Water Front Blues Festival Educational Programs

Date: 12 Jul 2003 11:52:47 -0700
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.blues-l
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Greetings All
One of the things not mentioned in the numerous posts regarding the WFBF
was the small side stage run by Ethos Staff (Houesehold / Workshop Stage).
Ethos also provided a double decker bus with a kid's music lab that was
used by over 500 children during the course of the festival. That was THE
ONLY area dedicated to kids, and the small stage was dedicated to
workshops, preservation efforts and some kid's programming. Ethos Assistant
Director Adam Reid and Ethos Steward LynnAnn Hyde ran sound,did all the set
up and break down, and also provided the following presentations:
Piano Workshop for Kids (25 keyboards set up for kids)
Harmonica Workshop for Kids (120 harmonicas distributed to kids for FREE
w/lesson)
Piano Clinic for Kids (same as above)
Blues In Schools Presentation (provided twice for a packed crowd)
If any of you on list are concerned about the future of Blues music, please
turn your attention to some of the fine musicians who have dedicated a
portion of their performances to children. I know some of the artists in
this area would be greatly interested in networking with other like minded
musicians and organisations. Each month in Portland OR Stu Kinzel, LynnAnn
Hyde, Adam Reid and Charles Lewis set up and provide at least 3
presentations for kids as Blues In Schools or Intro To American Roots
Music. The standard audience size is 700 children.
For smaller groups (like at the WFBF) they provide guitars and harmonicas,
teach kids how to tune a guitar to open G tuning, how to play in G tuning,
and how to play simple harmonica lines in the "Blues" fashion (cross harp)
and use Leadbelly song "In the Pines" as the example. Actual Blues with a
big message.
There are archived articles regarding other BITS programs at the Cascade
Blues Association office and (should be )on their web site.
Other fine presentations at the Ethos stage included Phil Upchurch, Henry
Butler, Paul deLay, Joe McMurrian, Kinzel & Hyde (x2) Dick Waterman's Photo
Exhibition and many others. Portlander DK Stewart provided piano
accompaniment for several acts for no pay, as did many other performers
interested in reaching young people with the sound of the Blues.
Ethos Staff members were NOT paid, and they brought their own sound system.
It is my understanding that Ethos received a per diem stipend, and the
staffers running the stage elected to donate their pay back to Ethos Music
Lesson Scholarship Program.That program enables any child the ability to
study music and rent an instrument.
Rex (Richard) Kharz (Keyser)
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