Blues In The Schools

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Crossroads Blues Society

PO Box 722
Freeport, IL 61032
kahunablues@aol.com

Blues In the Schools

Rockford Area Arts Council
713 E State St, Rockford IL 61104
(815) 847-5381
http://www.artsforeveryone.com/

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Rockford Area Arts Council which receives support from the City of Rockford, the Illinois Arts Council and its members.

Spring 2010 Blues In The Schools

We completed our 80th and 81st BITS programs on 4/28/2010. 1,320 students attended yesterday's and today's programs, totalling roughly 23,315 students for al 81 programs run since 2001. A complete list is at the bottom of this page.

Barrelhouse Chuck and Billy Flynn each did a phenomenal job with the students, keeping them enthralled with music and information. Chuck was at King and Monroe Center ES's and Billy was at Ralston ES and Byron MS. They also teamed up for a great evening show at Just Goods Listening Room, playng non-stop of two and a half hours alone and together. Almost 50 adults attended this impressive show. Thanks to these two great artists for their work!

Fall 2009 Blues In The Schools
Our Fall BITS with Joe Filisko and Eric Noden was very successful. Two programs at RESA MS of 450 students each were held the first day and shows at Spring Creek ES and Montessori Magnet ES had 340 and 450 in attendance respectively for a total of 1,690 students at all 4 shows. The evening show at Big Cities had several Montessori school teachers and a few area students attending with their parents and was quite successful, too.

Blues In The Schools

Blues In The Schools (BITS) is a nationally acclaimed cultural and musical appreciation program that helps students understand the rural and urban African-American culture. Age appropriate content is formatted to deliver high quality learning experiences that meet the goals and fulfill the mission of Blues In The Schools, Inc. Based on this premise, this program was developed to suit the needs of students in a variety of settings from organizations to schools. Many areas of culture and art are explored in a hands on setting where students actively participate in the creation of music and composition of songs that represent them.

The purpose of the program is to introduce students to the Musical Art form that originated in Africa and was brought to the new world via slavery. The music has since undergone many changes but still maintains the essence of deep expression that the tradition it is based on instills. The programs goals include providing a forum where

students can identify the cultural, geographical and historical origins and evolution of Blues music and the people who composed and played it while gaining an understanding of it's significance in the world of modern music and popular culture.

What is a Typical BITS Program Comprised Of?
Programs will vary, but the following topics are typical of a BITS program:

Origins of Blues as African Tradition
History of Blues in the New World
Instruments used yesterday and today
Migration and Evolution of the Blues
Definitions of Blues terms
Songwriting excersize
Interactive Music making

How Does CBS Accomplish All This?

We work to raise funds through membership, donations and matching grants. We collect annual dues from members and receive donations from citizens who share our conviction to keep the blues alive. Grants from the Rockford Area Arts Council have also been received each year. We have held fund raising concerts and events each year to assist in fund raising. The funds that are raised and collected each year are used to host Spring and Fall programs in area schools.

For more information about Blues in the Schools, please visit their website:

The Blues Foundation

Crossroads Blues Society
Blues In the Schools Performances

DATE, SCHOOL NAME, LEVEL, SCHOOL SYSTEM, PERFORMER(S), ATTENDEES:

