The ABP is a proud sponsor
of the Alabama State License Tag Legislative Committee's Support the Arts, tags. Please consider supporting the arts in Alabama (or your state) through your local Probate's office by purchasing a tag that shows that you support the Arts! Funding from the Alabama Legislative Tag Committee goes toward the funding of the arts in Alabama!
The Alabama
Blues Project
is a proud
member of
Alabama Blues Project
712 25th Avenue
Northport, AL 35476
Phone (205) 752-6263
Fax (205) 752-6663 info@alabamablues.org
Through a balanced mixture of performance, lecture, and participation, students are introduced to the historical and cultural significance of blues music.
This 45 to 60-minute program examines the blues from its West African roots, through slavery times and Reconstruction, to modern Chicago style blues and beyond. Students learn how slaves struggled to keep their music alive even though their native languages, instruments, and religions were banned on southern plantations. Students are shown how African melodic and rhythmic influences survived through spirituals and work songs, and how the call and response pattern, also with African roots, continues to be found in many musical styles today.
In post slavery times, with few personal possessions, African Americans continued to expand their musical traditions and sometime in the late 19th century the blues evolved and came to be played all over the Southern states. At this time, when sharecropping replaced slavery as the system for cotton farming and most African Americans lived in rural poverty, the early "Country Blues" was played at house parties, family gatherings and juke joints. The blues musicians played on home-made instruments such as the “didley bo,” washboards, jugs, washtubs and cowbells, or bought inexpensive instruments such as acoustic guitars and harmonicas. The ABP Band demonstrates some of these instruments.
Students and performers follow the "Country Style” blues as it moved, along with the Great Migration, to Northern cities like Chicago and Detroit to become urbanized and electrified. Students learn how blues music impacted jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll, as well as country, rap, and hip hop and blues is the roots of contemporary music. Students are introduced to some of the numerous important blues musicians from Alabama like Big Mama Thornton, Dinah Washington, and W. C. Handy.
"An Introduction to the Blues" always features an outstanding guest Alabama blues musician who performs with the Alabama Blues Project Band and talks with the audience about life as a professional blues musician. Previously featured guest artists include Willie King, Little Jimmy Reed, Eddie Kirkland and Carroline Shines.
Music instruction, learning blues history, and
exploring the blues through the visual and performing arts.
Audience: Grades 4-12
Time: During school hours, as an after-school program, or as a summer program. 3 – 4 hours per session. Number of sessions per week and number of weeks vary and can be customized according to individual requirements.
Music and Performance The center point of an ABP Artist Residency is the hands-on musical instruction provided to participants of all grade levels. Working in small groups, students are given instruction by professional musicians in playing their choice of either blues harmonica, guitar, percussion, or vocals. Each residency culminates in a “blues extravaganza” performance by the student blues band. We encourage schools to incorporate the blues in a school wide theme and integrate the blues into the school curriculum. From creative writing, social studies, to art we have all kinds of wonderful examples of how schools can take an interdisplinary approach to integrating blues other subject areas during an ABP residency. The final extravaganza performance can also include an exhibition of student artwork or other blues-themed activities.
Blues History
It is impossible to teach the history of American blues music without learning about American history, so throughout each residency students experience an in-depth exploration of American history through the lens of the Blues. The six week curriculum follows a time-line of blues from it's African roots and slavery, through the civil war, sharecropping, the Great Migration, urbanization, and electrification of the music, to the birth of rock and roll. In addition to demonstrations, audio and video materials, each week is also devoted to learning about a particular Alabama blues musician. Students learn a musician’s biographical information as well as their recording histories. Discussions with students focus on the cultural heritage of the blues and how blues music with this blending of influences is the root of contemporary popular music. The ABP also works closely with teachers to integrate the blues theme into the wider school curriculum, especially art, creative writing, history and social studies.
Other Arts Components
These residencies can also combine with other creative disciplines such as poetry, photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, quilting, creative writing, theatre and dance. Students choose one of the additional creative components offered, and work with an experienced artist to create art that incorporates the blues theme.
Painting, Drawing and Sculpture
This component introduces students to the basics of drawing, painting or sculpture, depending on the art instructor’s choice. While learning about and looking at images of blues artists, students get to experiment with drawing, painting or sculpture, learn to define the themes they want to express, and create a finished work of art to exhibit at the end of the program.
Photography
The photography component provides students first hand experience in working with a professional photographer. As students begin to relate to the blues, they also become actively involved in documenting their experience on film. The instructor provides them with an introduction to basic traditional photography, the camera and its operation, film developing, digital photography, printing, as well as shooting and lighting techniques.
Theatre, Storytelling or Dance
Theatre, storytelling and dance are vital aspects of spiritual and cultural life, both in Africa and America. African American contributions to the performing arts has taken many forms and had a great impact on contemporary theatre, storytelling and dance today. This component teaches students to recognize the importance of both verbal and nonverbal creative expression. They are introduced to correct terminology for the performing arts and how they are used as communicative tools for feelings, dramatic themes and social issues.
