Blues concerts fund guitars and lessons for students
Students at Duchess Park secondary school were recipients of free guitars and a set of group lessons thanks to the Blues Underground. (Submitted photo)
Written by FRANK PEEBLES
Citizen staff
Friday, 16 May 2008
The Blues Underground has donated guitars to 10 lucky Duchess Park secondary school students.
They also get a set of group guitar lessons with instructor Dave Rubadeau at Sound Entertainment and, if they complete the set of lessons, they get to keep the brand new guitars.
All of this is thanks to proceeds from the concerts put on throughout the year by the local blues music organization.
"There are a lot of young people who want to learn, but they can't because they don't have guitars of their own," said Metin Toyata, music teacher at DPSS. "They are borrowing guitars from me all the time, and now those 10 will have that opportunity for their own instrument. Some are in bands already, some may go on to be professionals. They are usually not the kids who are in the band program playing an instrument like a clarinet or a flute, but this is a musical interest of theirs, which I think is really important in someone's life."
Blues Underground spokesman Earl Krushelnicki wished he had that opportunity when he was in school. When he and others from the blues group were making previous donations to the music programs of School District 57 (past proceeds have paid for instrument repair and replacement, among other things), he noticed a collection of guitars hanging on the walls of the music room. That triggered a memory for him from his youth in Regina.
"When I was a kid I had a chance to go into a band but I didn't have an instrument of my own and our family couldn't afford one, so I never did get into the band," he said. "They ended up touring a bit, going into the States, so it was very disappointing for me, but everything works out in the end. That is probably the biggest reason I encourage the help of these young people through the Blues Underground."
The group holds monthly dances, often featuring some of Canada's leading blues artists. They are also the organizers of Railway Blues Festival coming up on June 21. The more money these events raise, Krushelnicki said, the more they can channel to school music programs.
