Blues in the Schools
2024 marks Hawkeye's 46th year of "Blues in the Schools" programs. He began this effort long before most blues support organizations and festivals even existed. Since that time Hawkeye has helped to initiate educational programs for many blues societies, and he has single-handedly introduced blues music workshops to major festivals, including; the San Francisco Folk Festival, The Utah Blues Festival, The Northwest Folklife Festival (WA), the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival (IA), the Sonoma County Folk Festival (CA), the Tumbleweed Music Festival (WA), the Rogue Valley Blues Festival (OR), the Paramount Blues Festival (WI), the Willamette Valley Blues & Brews Festival (OR), the Blues sur Seine Festival (France), the Cahors Blues Festival (France), the RiverTune Roots Music Camp (CA), and at the International Blues & Folk Festival (Cali, Colombia). Hawkeye has presented his "Blues In The Schools" programs in more than 500 schools (all levels; from elementary schools to the college level), in 32 states in the USA, in 12 foreign nations, and to well over 1/2 a million students of all ages.
Hawkeye's Recent Educational Performances
Festivals :
- Cahors Blues Festival, Cahors, France - masterclasses & performances
- Festival Blues sur Seine - Mantes la Jolie, France - Master Class/Seminar
- Waterfront Blues Festival - Portland, OR - Workshops
- Greeley Blues Festival - Greeley, CO - Workshops
- Paramount Blues Festival - Grafton, WI - Workshops
- Blues On The Fox Fest., Aurora, IL- Workshops
- Cape Fear Blues Fest, Wilmington, NC - Workshops
- Kalamazoo Blues Fest., MI - Workshops
- Kansas City Blues Fest. - Workshops
- Mississippi Valley Blues Fest. IA - Workshops
- Nat. Trad. Country Music Fest., IA- Workshops
- Northwest Folklife Fest., Seattle, WA - Workshops
- Rogue Valley Blues Fest, Ashland, OR - Workshops
- San Francisco Folk Fest., Workshops
- Seldovia Music Fest. Seldovia, AK - Workshops
- Sonoma Folk Fest., Santa Rosa, CA - Workshops
- Tumbleweed Music Fest, Richland, WA - Workshops
- King Biscuit Festival, Helen, AR
- Eurkea Springs Blues Festival - Eureka Springs, AR - Workshop
- Gladstone Blues Festival - Kansas City, MO
- Sierre Blues Festival - Sierre, Switzerland - seminars/in-school presentations
Colleges/Universities :
- Univ. of Iowa College of Education, Iowa City, IA - Teacher Education Workshops
- Colorado State Univ. - Ft. Collins, CO
- Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
- Black Hawk Community College, East Moline, IL
- California Polytechnic, Pomona, CA
- Delta Blues Symposium, Ark. St. Univ.
- Lawrence Univ., Appleton, WI
- San Francisco St. Univ.
- Scott Community College, Davenport, IA
- St. Mary's College, Moraga, CA
- Stanford Univ., Palo Alto, CA
- University of Colorado, Boulder , CO
- Arts Councils/Libraries/Museums
- Bettendorf Public Library, Bettendorf, IA
- Black Hawk Historic Site, Rock Island, IL
- California Arts Council/Artists' Seminar
- Davenport Public Library, Davenport, IA
- Family Museum, Bettendorf, IA
- Gualala Arts Council, Gualala, CA
- Kansas City Public Library, KC, KS
- Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL
- Putnam Museum, Davenport, IA
- Quad City Arts Council, Rock Island, IL
- Rock Island Public Library, Rock Island, IL
- Southern Oregon Historical Society
- Twilight Riverboat, LeClaire, IA
- Moline Public Library, Moline, IL
- Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT), University of Mantes-la-Jolie,
France
- Black Hawk College - Moline, IL
High Schools :
- Central High School, Kansas City, KS
- Erie High School, Erie, IL
- Ft. Collins High School, Ft. Collins, CO
- Lanphier High School, Springfield, IL
- Riverdale High School, Port Byron, IL
- Riverton Sr. High School, Riverton, IL
- Rock Island High School, Rock Island, IL
- Rocky Mountain High School, Ft. Collins, CO
- Schlagle High School, Kansas City, KS
- SE High School, Springfield, IL
- Wm. Crisman High School, Independence, MO
- Keith Country Day School, Rockford, IL
- Hononegah High School,
Rockton, IL
- Byron High School, Byron, IL
- Grafton High School, Grafton, WI
- Peak High School - Ft. Collins, CO
- St Louis High School - Bonnières, France
- Rostand High School - Mantes la Jolie, France
- Van Gogh High School - Aubergenville, France
- Condorcet High School - Limay, France
- Gassicourt High School - Mantes la Jolie, France
- Union Bower Center for Learning - Irving, TX
- Windsor High School - Windsor, CO
- Notre Dame High School - Mantes la Jolie, France
- André Chénier High School -Mantes la Jolie, France
- Richland High School - Richland, WA
- Lopez Island High School - Lopez Island, WA
- Flora Tristan Jr. High School - Carrières-sous-Poissy, France
- Ecole de Commerce et de Culture Générale - Sierre, Switzerland
