About us
SoundLife Scarborough (SLS) is a vibrant research centre for music and community engagement at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Our projects foster healthy communities through participatory music-making; support community partnerships and community-engaged research excellence grounded in the principle of reciprocity; and inspire participants in developing creative, flexible, and participatory approaches to music-making as a lifelong practice.
SLS currently supports research that focuses on topics such as, but not limited to: access pathways in formal and informal music education; the role of emerging technologies for music production and reception; the connections between music-making, health, and well-being; and the changing community music and music industry landscapes regionally and nationally.
Community of Music Makers
Soundlife Scarborough acts as an interface for people from the campus and local communities to participate in musical activities (both on and off campus) and explore the varied relationships scholars and artists create with music. SoundLife Scarborough allows the Music & Culture program to (co-)create and (co-)facilitate participatory music-making opportunities for internal and external communities. This substantially grow curricular and co-curricular experiential learning opportunities while supporting community-engaged faculty research. It also support partnerships between community organizations and the university for music-related activities.
Our Values
Access
SLS programming recognizes that our community is strengthened when all are welcome. We actively live out the University of Toronto’s vision of “Making Excellence Accessible” by offering weekly drop-in in-person and online participatory programming that is free and openly available to all. SLS weekly and special events aim to create spaces of safety and well-being for UTSC and wider community engagement.
Well-being
SLS strives to foster healthy communities through participatory music- making; and aims to strengthen social and personal well-being for all, including internal and external community members.
Flexible Music Making
SLS aims to support students in developing creative, flexible, and participatory approaches to music-making as a lifelong practice. SLS programming celebrates diverse forms of music-making.
Reciprocity
SLS partnerships with community organizations are to be grounded in the principle of reciprocity, meaning that programming is designed in consultation with community partners, when appropriate, and that the needs and interests of community partners are prioritized when implementing community-based programming.
