WS Chronicle

By Judie Holcomb-Pack

Kids aged 12-18 who enjoy music and are interested in learning more about Blues music have an opportunity to receive world-class instruction for free at the 3rd annual Kids Blues Camp NC sponsored by Delta Arts Center, Dr. Myron Brown and the Winston-Salem State University music department, and Fernando Jones and the Blues Kids Foundation.

Jones was a blues kid himself, teaching himself to play the guitar at the young age of four. Now he organizes Kids Blues Camps all over the country. He is known internationally as the “American Bluesman” and is an educator, songwriter and leader of his band, Fernando Jones and My Band. Jones is on the faculty in the music department of Columbia College in Chicago. He is a recipient of the Keeping the Blues Alive award and is a member of the Chicago Blues Hall of Fame.

And he and his band are coming to town to teach the Blues to kids who attend the free camp on the campus of WSSU.

In an interview with The Chronicle last week while holding auditions for the camp, Jones discussed the effect learning to play or sing the Blues has on kids. He has seen kids who have been bullied gain confidence, especially girls who have never had an opportunity to play a guitar. “Someone has to believe in them, someone has to give them a chance,” he said.

Jones also told about little brothers and sisters coming to camp and their older siblings seeing how hard they worked and how much they grew through camp. The next year their siblings are signing up for the class. So camp is not only affecting one child, it affects the whole family. In fact, Jones encourages parents to come with their kids and to play alongside them at their end-of-camp concert.

Jones also noted that when kids learn music, whether it’s singing a song or playing an instrument, it enhances their skills in other areas and improves their grades at school. Research has shown that being involved in a music program helps kids do better in subjects such as math. Making music involves more than just the voice or fingers playing an instrument; it also uses the ears, the eyes, large and small muscles. Playing music with friends in a school band or after-school program provides positive social interaction and builds important friendships. 

The Kids Blues Camp is signing up campers aged 12-18 now. Boys and girls who do not have their own instrument can use one from the music department at WSSU. And it’s more than just musicians; vocalists are also encouraged to come to camp. Jones brings his band, Fernando Jones and My Band, to instruct the kids all week. Camp will be held on the campus of WSSU Monday through Friday, June 12-16, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. A snack and lunch will be provided and afternoons campers will be taken on tours of local museums such as SECCA and other areas of interest. Transportation to WSSU is not provided, but the camp is free. 

Whitney Harness, Delta Arts Center executive director, promises that “camp will be a fun-filled week” culminating with a concert at the end of the week. Look for more information about the fundraising concert on their website at www.deltaartscenter.org.

As Whitney and Fernando were holding camp auditions last week, Jones asked a young vocalist why she wanted to sing and she quickly responded, “It brings me joy.”

Indeed, it does.

If you have a young person who is interested in Kids Blues Camp, registration is open until June 8 by going to www.blueskids.com/WSSU.