The ABP's After-School Blues Camp gives youth a positive way to express emotions through blues music. The program is a mixture of hands on musical instruction taught by professional musicians combined with a life-skills curriculum along with a blues history lesson. Students have an opportunity to; explore Alabama’s rich blues heritage and learning directly from some of the state’s many accomplished blues musicians. Students are taught at a wide range of proficiency levels and are encouraged to build their improvisation and performance skills.
During camp, students learn to play blues music on their choice of voice, guitar, drums or harmonica. By practicing and performing together, Blues Camp students learn teamwork, social skills, discipline, and improve their self-confidence. The camp culminates with an Open House performance, in which the students are able to showcase their skills for the public. Our 2008 spring After-School Blues Camp Open House was a "Blues Extravaganza" at the Bama Theatre that drew a crowd of over 400 and also featured special guests Homemade Jamz and Sam Lay!
The Blues Camp is open to all children from the age of 8 to 18. The ABP makes a special effort to attract at-risk children, and partners with the Boys & Girls Club of West Alabama, Tuscaloosa YMCA, Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, Tuscaloosa United Methodist Children’s Home, DHR, YMCA and Brewer Porch Children’s Center. This amazing program is also open to all community children of all backgrounds and experience levels. It is our desire to provide children with a rare opportunity to learn about this important American art form in a diverse, safe and nurturing environment.
Tuscaloosa News Video of the
2008 Open House Blues Extravaganza
NEW: 2008 After-School Blues Camp PHOTO GALLERIES!
The Alabama Blues Project Summertime Blues Camp is an exciting week-long program that combines music lessons with blues art workshops. In our 2007 summer camp, campers spent the morning creating original drums, shakers, posters, backdrops and a group sculpture. Our art instructors were the world renowned folk artists Lonnie Holley, Miz Thang and local artist and educator Tana Samuels-Fair.
In the afternoon, students learned an instrument of their choice - guitar, harmonica, drums or vocals. Master classes were also offered in drums, guitar and singing to our more advanced students.
Campers divided into bands in which they gave themselves their own blues nicknames and wrote a song as a group. Instructors as well as guest performers such as Carroline Shines and Willie King performed at lunch, as well as bringing students on the stage to join them. We also had a surprise visit from Birmingham based drummers Foxxy Fatts and Stephan Hundley.
The week concluded with an open house "Blues Cafe" featuring performances by the campers in which friends, family and the wider community were invited to help celebrate the blues art and music created by our wonderful students. ABP Summertime Blues Camp is open to children between the ages of 8 and 18.
The Project was composed of eleven students who have now graduated from the the Alabama Blues Project blues camp program in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The band included several members who joined the first ABP After-School and Summertime Blues Camps in 1998, as well as more recent additions. The band met once a week for rehearsals with professional blues musician instructors and regularly performed at community events, including Cityfest, Kentuck Art Festival, Magic City Blues Festival, Market Street Festival, Tuscaloosa Crawfish Festival, and the University of Alabama ’s Earthfest.
The Project was formed from our most advanced and proficient students who attended blues camp. The ABP helped give these budding young musicians a strong musical foundation with weekly rehearsals, song writing workshops, master classes and also a CD recording project which was part of their 2007 graduating summer camp. As well as traditional blues songs, The Project has incorporated original songs and hip hop into their blues repertoire. Band members were thrilled and inspired to have been able to meet personally two of their important and long-time ABP sponsors - Alligator Records owner and producer Bruce Iglauer and word-renowned musician Bonnie Raitt.
We have been thankful to see that some of the Project members have chosen to mentor younger up and coming ABP blues students. There are so many talented musicians in this group and we wish them the very best as they fly the ABP coop and find their own wings there in the world of music.
Magic City Blues Fest
Freedom Creek Festival
Evening of Art & Blues
The Project with Tinsley Ellis
after opening for him at
the Bama Theatre, Tuscaloosa
The Project performing at
Alabama Public Television
The Project with long-time
ABP Supporter Bonnie Raitt
Following in the footsteps of The Project is a new Alabama Blues Project intermediate band. They were formed from our up-and-coming star musicians who have been participating in beginning blues camp. The 2008 Spring After-School Blues Camp was their first sessions of practice. Their debut performance was at the 2008 Tuscaloosa Crawfish & Blues Festival in April and they captizated the crowd at the 2008 Open House "Blues Extravaganza" as well! We expect great things from this group as well.
DEBUT PERFORMANCE AT THE TUSCALOOSA CRAWFISH & BLUES FESTIVAL
The ABP's After-School Blues Camp gives youth a positive way to express emotions through blues music. The program is a mixture of hands on musical instruction taught by professional musicians combined with a life-skills curriculum along with a blues history lesson. Students have an opportunity to; explore Alabama’s rich blues heritage and learning directly from some of the state’s many accomplished blues musicians. Students are taught at a wide range of proficiency levels and are encouraged to build their improvisation and performance skills. 
