May, 2003

Publication title: Today’s Parent, vol. 20, Iss. 4, pg. 30
Place: Toronto
Writer: Unknown

Child’s play: Sarah McLachlan

She’s sold millions of CDs around the world. So what music gives Sarah McLachlan the most pleasure these days? It’s the tentative plinks and plonks of children taking their first lessons in piano, guitar, percussion and choir at the music school she founded last year in Vancouver. The recording artist sounds like a doting mom when she talks about the 150 elementary and high-school students who participated in the pilot program of The Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach in spring 2002. “Most of these kids had never played an instrument before and 11 weeks later they were giving a show, smiling ear to ear!” McLachlan, 35, has often talked about the refuge she found in music during her sometimes bleak high-school years in Halifax. She wanted to offer lessons to children whose families couldn’t afford them. “Kids need something to feel good about — that they are part of something special. I hope the school offers that to them.” McLachlan provided the idea and the founding money — plus, of course, a healthy dose of star PR — and enlisted Arts Umbrella, a local organization, to run operations. While she’s hoping the school will expand to offer more classes to kids of all ages, McLachlan is devoting the bulk of her time these days to her other baby — daughter India. Born a year ago, India is already showing distinct musical tastes. “She’s a critic for my new material, though she seems indifferent to most of it so far,” McLachlan admits. “She’s happiest when I do stupid dances and make silly faces to Raffi.”