Local nonprofit ‘Blues in the Schools’ showcases music education

Whenever she’s having trouble at school, Addison Jones sings to herself.

“If you’re working and you start singing about what you’re doing, it makes you forget about the work and later you’ll be done right after your song’s done,” she said. “Blues is like, you sing what’s happening to you. What’s in your heart. What you love.”

Addison was one of dozens of children who took part in a Blues in the Schools event at the Museum of Art and Archeology in Columbia. For 10 years, Blues in the Schools, a part of the Roots ‘N Blues Foundation, has brought professional musicians to schools and events to work and perform with mid-Missouri children.

“The program ranges from everything from just an assembly to kind of hands on, in the classroom, week-long experiences,” said Blues in the Schools executive director Kelley Burns.

Burns played violin for more than 10 years, was a vocal major in college and taught music education for seven years.

“Getting it [music] in front of kids, getting their hands on it, giving them that experience with it is useful and helpful in keeping them engaged in school.”

Studies show that extracurriculars, like music and the arts, have a positive effect on academic achievement and behavior.

For instance, according to the National Association for Music Education, schools that have music programs have an attendance rate of 93 percent. That’s compared to 85 percent in schools without them.

Others demonstrate that participation in activities give children a good work ethic, time management skills and the ability to work in groups. They also have better grades and higher standardized test scores.

Isaac Beary, 9, said that music encourages him to do his homework.

“If you were doing homework, you could just start singing opera,” he said, joking. “You can just sing and do it, and not not do your homework.”

His sister Ava, who plays clarinet and piano, said she learned a lot about the blues at the event Monday.

“I really liked learning the harmonica part and also listening to people play the harmonica because I’ve never heard bluesey stuff like that,” she said. “Whenever you need music it’s there. It’s a good thing to have in life.”

Burns said the students had the day off of school Monday in the Columbia Public Schools district, so the “Kids at the Blueseum” event was a way to get them to do something productive.

“This is just a better thing for them to be doing today,” she said. “Any kind of arts or any kind of positive experience like that for kids is always shaping them.”

On Saturday, participants of the Blues in the Schools program will perform with the professionals at at a Family Fun Fest at Stephen’s Lake Park. It starts at noon and goes until 5 p.m.

“Seeing student performances is inspiring,” said Burns. “It always inspires me so as much as we can support them, I think it’s great.”