Blues never lets tragedy have the last word.
At Strathmore, we believe in the power of art to heal, to lift us up from the difficulties of life. And nothing can do that like the blues. Music so powerful it’s lived on, thrived, and transformed through more than a century of turmoil and change in our country.
We teach kids about the blues in our annual 5th grade student concerts, and we invite you to brush up on your blues knowledge with our online educational content. Dive in!
This content was originally commissioned and presented as part of our 2016–2017 Shades of Blues festival.
Education Content & Resources
Early Blues Recording Labels
By Jim O'Neal
The State of Blues Today
By Elijah Wald
Blues 101: The Blues Enters the Scene
By Marcia Friedman
Blues 102: The Blues On The Move
By Marcia Friedman
What makes the blues sound like the blues?
By Chris Slattery
Some of the Many Shades of Blues
By Michelle Davis
Regional Blues Styles
By Brian Huff
Washington, DC - City of the Blues
By Ken Avis
Know Your DC Blues Icons
By Ken Avis
The Enduring Influence & Tradition of the Blues
By Giovanni Russonello
And be sure to check out this great article from the Washington Post!
What the Blues Sounds Like All Over the Map
About Shades of Blues
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