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Chủ Nhật, 22 tháng 9, 2013

No Shortage Of Variety In Acquiring A Blues Education

By Dale Peck


Anyone looking to acquire a Blues education today has many options. Times have changed and students are fortunate today to have choices unavailable before. In the early days, schools were a missing feature. Learning was a practical exercise. Local culture and surroundings provided fertile soil for nourishing enterprising musicians. Theory and analysis was to come in future.

Practical experiences still provide ways to become a practicing musician in this genre as demonstrated by the example of Shun Kikuta, the Japanese musician. A graduate of Berklee School of Music, he did not study this genre. Instead it was his exposure to the B. B . King album Live at the Regal that began his journey into this genre. Subsequently, playing live with musicians in Chicago his skills were developed over time. Nevertheless, he still had his formal education as a foundation to build on when he opted to follow a new direction. People who live outside the culture and historical roots that gave birth to this sound get a helping hand in school.

Blind Lemon Jefferson, an early 20th century guitarist, set the path later trod by the inspiring BB King decades later. Recordings of Jefferson inspired others who followed him. Awareness of historical roots of certain styles is a part of the development process for an artist. This kind of learning is acquired more easily through formal studies. Musicians who study and use musical elements and concepts fortify their musical grounding. They augment their capacity to add greater depth and expression to any style they choose to play after their formative period of study.

The evolutional trajectory of this form of music offer plenty of material for years of in depth study. Its different subgenres and number of instruments presents additional layers of accumulated richness. At the post-secondary level, a specialized focus can be sharpened. Yet younger students are served well enough with lessons that expose them to its distinctive sounds with some discussions of history to add context. In class, a new window is opened by introducing students to this American product born of real word conditions in the past. As modern music has many elements borrowed from the blues, such knowledge expands the possibilities. Further exploration of other genres in the future will only be enriched by earlier exposure to this art form.

Classes offered by institutions of different stripes, web based learning tools and work experience offer diverse ways to learn. To encourage teaching in schools, accessible material has been made available online. Video study tools have also enabled school teachers lacking this background to share knowledge.

Lesson plans are also available. Exposing children early on provides them with information they can use to decide what direction to choose later in life. The more material at their disposal the better chance they have of making an informed decision about a specialization.

Aspiring musicians will be happy to know video teaching can now offer a deeper learning experience. Form and theoretical analysis is also on the menu. Learning form is a key that is needed by students who want to make their own music.

Resources are constantly evolving. Even a developed lesson plan evolves as it gets used. New ideas spring from people who are using the material. Blues education is available today in many guises. Depending upon the level of interest, each option makes knowledge accessible as needed.




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