Blues Camp in Chicago, IL

"[Fernando] you are one in a million trying to get to the bottom of the barrel of the Blues.”

Blues Kids Foundation, Knotty Luxe Arts Foundation and the Music Center at Columbia College Chicago are proud to be on the cutting edge of Blues andragogy and pedagogy with Fernando Jones' 14th Annual Blues Camp International. Local, national and international student musicians ages 12 to 18 can audition for placement between now and June 15, 2023. Placement is for beginner, intermediate and advanced level vocalists and instrumentalist. We do not discriminate. All a student musician has to do is pass the audition to participate. That's it!

We are not looking for the best "Blues Kid" players in the world. We are looking for the Blues Kid who wants to be in this program. However, they must audition with one of the songs below, first, not one of their choosing. Then we will do our best to place them by their skillset according to our Blues Camp ensemble instrumentation need(s) and position availability. Here are the Kennedy Center ArtsEdge Standards we use. Thanks for making us your charity of choice.

For more information on how you and your Blues Kid can be part of this experience visit BluesKids.com/EarlyBird or email us at Info@BluesKids.com or call us (312) 369-3229.

The Blues Kids Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. We were established to preserve, perform and promote the Blues among America's youth, parents and educators under the tutelage of highly qualified instructors. Our focus is on education, literacy, social emotional learning and music as a second language.

Media Contact:

James McMurray (773) 519-4843 • Info@BluesKids.com

Our Structure

Assessment Measures

Click here for the Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge Standards that we use.

Assessment Measures

Pre-Course Evaluation
Oral and Written Quizzes
Homework Assignments
Class Participation
Rehearsal Performance Prep
Concert Performances Evaluation
Final Presentation Project
Exit Course Evaluation

Goals

• Keep Blues youthful and exciting, while preserving and building on the past.

• Provide Blues Kids with the basic skills (musically, socially, emotionally and linguistically) necessary to play proficiently and effectively in a music community.

• Introduce this indigenous American art form to new audiences.

• Use critical thinking skills, while collaborating with others.

• Apply practical skills learned in class in culminating activities on stage.

• Promote digital learning and embrace technology.

• Contributions to the future of the Blues musically, socially and culturally

• Present the next generation of musicians as scholars and proficient players.

• Introduce students to the art of live professional performance.

Objectives

• Introduce the history of American music through the lens of the Blues.

• Keep the Blues youthful and exciting, while preserving the past.

• Represent the next generation of Blues artist as scholars and proficient players + vocalists.

• Learn the importance of the Blues from a sociological and historical perspective focusing on the future.