Mark Doebrich
New member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2002
- Messages
- 203
I've continued this year old thread...because we "did it again" and better this time...
A dozen kids at my middle school just finished a two week after school program titled Blues In The Schools. The artist is residence was Fruteland Jackson, guitarist, singer, educator. A local musician, Steve Pottmeyer, was brought in to teach harp. The kids spent two hours after school each day learning about the blues, playing guitar, harp, singing and writing songs. They even did internet research and wrote a book report on a blues musician.
The Blues Jazz and Folk Society gets the kudos here for finding grant funding. We ended the BITS Program with an assembly in front of the student body in the afternoon and at the community college theater in the evening for public view. One of our teachers jumped in and played bass. A parent and local attorney played drums. Yup, I jumped in on guitar and we played four songs based in Open D (not Open G as initially thought). One of the songs was an original composition written by the students- "I Cried, Boo Hoo".
The community, the student body and especially the players benefitted from the BITS Program. If you have an opportunity to support such an effort in your town, please do so. Some real magic occurred in Marietta, Ohio. It can happen with the youngsters in your town with the proper support and guidance!
A dozen kids at my middle school just finished a two week after school program titled Blues In The Schools. The artist is residence was Fruteland Jackson, guitarist, singer, educator. A local musician, Steve Pottmeyer, was brought in to teach harp. The kids spent two hours after school each day learning about the blues, playing guitar, harp, singing and writing songs. They even did internet research and wrote a book report on a blues musician.
The Blues Jazz and Folk Society gets the kudos here for finding grant funding. We ended the BITS Program with an assembly in front of the student body in the afternoon and at the community college theater in the evening for public view. One of our teachers jumped in and played bass. A parent and local attorney played drums. Yup, I jumped in on guitar and we played four songs based in Open D (not Open G as initially thought). One of the songs was an original composition written by the students- "I Cried, Boo Hoo".
The community, the student body and especially the players benefitted from the BITS Program. If you have an opportunity to support such an effort in your town, please do so. Some real magic occurred in Marietta, Ohio. It can happen with the youngsters in your town with the proper support and guidance!
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