We're Expanding Blues in the Schools!
photo by Kelli Uldall
The Monterey Bay Blues in the Schools Program seeks to enhance the music programs in our local school districts by using the talents, resources and benefits of clinicians that are established and respected working professionals in Blues music.
A major part of the vision of the Monterey Bay Blues Festival (MBBF) was to plan and deliver a successful and profitable blues festival which would enable the Board of Directors to introduce a quality outreach program to thousands of students in this tri-county area of California. In 2009, after 24 festivals and numerous secondary events and fund raisers, the MBBF board is proud to report that the portion of their vision that embraced youth and the arts with emphasis on music is a growing success.
In 1995, 14 years after initiating a popular scholarship and grants program, Blues in the Schools (BITS) was founded, starting with five schools and growing to 12 school districts and non-profit agencies in 2009. The Monterey Bay Blues Festival is proud to have Dennis Murphy as the BITS Program Director. He is a well respected musician and educator with many years of experience with music mentoring. Dennis is not only a gifted teacher, but also a GRAMMY nominee. Under his direction over 250 students received special instruction on and about blues music and history and 17 advanced students were selected for the MBBF Honor Blues Band that performed at the 24th Annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival to a standing ovation crowd of thousands on two stages. A life-changing experience for most!
Our Blues in the Schools programs are not just presentation of Blues music. Each school program starts with a kick-off performance in a school-wide assembly by the BITS All-Star Clinician Combo. These assemblies inform and enlighten students and teachers to the undeniable impact of Blues on modern music, especially Jazz and Rock.
The assembly is followed by clinics, held three times a month, bringing professional musicians into the classrooms for direct interaction with students and teachers. The clinicians use an ensemble approach as well as a one-on-one method with each student and teach skills for improvising, rhythm styles and ensemble playing.
In this challenging economic climate and at a time when many festivals across the country are unable to continue their events, BITS continues to grow, thanks in large part to the dedicated volunteer work of the MBBF Board of Directors, staff and their director/teacher of the BITS program. Additionally, the BITS program continues to attract favorable attention and support on the part of donors, funding agencies and corporations. It is the hope of MBBF that this interest and financial support continues, thus enabling MBBF to install the BITS program in a larger number of schools and non-profit agencies, reaching more music-minded students.
When wondering how such an exciting music oriented program could be growing, succeeding and be funded, especially in this economy, one can only point to the vision of the founding and succeeding boards of directors and their ability to find and retain the services of a motivating teacher and the board’s ability to keep the BITS program as a priority.
MBBF will soon break the two million dollar mark in funds they have directed to scholarships to county students, grants to local non-profits, “paid” local volunteers representing local social non-profit agencies, and the MBBF BITS program. It must be said that for an effort started 24 years ago by a small group of local citizen volunteers, that many thought would not last, let alone succeed, this can only be called a success. The MBBF Board is driven, dedicated and appears to not allow the current economy and other periodic obstacles divert them from preserving and promoting a true American art form, the blues!
Additional information about the BITS program can be gained by contacting the MBBF Office at 831-394-2652 and speaking to Vivian Waldrup-Patterson, Executive Manager or Billy DeBerry, President.
Thank you for supporting the Monterey Bay Blues Festival and in particular, the Blues in the Schools Program for our community’s youth!
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