Blues in the Schools
at Marietta Middle School

March 13 - March 24, 2006
By Steve Wells, BITS Co-Producer

At BJFM, we like to have fun, and I'm all about that; but I've found something that goes beyond just having fun,that gives me a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Our BLUES IN THE SCHOOLS project is what I'm talking about. Our first Blues in the Schools (BITS) Artist in Residence Project took place back in March at the Marietta Middle School, and I still have not come down from the feeling when I saw those kids’ faces. Our BITS project made a big impression on the kids who participated, an impression I’d like to make on each and every kid in Washington and Wood Counties before we’re done. You see, we found that when you get kids excited about music, you get them excited about life. Fruteland Jackson, one of the country’s leading blues educators, did a superb job of teaching the students at Marietta Middle School that the blues is one of the few uniquely American art forms and the genesis of all American music. Of course, we know that students who are involved with music and the arts not only do better in school, including other subjects like social studies, history, geography and yes, mathematics, but do better in life, too. Believe me, seeing the look on those kids’ faces when they “get it” is worth all of the effort and expense as far as I’m concerned. At the same time teaching our rich cultural heritage while celebrating diversity, BITS gives local youth a positive hands-on way to express emotion through blues music. That’s the essence of what Blues in the Schools is all about. Now, we’re working on next year, and the year after.

Not only do we want to repeat the project in 2007 in Washington County, but we’re planning on expanding BITS to Wood County, West Virginia and to other schools in the future. The film students at Marietta College, under the direction of Professor Marilee Morrow made an impressive presentation video of last March’s BITS project which tells the BITS story and shows those kids’ faces of which I speak. Right now, we’re trying to get the 14-minute presentation out to the arts (funding) community, the corporate (funding) community, and anyone else who we think can help support BITS. We have written two grants so far and have been awarded funding from both: Ohio River Border Initiative and The Parkersburg Area Community Foundation. The grant writing is an on-going effort we’re going to need to keep BITS going year after year into the future. Oh by the way, did I mention this BITS stuff is the most expensive project that BJFM has ever undertaken? Each BITS Artist in Residence project costs us between $5,000 and $7,000, (and there are no tickets sold, no ticket revenues to help defray those costs). So you see, we’re going to need lots of help to keep BITS going. That’s where YOU come in. Perhaps you have an idea, or know someone or some source of funding that could help. Believe me, we can use all of the help we can get. We’re looking for corporate sponsorships – both large and small – and grant funding of any amount to help. Any ideas, please contact the BITS co-producers: Peg Bolen (bolen@bjfm.org) or Steve Wells (bluesphotog@gmail.com) (304.295.4323) If you would like a copy of the BITS 2006 DVD to show to your group or your company, contact me. We’d love to hear from you.