Released on: September 11, 2008, 2:34 pm

Press Release Author: Jerri Shelton/SixStringCentral School of Music

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: Blues in the Schools Program Continued by Cascade Blues
Association

Press Release Body: Portland, OR: Local blues guitar legend Robbie Laws is
advancing the teaching of blues to students in the Portland school system in
conjunction with the Cascade Blues Association. Laws, an 18-time winner and Hall of
Famer of the Muddy Awards and owner of SixStringCentral School of Music, is spending
his twenty-third year ensuring that the next generation is well aware of the musical
history that was the progenitor of nearly every form of American music.

Blues in the Schools is a program modeled after the after nationally recognized
“Blues in the Schools” programs offered throughout the United States and is
sponsored by the Cascade Blues Association, considered one of the most active blues
associations in the country.

According to Laws, “As a player, a teacher and an aficionado of the blues, I almost
consider it my duty to let kids know there is a form of music still out there
breathing and thriving that gave birth to the music they are currently listening to.
Portland school children aren’t all able to come to SixStringCentral to learn to
love the blues, so we go to them.”

The programs are taught by professional blues musicians and teachers and are offered
to local public school systems, private school systems, community centers and
institutions, and include local community events. The mission of Blues in the
Schools is to help fill the gap created by budget reductions in arts and music in
our schools while providing a fun, interactive and goal-oriented program.

“The Cascade Blues Association has done an incredible job of keeping blues alive in
Portland and in Oregon. Blues in the Schools is just one more example of people
with a common love getting together to spread that love to as many people as
possible,” said Laws.

Programs usually last about 45 minutes and consist of live performance examples by
the youth performance bands and/or professional adult musicians along with oral
narrations and photos woven throughout the session.

Treasurer for the Cascade Blues Association, Jerri Shelton said, “Blues in the
Schools relies on corporate sponsorship, private contributions and grants from
public and private agencies and organizations. All contributions are tax-deductible.
Benefit concerts and other fundraising activities are also periodically promoted
throughout the community to support Blues in the Schools.”

For more information about how you can help the Blues in the Schools program,
contact SixStringCentral School of Music at 503-760-4439 or visit them at 5516 SE
Foster Road in Portland. Six String Central School of Music can also be found
online at www.sixstringcentral.com.



Web Site: http://www.sixstringcentral.com

Contact Details: SixStringCentral School of Music
5516 SE Foster Road
Portland, OR 97206
503-760-4439