Blues in the Schools Kicking Off Mid-March

Blues in the Schools Kicking Off Mid-March

The New York State Blues Festival is pleased to announce our new Blues in the Schools (BITS) program, set to kick-off in area school districts around mid-March. The initial participating schools are: East Syracuse-Minoa, West Genesee, Syracuse City Schools, and Skaneateles Schools. Education is part of our mission and we are happy to introduce the importance of the Blues in American culture to children in the fourth grade.

We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Dean as the instructor for this program. A Certified Teaching Artist, Kevin has toured extensively throughout the US and the UK as a drummer with numerous artists, including Heart and Josh Groban. Kevin was also a drummer in the Syracuse Brigadier Drum Corp as well as the drum instructor for the Redhouse Rock Camp for seven years. He is a member of several bands and teaches percussion privately, in addition to his “Summer Drummers” summer camp, group workshops, classrooms, and band rooms. He uses percussion and rhythm throughout his class, resulting in an engaging program for his students.

Kevin will draw from his vast knowledge of rhythm and beats to create an interactive classroom environment. Using the Bo Diddley beat, clapping on 2 and 4, finding the downbeat, blues shuffle, half-time shuffle, jazz swing, tribal beats, Kevin will ensure the students have an enjoyable educational experience.

Integration with the school curriculum will include:

• MATH: Use drumming and blues rhythms to engage students
• SOCIAL STUDIES: Give context to the beginning of the blues in America from Mississippi Delta to Chicago.
• MULTIMEDIA: Use of photos, graphics, short video clips that teach about the blues and also tie in footage of recent New York State Blues Festivals, so the students are able to see that the festival is actually in their own area every summer.

We are excited to have Kevin on board for this important outreach to keep the blues alive and growing with Central New York’s younger generation.