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Blues In The Schools (BITS) is an arts program fostered by The Blues Foundation
of Memphis, Tennessee. Various affiliates such as our Blues Lovers United of San
Diego, (BLUSD) which is a non-profit, California 501(c)3 corporation, are
delivering performances, workshops, and lesson plans designed to expose and
inspire our youth to the power and cultural significance of this uniquely
American musical form. Our schools have been greatly impacted by significant
budget/program reductions for the arts in general and music in particular – this deficit of basic arts education only serves to emphasize the importance of in-school programs like BITS.
BITS is funded by BLUSD and its members, artists, volunteers, various granting organizations, school budgets, community organizations, and PTA groups. BITS is actively seeking corporate sponsorship for program development and expansion.
Primarily through live music and storytelling, singers and musicians relate elements of the blues to American and African-American culture and history, while delivering concepts of audience involvement, rhythm and teamwork, music appreciation, and even the therapeutic effects of music. The presentations entertain and demonstrate how the blues is fundamental to popular American music. Underlying messages of: the importance of personal expression; racial tolerance and understanding; truth telling; freedom from oppression; and, creatively transforming life’s challenges into personal growth are conveyed to the student audiences through this rich material.
BLUSD draws on a pool of San Diego and visiting blues musicians for its live BITS shows. To foster continuity and academic quality, BITS developed a Presentation Guide for its leaders. Orientation and reference materials, and a Lesson Plan are provided to educators in advance of each BITS performance, and a special Activity Sheet is given to each elementary student following the program for fun and review. A complimentary BITS-logo refrigerator-magnet is also provided.
Teachers are encouraged to be creative and connect blues appreciation to specific topics within American History (post civil war events, the African-American experience, 20th Century Industrialization and Urbanization, blues cross-over from “race identified” to “All-American” music in the 50’s and 60’s,) as well as to other academic areas such as Communications, Fine Arts, Music Appreciation, Social Studies, and Geography. Credentialed and certificated professionals are developing grade-level specific classroom material that supports California state educational standards and thematic units of academic subject/content areas with particular relevance for the school populations and cultures of San Diego.
You can download these two documents (in PDF format) for additional information:
BITS Program Flyer
BITS Lesson Plan - Concert Etiquette
BITS Lesson Plan - Beats & Rhythm
BITS Artists' Presentation Guide
Support BLUSD ~ Support BITS ~
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