- Cycles d'Orientation des Liddes - Sierre, Switzerland
- Homer High School – Homer, AK
- Nanwalek School – Nanwalek, AK
- Port Graham School – Port Graham, AK
- Homer Flex High School – Homer, AK
- Susan B. English School – Seldovia, AK
- Poudre High School - Ft. Collins, CO
Middle Schools :
- Bettendorf Middle School, Bettendorf, IA
- Geo. Washington Middle School, Springfield, IL
- Glenview Middle School, East Moline, IL
- Kennedy Middle School, Rockford, IL
- Lincoln Jr. High, Ft. Collins, CO
- North Scott Jr. High, Eldridge, IA
- North Scott Jr. High, Eldridge, IA
- Preston Jr. High School, Ft. Collins, CO
- Riverton Jr. High School, Riverton, IL
- Brighton Middle School, Brighton, TN
- Monarch Learning Center, Redding, CA
- Chappelow Magnet School, Evans, CO
- Maplewood Middle School, Greeley, CO
- Franklin Middle School, Greeley, CO
- Blevins Jr. High, Ft. Collins, CO
- Longview Middle School, Memphis, TN
- Snowden Middle School, Memphis, TN
- Longview Middle School - Memphis, TN
- Snowden Middle School - Memphis, TN
- Eisenhower Middle School - Rockford, IL
- Mountain View Junior High School - Ft. Collins, CO
- John Deere Middle School - Moline, IL
- Rivermont Collegiate - Bettendorf, IA52722
- Windsor Middle School - Windsor, CO
- Lesher Junior High School - Fort Collins, CO
- Carpinteria Middle School - Carpinteria, CA
- Cassie Pennington Junior High School - Indianola, MS
- Lopez Island Middle School - Lopez Island, WA
- Billinghurst Middle School - Reno, NV
- Coarsegold Middle School - Coarsegold, CA
- Rivergold Middle School - Coarsegold, CA
- Homer Middle School – Homer, AK
- Nanwalek School – Nanwalek, AK
- Port Graham School – Port Graham, AK
- Susan B. English School – Seldovia, AK
Elementary Schools :
- Alan Shephard Elem., Long Grove, IA
- Armstrong Elem., Bettendorf, IA
- Audubon Elem., Rock Island, IL
- Buchanan Elem., Davenport, IA
- Cody Elem., LeClaire, IA
- Eastern Avenue School, Davenport, IA
- Fillmore Elem., Davenport, IA
- Grant Wood Elem., Bettendorf, IA
- Hope School, Springfield, IL
- Horicon Elem., Annapolis, CA
- Jefferson Elem., Davenport, IA
- Jerome Prairie Elem., Grants Pass, OR
- Johnson Elem., Davenport, IA
- Johnson Elem., Fort Collins, CO
- Kelly Ave. Elem., Peoria Hts., IL
- Edward White Elem., Eldridge, IA
- Lincoln Fundamental, Davenport, IA
- Little Butte School, Eagle Point, OR
- Loves Park Elem., Loves Park, IL
- McKinley Elem., Muscatine, IA
- Monroe Ave. Elem., Peoria Hts., IL
- Mountain View Elem., White City, OR
- Neil Armstrong Elem., Park View, IA
- Olander Elem., Ft. Collins, CO
- Olson Park Elem., Rockford, IL
- Saint Peter's School, Kansas City, MO
- Sams Valley Elem., Sams Valley, OR
- St. Patrick's Elem., Springfield, IL
- Horace Mann Elem., Rock Island, IL
- St. Paul the Apostle School, Davenport, IA
- Talent Elem., Talent, OR
- Underwood Elem., Lee's Summit, MO
- Virgil Grissom Elem., Princeton, IA
- Washington Elem., Medford, OR
- Werner Elem., Ft. Collins, CO
- Lewis Lemon Elem., Rockford, IL
- St. Peter's Cathedral School, Rockford, IL
- Eagle Rock Elem., Eagle Point, OR
- Munford Elem., Munford, TN
- Mill Creek Upper Elem. School, Belton, MO
- Pleasant Ridge Elem., Overland Park, KS
- Lincoln-Douglas Elem., Freeport, IL
- Kennedy Elem., Grafton, WI
- Woodview Elem., Grafton, WI
- Grafton Elem., Grafton, WI
- Phoenix Elem., Phoenix, OR
- Wilson Elem., Medford, OR
- Monarch Learning Center, Redding, CA
- Cache La Poudre Elem., Ft. Collins, CO
- Riffenburgh Elem., Ft. Collins, CO
- Moore Elem., Ft. Collins, CO
- Harris Bi-Lingual School, Ft. Collins, CO
- Bauder Elem., Ft. Collins, CO
- Linton Elem., Ft. Collins, CO
- Timnath Elem., Timnath, CO
- Lopez Elm., Ft. Collins, CO
- Dunn Elem., Ft. Collins, CO
- Jefferson, Elem., Greeley, CO
- Monfort Elem., Greeley, CO
- East Memorial Elem. School, Greeley, CO
- Gordon Elem., Memphis, TN
- Snowden Elem., Memphis, TN
- Alton Elem., Memphis, TN
- Downtown Elem., Memphis, TN
- Florida Elem., Memphis, TN
- Florida-Kansas Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Downtown Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Alton Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Gordon Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Snowden Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Macon Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Cherokee Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Brookmeade Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Hamilton Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Idlewild Elementary - Memphis, TN
- Gregory Elem. - Rockford, IL
- Elk Trail Elem. - Trail, OR
- Davis Elementary - Irving, TX
- Schulze Elementary - Irving, TX
- Thomas Haley Elementary - Irving, TX
- Johnston Elementary - