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Mission

Blues Kids Foundation was established to preserve, perform and promote the Blues among America's youth, parents and educators under the tutelage of highly qualified instructors, globally. Our focus includes Social & Emotional Learning, music literacy, pedagogy & andragogy, career readiness and Music as a Second Language. Blues Kids Foundation is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible. We do not discriminate. All a student musician has to do is pass the audition to participate. That's it!

Unlike Jazz and Classical Music education programs, respectfully, there are far fewer funding sources, resources and endowments readily available when it comes to supporting nonprofits with a focus on Blues pedagogy. Click here for the Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge Standards we use.

By making Blues Kids Foundation your charity of choice and pledging your tax-deductible contribution, today, you will help ensure cultural and social and emotional enrichment opportunities for Blues Kids. Your support helps sustain current programs and establish new ones for student musicians, parents and community members. Music programs, in general, are too often undervalued and underfunded.

"Donors can deduct contributions they make to you [Blues Kids Foundation] as provided in IRC Section 170. You are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts under IRC Sections 55, 2106, and 522."

Impact

Each Summer we present Fernando Jones' Blues Camp in different parts of the United States and Europe. Though Blues Camp is free, each Blues Kid attendee receives a tuition waiver scholarship valued between $1,500.00 and $2,500.00. This “priceless,” fun-filled, experience is designed to impact the life of the "Blues Kid" who simply wants to experience this cultural enrichment opportunity in an organic and nurturing environment with like-minded others. Here are some of our proclamations.

 

Inception

When the Blues Kids of America brand was created on the Southside of Chicago, in 1989 (Est. 1990), it was founded on the principle of having a local area program that could be scalable, internationally. In 2010, twenty one years later, Blues Camp did that.

 

Photos on this page and the Home page by Glenn Kaupert

Blues Camp International
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Blues Camp on Around Chicago at Esmond 2:23

Blues Camp on Around Chicago at Esmond 2:23

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Blues Camp w/Ana Belaval at Esmond (1:13)

Blues Camp w/Ana Belaval at Esmond (1:13)

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Blues Camp Florida

Blues Camp Florida

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Blues Camp Florida Short News Clip

Blues Camp Florida Short News Clip

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Scholarships

The Blues Kids Foundation provides tuition waivers scholarships for all of the student musicians (ages 12 - 18) who pass their audition and are admitted into our Blues Camps, globally. In 2016, we will have over 200 Blues Kids participating in Blues Camp in The United States, England, Italy and Japan. 

 

Adult Education

In keeping with our mission, we also facilitate a professional development and team building workshops for educators, parents and civic groups. Our clientele includes Nike, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame + Museum, the National Alliance of Black School Educators and the Smithsonian Institute.

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​Assessment Measures

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

  • 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 it and building on the past.