Blues in the Schools
The Toronto Blues Society Presents: Blues in the Schools
What is Blues in the Schools?
Since 1997, the Toronto Blues Society has offered Blues in the Schools, a unique program that brings professional blues musicians into schools across Toronto and the GTA. Through engaging workshops and live performances, students are introduced to the rich traditions and history of blues music.
The program provides students with a rare opportunity to experience live blues music firsthand, while also engaging them in a hands-on musical journey—whether through songwriting or playing instruments tailored to their abilities.
Impact of Blues in the Schools
Blues in the Schools has positively influenced students’ lives in several areas:
Exposure to the Arts: Students interact with some of Canada’s top performing artists while discovering the foundational music genre that underpins much of 20th-century popular music.
Creative Outlet: Songwriting workshops foster creative expression and give students the opportunity to craft something meaningful, sparking a lifelong passion for music, writing, and the arts. This creative engagement also enhances students’ problem-solving skills across other subjects. In addition, playing music serves as a therapeutic outlet, particularly for managing the stresses of urban life.
Expanded Career Horizons: By introducing students to the blues, the program nurtures young talent, helping to plant the seeds for a future audience and generation of blues artists. Many participants cite Blues in the Schools as their first exposure to the genre and the spark that ignited their love for music and self-expression.
Enhanced Self-Image: Blues musicians come from diverse backgrounds, offering students relatable, realistic role models who challenge the glossy, commercialized ideals often seen in the media. This representation helps students envision more inclusive paths to success.
Cultural Understanding and Tolerance: With its roots in oppression, Black and Indigenous culture, the blues serves as a powerful tool for teaching students about overcoming adversity, racism, and poverty. The genre’s history also fosters greater understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity.
Program Options
1. History of the Blues Show: A full-band (2 – 5 members) performance ideal for assembly settings in gymnasiums or cafeterias. The show includes live music, a history of the blues, and a slideshow. This can be tailored to fit a 45-minute to one-hour time slot, with the possibility of multiple shows in a single day.
2. Classroom Session: One or two blues musicians/educators lead a 30–60-minute acoustic-style performance and lecture for smaller groups in a classroom setting. The session ends with an interactive Q&A.
3. Week-Long Residency: Blues musicians/educators take over music classes for an entire week, guiding students through playing and writing blues songs while exploring the genre’s historical significance.
4. Custom Combination: Schools can opt for a blend of the above options, such as a full-band show paired with workshops, to best suit their schedule and needs.
5. Black History Show: Similar to the full-band assembly, but with a focus on the evolution of Black music and Canadian Black history. This show delves into how the blues originated in the plantations, the Underground Railroad, and how laws and segregation shaped the development of the genre in Canada.
With help from Ontario Trillium Foundation and Toronto Musicians Association
The Toronto Blues Society has been able to run The Blues in the School Program at these schools over the past few years
Downtown Alternative School
Rosedale Heights
Jackman Avenue PS
St John xxiii catholic school
Roy H. Crosby P.S.
The Study Academy
Downsview Secondary school
The Student School
Nelson Mandela Park PS
St Clare Catholic School
Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute
St Thomas Aquinas
Deer Park PS Keswick
Valley Farm PS Pickering
Maple Leaf Public School
Community Schools, Librairies, Theatres
Community Music School – Blues Guitar
Regent Park School of music
Toronto Public Library – York Woods Branch – March break Week long Guitar Class
Massey Hall Call & Response Youth Program
Newroads Theatre
List of musicians who are part of the program
Paul Reddick & Kyle Ferguson
Feedback from the shows
“Blues in Schools is a tremendous program. I have been involved with them for years now. Having live musicians come into schools is a great way to make music more present in the lives of children.
Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train were fantastic. They engaged, educated, and entertained the students better than most performers we have had come into our school. They brought an uplifting message and an infectious energy that had teachers asking to schedule them again for next year. I can’t recommend them highly enough.”
Jean-Guy LeFort (he/him) Downtown Alternative School ( DAS )
“Thank you so much for leading a wonderful workshop last week! I think the students really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. It was great to hear them all singing! “
Alexandra Frank (she/her) Education & Outreach Associate
The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall
“Reaching out to say thank you for partnering with the library to offer an incredible March Break Music Camp! We have received nothing but positive feedback and are so thrilled at the program’s success! “
Nicole Miller (she/her) Senior Branch Head York Woods Branch
“Our school was fortunate to have “Blues in the Schools” for two days. The musicians, Sugar Brown and Derek Thorne, presented a wonderful history of the blues, and then performed original songs. Students were engaged and participated in the workshop enthusiastically. Staff were impressed with the knowledge provided and how relevant blues was in the past and how it can be used today to explore challenging topics. If the opportunity presented itself, we would be happy to have “Blues in the Schools” return as our community received an enriching experience.”
Carmelo Cucchi Principal Saint John XXIII
“This is my second year working with the Toronto Blues Society and we so appreciate what they do for our students. Kyle and Paul are such wonderful performers and they work hard to connect with our students. They provide a perfect balance of performance and workshops, and our students were completely engaged. This type of programming is invaluable and exposes and having such passionate musicians lead it inspires our students and motivates them to improve as instrumentalists, performers, and composers. The entire operation is tightly run and the performers are easy to work with. I especially appreciated how Kyle would run through each class with me before hand and how he made adjustments to meet our students where they were at. I hope to bring them back again in the future and have recommended them to my colleagues.
Thanks again for all the excellent work you and your organization do.”
Edward Wright (He/Him) PhD, MT, MA Rosedale Heights School of the Arts
“Yesterday was fantastic! Both Jay and Steve were wonderful. They are talented musicians AND great storytellers. This was a great way to kick off Black History Month. Very entertaining and educational. “
Jeffery Monroe The Student School
Contact TBS Administrator Manny DeGrandis for more information:
Tel (416) 538-3885