May-02 Carlson ES Rockford Fruteland Jackson 350
May-02 Ellis Arts Academy MS Rockford Fruteland Jackson 300
May-02 West MS Rockford Fruteland Jackson 250
November-02 Carlson ES Rockford Fruteland Jackson 350
November-02 Ellis Arts Academy MS Rockford Fruteland Jackson 300
April-03 Kennedy MS Rockford Hawkeye Herman 200
April-03 Olson Park ES Harlem Hawkeye Herman 160
April-03 Loves Park ES Harlem Hawkeye Herman 40
April-03 Loves Park ES Harlem Hawkeye Herman 40
April-03 Loves Park ES Harlem Hawkeye Herman 40
April-03 Loves Park ES Harlem Hawkeye Herman 40
April-03 Loves Park ES Harlem Hawkeye Herman 40
November-03 Freeport JHS Freeport Fruteland Jackson 400
November-03 West MS Rockford Fruteland Jackson 250
November-03 Ellis Arts Academy ES Rockford Eric Noden 300
November-03 Kennedy MS Rockford Eric Noden 200
September-04 Lewis Lemon ES Rockford Hawkeye Herman 400
September-04 St. Peter's Cathedral ES/MS Private Hawkeye Herman 200
September-04 Johnson ES Rockford Fruteland Jackson 300
September-04 Honenegah HS Rockton Fruteland Jackson 300
September-04 Keith School ES Private Hawkeye Herman 200
September-04 Keith School ES Private Hawkeye Herman 100
April-05 Barbour ES Rockford Ann Rabson 300
April-05 Ellis Arts Academy ES Rockford Ann Rabson 750
April-05 Harlem HS Harlem Ann Rabson 300
April-05 Loves Park ES Harlem Ann Rabson 160
September-05 Byron HS Byron Hawkeye Herman 200
September-05 Ellis Arts Academy ES Rockford Fruteland Jackson 200
September-05 Lincoln-Douglas ES Freeport Hawkeye Herman 300
September-05 Marsh ES Rockford Fruteland Jackson 650
December-05 Flinn MS Rockford Billy Branch 250
December-05 Johnson ES Rockford Billy Branch 400
April-06 Auburn HS Rockford Ann Rabson 250
April-06 Belvedere MS Belvedere Ann Rabson 100
April-06 Highland ES Meridian Ann Rabson 400
April-06 West MS Rockford Ann Rabson 250
September-06 Eisenhower MS Rockford Hawkeye Herman 150
September-06 Gregory ES Rockford Hawkeye Herman 450
September-06 Monroe Center ES Meridian Dave Weld & Jeff Taylor 400
September-06 Meridian JHS Meridian Dave Weld & Jeff Taylor 400
November-06 Jackson ES Rockford Eric Noden 150
November-06 Kishwaukee ES Rockford Eric Noden 150
November-06 Roosevelt Alternative HS Rockford Barrelhouse Chuck 150
November-06 Nashold ES Rockford Barrelhouse Chuck 450
March-07 Carlson ES Rockford Reverend Raven & Madison Slim 350
March-07 Conklin ES Rockford Ann Rabson 450
March-07 Durand HS Durand Ann Rabson 250
March-07 Spectrum ES Private Reverend Raven & Madison Slim 200
March-07 Summerdale ES Rockford Ann Rabson 450
March-07 West View ES Rockford Ann Rabson 450
September-07 Carlson ES Rockford Westside Andy & Glenn Davis 350
September-07 Dakota ES Dakota Westside Andy & Glenn Davis 150
September-07 Ellis Arts Academy ES Rockford Hawkeye Herman 300
September-07 Whitehead ES Rockford Hawkeye Herman 350
November-07 Guilford HS Rockford Gina Sicilia & Dave Gross 125
November-07 Spring Creek ES Rockford Gina Sicilia & Dave Gross 650
December-07 Nashold ES Rockford Pistol Pete 400
December-07 Lincoln MS Rockford Pistol Pete 120
April-08 Marquette ES Harlem Joe Filisko & Eric Noden 400
April-08 Windsor ES Harlem Joe Filisko & Eric Noden 400
April-08 Johnson ES Rockford Joe Filisko & Eric Noden 340
April-08 Highland ES Meridian Joe Filisko & Eric Noden 200
October-08 Winnebago MS Winnebago Fruteland Jackson 150
October-08 McNair ES Winnebago Fruteland Jackson 250
October-08 Lewis Lemon ES Rockford Fruteland Jackson 250
October-08 Thompson ES Rockford Fruteland Jackson 400
April-09 Harlem MS Harlem Westside Andy & Glenn Davis 300
April-09 Rock Cut ES Harlem Westside Andy & Glenn Davis 300
April-09 Eastland MS Eastland Westside Andy & Glenn Davis 300
April-09 Pearl City ES Pearl City Westside Andy & Glenn Davis 350
May-09 Marsh ES Harlem Eric Noden 200
May-09 Marsh ES Harlem Eric Noden 200
May-09 Marsh ES Harlem Eric Noden 200
November-09 RESA MA Rockford Joe Filisko & Eric Noden 450
November-09 RESA MA Rockford Joe Filisko & Eric Noden 450
November-09 Spring Creek ES Rockford Joe Filisko & Eric Noden 350
November-09 Montessori Magnet ES Rockford Joe Filisko & Eric Noden 340
April-10 Ralston ES Harlem Billy Flynn 250
April-10 King ES Rockford Barrelhouse Chuck 250
April-10 Monroe Center ES Meridian Barrelhouse Chuck 450
April-10 Byron MS Byron Billy Flynn 370
Total Attendees 23,315

Thank you for your interest!
Please help us support keeping the blues alive!