We're Expanding Blues in the Schools!
photo by Kelli Uldall
The Monterey Bay Blues in the Schools 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.
This year Monterey Bay Blues Festival's Blues in the Schools (BITS) is proud to announce that we have a new Program Director, Dennis Murphy. who is a well respected musician and educator with many years of experience with music mentoring. He is not only a gifted teacher, but is also a GRAMMY nominee. You may have seen him at last year's the Blues Festival. We are proud to have Dennis on board.
Dennis started off on a good note by adding five school sites to our outreach. We now are in 9 schools and plan to expand to 16 schools next year. Other plans include an honors band (watch for them at this year's Festival), a summer one-week blues camp and an annual CD.
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.
With Dennis at the helm, we are confident that our BITS program will set standards for world-wide blues educational outreach.
Monterey Bay Blues Festival Golf Tournament
Fundraiser October 9th
While you are thinking of us, please take a moment to mark your calendars for
our inaugural Monterey Bay Blues Festival Golf Tournament, which be held on October 9 at the beautiful
Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course in Seaside. For details on participating, please e-mail Michelle at the Monterey Blues Festival. To register for the tournament or become Tee Sponsor,click here and print the application. Proceeds from
this event benefit our Monterey Bay Blues in the Schools youth music education program.
This MBBF program consists of a series of presentations to students at middle and high schools, followed by clinic-style opportunities for music students to learn about the Blues, the true American art form of Music. From history to performance, the BITS project is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and the promotion of "blues-based" education in music. |
