1 Topic by BansheeUK (edited by BansheeUK 2013-01-15 06:51:51)

  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,615

Topic: Blues In Schools - How do You make it happen?

I've heard a lot about this over the last couple of years and since I work in a school (11-16s) I wondered why not. I've tried organising taking some students out to gigs, but between finding age-friendly venues and the mountain of paperwork you have to go through these days, its next to impossible; its easier bringing the bands in.

So, if you're on tour between now and mid-May or mid-June to mid-July and you're passing through Durham, we're midway between Durham and Darlington, handy for the A1 and A167. We have a decent, recently installed P.A. system and not a bad lighting rig and a fair sized stage. Any takers, drop me a PM and we'll discuss dates and £$£$£$.....please.....

Mike

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...
  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: Blues In Schools - How do You make it happen?

BansheeUK wrote:

I've heard a lot about this over the last couple of years and since I work in a school (11-16s) I wondered why not. I've tried organising taking some students out to gigs, but between finding age-friendly venues and the mountain of paperwork you have to go through these days, its next to impossible; its easier bringing the bands in.

So, if you're on tour between now and mid-May or mid-June to mid-July and you're passing through Durham, we're midway between Durham and Darlington, handy for the A1 and A167. We have a decent, recently installed P.A. system and not a bad lighting rig and a fair sized stage. Any takers, drop me a PM and we'll discuss dates and £$£$£$.....please.....

Mike

Know what you mean about paperwork, I've virtually given up in trying to take students(16-19) anywhere for the dreaded risk assessments etc etc etc..... sad

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)

3 Reply by andre wittebroek (edited by andre wittebroek 2013-01-15 16:53:01)

  • From: Netherlands.
  • Registered: 2006-04-27
  • Posts: 2,186

Re: Blues In Schools - How do You make it happen?

Hi Mike, maybe I can help you, I do a BITS at my school since 2008. (wrote about it in the forum before). I started because of Joe Bonamassa. He was boardmember od f the Blues Foundation in the USA and told me about the BITSprojects. As I am a teacher I asked if he would like to do a BITS at my school and he the first thing he said was: Of course. I know Joe since 2004 and we became friends so it was easy to contact him about it. Joe did the first in 2008, Marcel Scherpenzeel (Bands of Friends). Michael Burks and Ryan McGarvey followed. They play for free, only hotel and food is for the school.
We have a project called The Blues and the students 14/15 years of age have to work on it. They get a mark too, it's part of the music lessons. (I'm not a music teacher). The musicteacher works on the project. At the end the artist comes as a bonus! Students make questions and the artist answers All artists do it in their own way, some talk more. others play more. But they all tell how they got into the blues, their influences, how touring is etc.
I always invite press like  radio, TV, newspaper if possible and for the artist it is great promo.Joe's BITS was broadcasted on Dutch national TV and he wasn't so wellknown by a lot of people by then. The hardest thing is the touringschedule and to connect it with the schooldates. This year I had Joanne Shaw Taylor, all was arranged and it turned out that the date February 11th was impossible:schoolholidays. I wrote the holiday wrong in my diary! Stupid me!
Now the Dutch Blues Foundation wants to set up   BITS in the netherlands and they came to me because I am the only one who does this in Europe, as far as I know. I explained them how we do it and their reaction was: They way you do it is perfect, we go for that too. Bluesproject, marks, artist at the end. Now they try to get money for it from the Government. I never got money, just did it, started it because of my friend: Joe!

4 Reply by andre wittebroek (edited by andre wittebroek 2013-01-15 17:13:56)

  • From: Netherlands.
  • Registered: 2006-04-27
  • Posts: 2,186

Re: Blues In Schools - How do You make it happen?

Forgot to tell you: I write for www.bluesmagazine.nl and every interview I ask the artist if they would like to do a BITS at my school and for free. All say yes. On the list so far:
Joanne Shaw Taylor, Ana Popovic, Lance Lopez, Pat travers, Hans Theessink, Warren Haynes, Eric Steckel, Ben Poole, Jimmy Bowskill, Stoney Curtis, Virgil and the Accelerators, Henrik Freischlader, Timo Gross, Ronald Tscakounte, Philip Sayce
I must admit that when I tell them that it started with Joe Bonamassa: it helps!

  • From: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
  • Registered: 2011-08-12
  • Posts: 4,615

Re: Blues In Schools - How do You make it happen?

PSmith1946 wrote:

Know what you mean about paperwork, I've virtually given up in trying to take students(16-19) anywhere for the dreaded risk assessments etc etc etc..... sad

Yeah, Risk assessments, CRBs, Insurences etc. Back in the 80s I used to run a "Rock Club" and take small numbers of students to shows round Newcastle - Queen at St James was a highlight, even managed to take some VI Formers down to Donnington, as was.

Andre - thanks for the guidance, I have a couple of open-invitations with bands out there, but as you say, it's balancing thier tour schedules with school activities. It seems every other week our hall is being used for exams etc and the one "drawback" with UK bands is that they mostly do gigs on a week-end. With several very good venues within 15 miles of my school, it's got to be worth a go.

I'm not a music teacher either, but talking with our Dept of Music, Blues is big topic in the subject area, and to get a band in, to play and either do a question/answer session or maybe an instrument "masterlass" with a handful of students, that's got to be an invaluable experience.

So far, I've had a couple of interested responses to chase up - Thanks those bands - it will happen even.

Mike

When life gives you lemons; don't make lemonade.
Give back the lemons.  Why were the lemons free?  What's wrong with the lemons?
Do Not trust the lemons...