If you’re like me and have tried buying music concert tickets lately, you already know it isn’t cheap anymore.

Between rising ticket prices, service fees, overpriced drinks, and the cost of just leaving your house in 2026, live music has started to feel less accessible than ever. At the same time, arts programs and creative funding are often some of the first things cut by big corporations when budgets get tight. Vancouvers own Sarah McLachlan said it best herself. 

“So many music programs have been cut from public schools over the years,”

That’s what makes what Sarah McLachlan built feel worth talking about. While the music world kept getting more expensive, Sarah McLachlan has created a place where kids can learn music for free.

Long before celebrity brands and sponsored side projects became the norm, Sarah McLachlan founded the Sarah McLachlan School of Music in Vancouver in 2002. 

For Sarah, the idea was simple. Talent shouldn’t depend on family income.

If you’ve ever looked into music lessons, you know how expensive they can get. Instruments cost money. Teachers cost money. Even just trying something new can become a luxury for a lot of families. Not to mention the time commitment from both the musician and the family.

This school removes those barriers by offering free music education, instruments, and mentorship to children and youth. Since opening in Vancouver, the program has expanded to New West (Douglas College) and as far Edmonton. All with the goal of helping thousands of young people access something many take for granted.

And honestly, that deserves more attention than it gets.

We hear people say they want stronger communities, more culture, and more opportunities for young people. But those things don’t just appear out of nowhere. They usually start in classrooms, community centres, and spaces where someone feels encouraged for the first time.

Sometimes they start with a guitar.

Even if none of the students become famous musicians, that almost misses the point.

Music teaches confidence. It teaches discipline. It gives people a way to express themselves. For some kids it may become a career. For others, it may simply become a fun hobby or an extra cycle that keeps them out of trouble away from school.

And in a province where affordability is a constant conversation, programs that remove financial barriers feel more important than ever.

McLachlan has had a career full of awards, hit records, and one of the most recognizable voices Canada has produced. She could easily be remembered for that alone.

But I’d argue helping young people access music for free may be one of the most meaningful things attached to her name.