SoundLife Scarborough

This could really be a good life! 🙌🎶

On April 24, we brought together musicians, educators, youth, health researchers, and community leaders to explore the intersections between music and wellbeing 🧠🎤🎶

What resulted was an energizing day of sharing and music-making! 🎉🎊

Thank you (x3) to everyone who joined us at for “This Could Really be a Good Life”: Music and Youth Mental Health Year 2! Our facilitators and staff, you rock!

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Stay tuned for more photos!

This event, and our Music and Youth Mental Health series, was supported in part from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada ( ).

Early bird gets the worm 🐛! Or in this case, access to an exciting conference for less 🙌

Register now for the ISME Community Music Activity Pre-Conference and join us on July 21-24 🎶

We have a special announcement… 🙈 UTSC is the proud host of the 2026 ISME Community Music Activity Commission Pre-Conference! ✨🎉

We are excited to welcome attendees from around the world to explore community music! The commitments of SoundLife Scarborough and the LCMC to fostering inclusive and accessible spaces for music-making and education will be evident throughout the event, with opportunities for hands-on participation, community engagement, and cultural exchange.

👉Registration is open now! Join us July 21-24, 2026

Open to all (including all community members, faculty, students, and beyond!)

Did someone say FREE forum? Save the date!!! ✨✨🎶

On Friday, April 24th, join us at the University of Toronto Scarborough for a full day of programming that brings together youth, educators, community partners, artists and health professionals. This gathering centers youth voices and lived experiences while fostering meaningful connections between communities, practitioners and researchers, featuring a dynamic panel discussion, interactive sessions and many opportunities for shared music-making and dialogue.

No music sessions this week! Happy reading week to our university students 📖📖

Sessions resume next week. Never been to a session before? No problem! Just bring yourself and we will teach you the rest. DM us with questions :)

Good food, great conversations and a room full of people passionate about community! 🥳🫶

Last week, we had the honor of hosting community partners and friends of SLS at for our Annual Community Partner Dinner, SoundBites. The evening was a place to connect, reflect and dream together-- and the energy was alive! ⚡⚡

At SLS, we value reciprocity. We are grateful to everyone that was able to attend. More to come as we continue these conversations!

With the first snow of the season, we hope you have some time to squeeze in some warm music making activities indoors! 🎶 🎵

What makes the SoundLife Microgrant and Fellowship program special? Today we share words from Anukrati, a recipient of the 2024-25 program and the lead of the Bollywood Tadka on Ukes program 🎶🥳

👉Apply for the 2025-26 Micro-grant and Fellowship program today! Applications close on October 6th. More information on the link in our bio 🔗

More about Anukrati's program:
Bollywood Tadka on Uke (BTU) is a weekly mental well-being session of ukulele music-making through Hindi songs. The positive effects of music on mental health has been well researched. In an East meets West approach, we want to attempt to ease integration of immigrants in their new life in Canada, and reduce stress through musical sessions. Furthermore, second and subsequent generations of South Asian origin can learn more about the musical culture of their families. BTU will help foster a sense of community and belonging for people of all ages, from ukulele enthusiasts to amateurs.

SLS announces a second year of the Micro-grant and Fellowship Program 🎉

This program aims to support community organizations and artists, and students at the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of Toronto. It supports music programming and/or research development with Youth Mental Health & Wellness at its core, and corresponds with one or more of SLS’s values of community, access, reciprocity, and flexible music-making. Micro-Grant applicants may propose a stand-alone project or dovetail with larger community and/or academic initiatives.

Now taking applications for projects interested in exploring any of the three areas of research and creative practice connected to our previous three forums.

Learn more at https://www.soundlifescarborough.ca/microgrant-fellowship/