Blues in the Schools

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Blues in the Schools

What is Blues in the Schools?

Blues in the Schools is an educational program that was created to promote, preserve, and perpetuate the art, culture, and heritage of blues music. Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest brings blues artists/educators to Ottawa for a two-week residency (March 2- March 13, 2009) in local primary, middle, and secondary schools.
When did Blues in the Schools Begin?

The program was initiated in two Ottawa-area schools in 1999 and has since seen tremendous growth. In the spring of 2007, Five visiting artists/educators and 15 local musicians delivered the Blues in the Schools program to more than 6,500 students in Ottawa schools, contributing over 360 hours of in-class instruction over a two-week period.
How does the program work?

The artists work with selected groups of students as part of the daily curriculum. The program is divided into two components-phase one and two.

PHASE 1 (March 2- March 5, 2009)
Assembly-style presentation:
- One hour-long presentation per day (preferably the first period in the morning or the first period after lunch);
- Different performer per presentation (maximum of four presentations);
- Presentations can include lectures, singing, or musical demonstrations;
- Presentations are open to the whole student body.

PHASE 2 (March 6 and March 9 - March 13, 2009)
Core Group Sessions:
- One-hour sessions with selected core groups (no more than 30 students) per day;
- One artist/educator and one local musician throughout;
- Teachers work with the visiting artists/educators to present the program;
- Focus on more in-depth look at the history of blues music and music playing techniques;
- Performance for the student body during the final day of the program;
- Opportunity to perform at the Bluesfest in July.