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 on Around Chicago at Esmond 2:23
Blues Camp w/Ana Belaval at Esmond (1:13)
Blues Camp Florida
Blues Camp Florida Short News Clip
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.
Assessment Measures
Click here for the Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge Standards we use.
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Pre-Course Evaluation
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Oral and Written Quizzes
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Homework Assignments
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Class Participation
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Rehearsal Performance Prep
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Concert Performances Evaluation
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Final Presentation Project
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Exit Course Evaluation
Goals
• Keep Blues youthful and exciting, while preserving it and building on the past.
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Introduce this American art form to new audiences, globally.
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Provide Blues Kids with the basic skills (musically, socially, emotionally and linguistically) necessary to play proficiently and effectively in a music community.
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Promote digital learning and embrace technology.
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Introduce students to the art of live professional performance.
Objectives
• Introduce the history of American music through the lens of the Blues.
• 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 with a focus on the future.
Learning Outcomes
For Student Musicians To:
• Improve music literacy by playing by ear and reading tabs + chord charts.
• Communicate using cross-generational/regional “Blues” language.
• Use proper dynamics to ensure appropriate volume levels for songs.
• Accompany vocalist with proper volume control, fills and chords.
• Critique and self-evaluate performances and provide feedback to others.
• Perform as “one” in an ensemble setting.
• Use critical thinking skills and collaborate with others.
• Demonstrate basic Blues patterns such as 8-bar and 12-bar Blues.
• Demonstrate the call-and-response.
• Play songs effectively without guitar or piano solos.
• Apply practical skills learned in class in a culminating activity on stage.
• Perform a 15 to 20 minute set of music at a professional level with confidence.
• Demonstrate the art of the groove.