Blues Camp Chicago

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

Buddy Guy (Click to see photo of the two)

"Unlike Jazz camps, camps that focus on the Blues are a rarity.

[Fernando] Jones’ Blues Camps have become an annual rite of Summer."

Downbeat (Click for article)

"Few Chicago Blues musicians have done more to nurture

the next generation of talent than guitarist Fernando Jones."

Chicago Tribune (Click for article)

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Welcome to Blues Camp Chicago

Blues Camp Chicago Schedule (Download)

at Columbia College Chicago's Music Center

1014 S Michigan Avenue

Sunday, July 7 thru Friday, July 12th, 2024

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Blues Camp International is supported by and brought to you in part by: Knotty Luxe Arts Foundation, Mary Barnes Donnelley Family Foundation, Lefort-Martin Fund, Tom Liebman, DCASE, NBC 5 Chicago, Venue OverDrive, PERT Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Microbusiness Recovery Grant Program, Chicago Federation of Musicians (Local 10-208), Rotary Club of Chicago, Facebook / Network for Good, Navy Pier Chicago, D’Addario Foundation, The Chicago (IL) Metro Chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, M.U.S.T Foundation, Bobbie’s Screen Printing, and Bikes & Music.

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Blues Kids Foundation and its Blues Angels are proud to be on the cutting edge of Blues andragogy and pedagogy with Fernando Jones' 15th Annual Blues Camp International on the campus of Columbia College Chicago in the Music Center. Local, national and international student musicians ages 12 to 18 can be involved with Blues Camp by auditioning for placement between now and July 7th. Placement is for beginner, intermediate and advanced level vocalists and instrumentalist. To find out how, visit BluesKids.com/EarlyBird or call us at (779) BluesMe.

We are not looking for the best "Blues Kid" players in the world. We are looking, however, for the Blues Kid who wants to be in a music program with like-minded others. Here are the Kennedy Center ArtsEdge Standards we use.

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.

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Blues Kids Foundation Friends

WGN TV, One Brick Foundation, Thinking Computers, Downbeat Magazine, the Society Incorporated, The Chicago Chapter for the Arts, DCASE, Reggie’s Rock Club, Edward G. Irvin Foundation, Music Box Foundation, and A Sound Education.

Blues Camp Education Partners

Columbia College Chicago, B.B. King Museum and Interpretive Center (MS), Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center, KOP Mentoring Network (FL), Tokyo School of Music and Dance, Chicago Public Schools (Metcalfe, Hendricks, Esmond, Powell Paideia Academy, Pershing and Owen), Delta Arts Center (NC), and ETA Creative Arts Foundation.

Download Blues Camp Documents + Forms (Click "Blue")

Blues Camp Brochure

Blues Camp Chicago Schedule

Blues Kid Audition Form

https://form.jotform.com/92940644380157

The “How your Blues Kid will get to and from Blues Camp” Form

https://form.jotform.com/221799155252057

Blues Camp Emergency Form and Handbook

https://form.jotform.com/231825941847162

Parent Volunteer Form

https://form.jotform.com/221769222865160

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Blues Camp Song Pool Links

Here are Youtube and SoundCloud links.
1.    Identify the song selections for your group.
2.    Identify song links on this list (list may not be in order).
3.    Click the link below the song or paste it into the URL.
Listen, study, practice and learn the song.
If a song is missing, feel free to look it up on iTunes or YouTube.
Do not email us with song selections. Each list is created based on members, instrumentation, and skill level mastery.

The cool thing about the Blues is that it is based on the oral tradition. This camp is designed to encourage and developing the skill of playing by ear. In most cases, there will be no sheet music . . . so encourage them to develop their ear by “really” listening. However, there may be tabs and charts online they can use, but we are stepping up our game this year. If they can’t find a song, no worries, they can learn it with their own personal private lessons’ instructor.

Entry Level

The Funky Chicken by Rufus Thomas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFVrOW8TnJM

The Mess Around by Ray Charles
http://youtu.be/iNe5npkid-s

Walkin’ the Dog by Rufus Thomas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6AZNywvF-s

Baby What You Want Me to Do by Jimmy Reed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pVvQIMlSDI

A Tisket a Tasket by Ella Fitzgerald
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUYpUogn91U
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=amgeW6HqaVo

Time is Tight by Booker T. & The MGs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbBcXvKvB08

Walked from the West Side by Foree Superstar
https://soundcloud.com/fernando-jones

Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZRaK0j8DMs

Bo Diddley by Bo Diddley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HICsPNm2ARY

Let the Good Times Roll by Louis Jordan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdQJ3Q0uhYE

I Want Money by Barrett Strong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5KU34DrrPI

Intermediate

Last Night by the Mar-Keys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX5T9GvSnbY

Since You’ve Been Gone by Aretha Franklin
http://youtu.be/LHVJU4Spe7c

In Love with The Blues by Marilynn Claire
https://soundcloud.com/fernando-jones

You’ve Got What it Takes by Dinah Washington & Brook Benton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37cH9khXYdM

Thrill is Gone by BB King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fk2prKnYnI

Sunny by Bobby Hebb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbUl_E-R91Q

What Does It Take by Junior Walker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvNGwUAcRpU

Oil and Water by Nellie Travis

https://soundcloud.com/fernando-jones/oil-and-water-blues-kids?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=BsDX5t5nGP0

Oye Como Va

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NsJ84YV1oA

Who do You Love by Bo Diddley
http://youtu.be/MAGoqMZRLB4

Rescue Me by Fontella Bass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LHjcn2KjH0

Messin’ with the Kid by Junior Wells
http://youtu.be/X-9_hsLhX0w

Advanced

I Want a Pretty Woman by Barkin’ Bill
https://soundcloud.com/fernando-jones

Dime and a Quarter by Nellie Travis
https://soundcloud.com/fernando-jones

Suavecito by Malo
http://youtu.be/VGfLZPmAilo

Green Onions by Booker T. & The MGs
http://youtu.be/Jbf1Vvw9rjo

Smokin’ Gun by Robert Cray
http://youtu.be/43S_NDOaHJk

All Blues by Miles Davis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIfdYs8WErM

Stone Rollin' Dash by Raphael Sadiq

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHyalVRUXrA

Pass the Peas by The JBs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUkfiLjooxs

Oil and Water by Nellie Travis

https://soundcloud.com/fernando-jones/oil-and-water-blues-kids?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=BsDX5t5nGP0

Mississippi Hippie by Fernando Jones
https://soundcloud.com/fernando-jones

Smoke Stack Lightnin' by Howlin' Wolf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ri7TcukAJ8

Chicago (Has Got Everything You Need) by Fernando Jones
https://soundcloud.com/fernando-jones

Hide Away by Freddie King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HICsPNm2ARY

I Cried Like a Baby by KoKo Taylor

https://youtu.be/5_3KAjsigzs

Brochure

If you'd like to make us your charity of choice click the secure "Donate" button.

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 the 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.