All student musicians and vocalists who auditioned for the Blues Project will meet in my classroom (005) after school on Tuesday, Feb 4th to receive their song assignments. The meeting will last from 3-5, but once you have been assigned your song, you may leave. Please let me know if you have questions or if you cannot attend.
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"Its all happening!!"
The first call out meeting for the Blues Project 2014 is Tuesday, Jan 14th in the LGI room from 3:00-3:30. Come find out what the Blues Project is all about and where you can fit in. ![]() This year's Blues Project T-shirts are getting ready to be printed up, and I'm pretty excited. Grego, of Mojohand.com, has generously designed this year's shirt - check it out on the left. The shirt will be a gray color and more of a softer, more fitted Tshirt than we had last year. The back will list everyone who was a part of the this year's show. We will also be getting Women's cut T-shirts for all the ladies, so be sure you size accordingly. If anybody out there wants one, be sure to let me know via email ([email protected]) by Friday, April 5th. They are $20 each (don't worry, if you were in the show, we've already got you taken care of), payable in cash or check. Be sure to let me know what size you want. ![]() Check out a great article and pictures from this year's Blues Project, The Legacy of the Blues, from ValpoLife.com. ValpoLife article: http://www.valpolife.com/entertainment/tv-movies-music/29419-bfms-and-vhs-collaborate-to-host-blues-project ![]() Great job to everyone who was involved in last night's Blues Project at Valparaiso High School. People say each year, "that was the best ever," but I rarely agree with them. This year's show, however, was, hands-down, the best Blues Project ever. There were so many great moments - from Kylie, Sam, Amanda, and Natalie giving me goosebumps on "Motherless Children" to Scott Schultz bringing down the house on "Train Kept a Rollin'" to Emily Miltenberger channeling her inner Bessie Smith on "Backwater Blues" to the closing number featuring a super-group of Blues Project alumni. And everything in-between. I loved every minute. Thanks to everybody who gave their time, effort, and expertise to the Blues Project this year. Stay tuned to this website for additional info on T-shirts, videos, pics, mp3s, etc. We've been through two weeks of musical rehearsals, and things are starting to take shape. We all have a lot of practicing left to do (myself included!), but we're starting to come together. The biggest challenge has been trying to run through the songs in an order that works for everyone's schedule. I've done my best to be accommodating, and tried to revise the practice schedule so everyone can make it. I'm sure that they're will be scheduling conflicts regardless of what I do, but I've done the best I can. If there is no possible way that you can attend during the time when we are rehearsing your song, please let me know and I'll try and come up with something, but as we're nearing show time (only 2 more weeks after this one), I've got to ask that you do your absolute best to be there. In order to ensure that rehearsals move along as smoothly as possible, I'll remind you to have your instruments tuned before you get onstage and have your music and anything else you might need with you, so you're ready to roll when you walk onstage. Below is the revised order. Estimate approximately 10 minutes for each song.
1st half of Practice (5 – 6:30) 1. Motherless Children2. Baby Please Don’t Go 3. When Love Comes to Town 4. Backwater Blues 5. Matchbox 6. Statesboro Blues 7. Little Red Rooster 8. Train Kept a Rollin' 9. Bright Lights 2nd half of Practice (6:30-8) 10. Bridging the Gap11. That's All Right, Mama 12. I Believe 13. I'm So Glad 14. Natural Blues 15. Boll Weevil Blues Full Band rehearsals start tomorrow night, Wednesday 2/13, from 5-8 at the BF auditorium. Be sure to check the practice order to see when your song falls within the 3 hour practice, and for other reminders about how Wednesday practices work. Make sure you are there when your song is being played, and please call for your ride when your song is finished. Being the first practice and all, its probably going to take a bit longer than usual, since we'll be trying to find our way together at first. Expect to run a little late.
Guitarists and bassists - you don't need to bring an amp. Just your instrument and yourself. I'm looking forward it. We're getting to start the first week of musical practices - exciting stuff. Remember to check the rehearsal schedule on this website (under 2013 > Schedules) to keep posted on when you need to be where.
Monday Guitar/Bass If you are playing guitar or bass on a song, you need to meet in Mr. Cvelbar's room (005) after school on Monday to go over your songs. You don't need to bring an amp, and I'll have a guitar you can play, but you can also bring your own if you'd prefer. You can drop your equipment off in either my room or Mr. Kenworthy's room in the morning. Once we're able to go through your song a time or two, you can leave. Everyone should be done by approximately 4:15. Tuesday Piano If you are playing piano on any song in the Blues Project, you should should attend a piano rehearsal in my room (005) after school. I will have a keyboard available, and we'll just try to go through your song a time or two to make sure you've got an idea of what to play. Once you've played your song you can go. Everyone should be done by approximately 4:15 Vocalists If you are singing on anything in the Blues Project, you should should attend a vocal rehearsal in the 8th grade computer lab (002) after school until approximately 4:30. You will be working with some BF alumni (Kylie Staples, Amanda Hurley, Natalie Girman, and Samantha Prevost) on your parts. Everyone should participate in the field holler to open the show, and some of you also have additional background vocal parts to work on. Once you have practiced all your tunes, you should go home. Wednesday Horns Horn players should report to the BF auditorium from 5-6 on Wed evenings to work on your horn parts with Blues Project horn guru John Miller. You'll practice on your own for the next couple weeks before you join the full band for practice. Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals, Piano The full band rehearses from 5-8 on Wednesdays. Check the practice order on this website (under 2013 > Schedules). When the band gets around to your song, you need to be there. After your song is complete, you need to leave. There shouldn't be students hanging out throughout all of practice. Feel free to bring homework to work on while you are waiting for your song. Also use that time to have your instrument tuned up and ready to go, and brush up on your song for a few minutes. If you have sheet music, lyrics, chords, etc., be sure you bring them. I won't have extra copies for you to look off of. Remember, all of those resources are posted on this website (under 2013 > Songs). We've finally completed the Blues Project auditions. There will be a meeting after school on Thursday, Feb. 7 in my room (005) where students will get their song assignments. If you auditioned, you need to attend this meeting to get your songs and a practice schedule. See you then.
Auditions for drummers or other percussionists will be on Wednesday, Jan 23rd right after school in the auditorium and will last until about 4. You'll need to play for a couple minutes, and I might ask you to play a couple other beats for me. Focus on your timing more than your chops. I want to see that you can hold down a groove. A drum set will be provided.
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