In October, 2006, I took my "Blues Harmonica In The Schools Program" on a 2.5 hour journey east on the 401 to Brockville, Ontario. I spent a week on an intensive Program at Commonweath Public School. Olga Gregoriev (the principal) and I had planned this program at the end of the previous school year and Olga successfully secured a grant from the Brockville Arts Foundation to fund the excursion.

Blue skies followed us around for the whole week. Everything we did was so satisfying and successful. Dave (the custodian) had prepared the vacant music room for the students and I to get down to business. Dave was so "into it" he stayed after his shifts to take part with the "in the blues" classes. In fact, all the staff were amazing with their excitement, and willingness to participate in the classes.

Jeff McMillan (one of the four male teachers at Brockville) happened to be a great piano player, a guitar player, and singer. So it was a natural for us to perform several times during the week. On the Wed. evening we did a show at the Brockville Collegiate Institute with students from the music program at the high school. Some of my students performed their blues lyrics for the crowd on hand.

Aaron Griggs made the trip out for the Wednesday evening performance, and together, we played for the audience. I felt like Little Walter up there, with the beautiful wood stage, the auditorium, and the 53 Commando, with it's split cabinets filling the room with harp sound...Wow. 150 harmonicas were distributed to the students at Commonwealth, and I can honestly say that almost all of them had a good command on playing 3 or 4 songs by the end of the week. We learned a lot about blues, played some games, created "blues names", scribed them on the harps, wrote and performed blues lyrics, and really had some good fun. The students and faculty became my friends from the very beginning. They were "awesome", really supportive to each other.

Jeff said, "there was a real buzz around the school while you were here Mark, and its very quiet since you've been gone"

Well I was completely moved by the whole experience, and it just might have been more fun for me?

"Blues Harmonica in the Schools" Update

Mark's going ahead full steam with his "Blues Harmonica In The Schools Program".From Sept. through to March/06 the program has received funding through The City Of Toronto's "Live With Culture".

Currently the program is fully underway with four schools in the Toronto Area. Queen Victoria PS (Parkdale), Regent Park/Duke of York PS, Waterfront School (Queens Quay), and Lamberton PS (Jane/Finch). Together we have covered some Blues History classes, the anatomy of the diationic harmonica (how it works) - History of the Harmonica - some exotic examples - all the students are learning to play their own harmonica's (which the program has provided for each child) - and we are now working on creating blues names for each of the students.

Its the greatest opportunity to be able to be with the students on this journey of learning about blues and the harmonica. They are very excited and treat the classes with great respect. I'm sure some of them have never heard blues but know that there is something very cool about the music. Its going to be lots of fun, and we will invite some musical guests in, write some lyrics, and get the kids playing songs.

November 7th - (morning) Nov 21 - Dec 5th Dec 19th Waterfront School 635 Queens Quay West Toronto, ON M5V 3G3 416-393-8500 David Hill, Principal teacher: Mark Latter 21 students Waterfront@tdsb.on.ca

November 7th (afternoon) Nov 21, December 5th. - 19th Queen Victoria Public School 100 Close Ave. (Parkdale) Toronto, Ontario M6K 2V3 Leslie Moody, Principal Phone: 416-393-9200 Fax: 416-393-9205 34 students

November 8th - 14th - 28th Dec. 12th LAMBERTON PUBLIC .S Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5 33 Lamberton Boulevard Toronto, ON M3J 1G6 416-395-9570 Ira Applebaum, Principal teacher: Louise Ouimet (24students) Jane/Finch

November 1st, 15th, 29th Lisa Zwicker Vice Principal Regent Park/Duke of York P.S. 416-393-1730 teacher: Carol Nash Roberts 24 students

Blues In The Schools Workshop Program Presented by Mark bird Stafford

Mark has worked closely with a number of schools to develop a Blues Harmonica workshop for students in various schools. This program provides students with an overview of the history of the blues music, an introduction to the mechanics of the harmonica, and playing and reading for the harmonica.

The program can be tailored for beginner, intermediate and more advanced lessons and is suitable for all ages.

In the fall / winter of 2005, Mark will be working with a number of schools in the Metropolitan Toronto region with his Blues Harmonica Program.

Please email Mark for more information.

The program is as follows:

Segment 1: Introduction to Blues Music -

Where in North America does blues come from, and why?

Listening, and discussing various styles of Blues singing, guitar playing, harmonica playing, etc, and where it comes from.

Demonstration of the Blues, Folk Harmonica, (guests avail.)

Show various different harmonicas , Vintage and Modern, the ever popular Pee Wee. (1-2 classes)

Students choose subject matter and write and perform lyrics in a simple blues pattern. (2 classes)

Segment 2: Harmonica Care and Maintenance *

Harmonicas may be purchased so that students can have their own (prices start at $5)

Basic care and construction of the diatonic harmonica.

How it works, disassemble/reassemble

Why it stops working, Maintenance (1-2 classes)

Segment 3: Harmonica playing

Single notes, chords, In and Out.

Learn the basic Major Diatonic scale on the instrument.

Students learn basic harmonica tabulature - attempt basic folk tunes.

Work together on a simple song of choice.

Perform together and as a group. (3-6 classes)

Time Frame:

The Blues in the Schools program can cover 1 term, 2 terms, or a segment of either.

Last term, Mark provided 2 full classes of instruction, or 3 hours per week, to Hawthorne students. (approximately 36 hours of instruction).

This term, Mark will provide 3 full classes of instruction, or 4 hours per week, to Hawthorne students. (approximately 48 hours of instruction).

Mark bird Stafford hosts the Port Credit - Southside Shuffle Junior Jam

In addition to his work with the Blues in the Schools program, Mark has also hosted the "Junior Jam" at the Port Credit Southside Shuffle Festival for the past few years. The Junior Jam features young blues talent from across the province/country and is one of the highlights of the Southside Shuffle Festival.

In the 2005, the Junior Jam along with a number of other events throughout the week at the Shuffle, helped raised money for the Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Junior Jame, Please email Mark.