Culture
Students learn the story of American music through Blues in the Schools program
By: Julia Weber
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MARIETTA, Ohio (WOUB) – The Mid-Ohio Valley Blues, Jazz, and Folk Music Society (BJFMS) is bringing professional music education to area students this week through its annual Blues in the Schools program. The weeklong series of presentations continues through Friday, introducing middle school students across Ohio and West Virginia to the history and influence of blues and jazz.
This year’s featured performer and educator is Doug MacLeod, a multiple Blues Music Award winner celebrated for blending storytelling and song. MacLeod’s presentations explore how the evolution of blues music parallels American history, demonstrating those connections through live performance. The program gives students in rural areas access to professional, culturally rich music experiences they might not otherwise have.
According to Jay Phillips, president of the BJFMS, the program fills a crucial gap in arts education for middle school students.
“The idea is to give that historical background to the kids,” he said. “At the same time, we want them to see true musical performances and understand how everything is connected.”
Last year, Blues in the Schools visited 10 institutions, including nine schools and the Washington County Juvenile Center. This year’s tour will reach seven schools, adding Athens and Jackson counties to the schedule.
For many students, Phillips said, these visits mark their first chance to witness a professional musician up close.
“It’s great to give those kids, who really—in the rural areas—don’t get a chance to see any kind of a professional performance of any sort,” he said.
Phillips emphasized that representation and inclusion are central to the program’s mission. By bringing in diverse artists, the society highlights that blues, jazz, and folk music belong to everyone.
“We’re trying to share this with youth because the only way we can continue to build audiences is to bring it to younger people,” Phillips said.
Presenters also encourage students to explore art in ways that feel authentic to them.
“It’s showing kids that you don’t have to be that perfect kid to be involved with music,” he added. “It provides you with an outlet.”
For Phillips, the program’s value extends far beyond music.
“It’s just a way to expose kids—in many cases, for probably the first time—to blues music and this heritage that’s an American heritage.”