons
    We hope to be able to provide the lessons for children who would not otherwise have that opportunity. It is also important for us that they enjoy the lessons, that it is a positive part of their lives. So for this subheading, please tell why you think this child would benefit from music lessons through Piano Project.

  7. Where will the music lessons take place
    The application needs to include a plan for where the lessons will take place. It must be an established music school or within the school where they receive their general education. Please include the name of the school, website and contact details. Explain how the child would get to lessons.

  8. Practice
    Please describe when and where the child will be able to practice. Do they have access to an instrument already? If needed, you can apply for an instrument grant from Piano Project here.

  9. Feedback
    We like to hear about how the lessons are going, just with a brief update each term. With an email and a photo if possible. (There is no need for the photo to identify the student though). Please confirm that the applicant is happy to take responsibility for this communication.

  10. Continuation
    Piano Project is delighted when lessons continue long term. In order to continue funding from one term to the next, the applicant needs to communicate with us before the upcoming fees are due with confirmation that the lessons are being attended and enjoyed and that they would like them to continue. Please confirm that the applicant is happy to take responsibility for this communication and how you would do it.

  11. Signature and date
    Please include the names and signatures of the applicant and parent/guardian (if this is different).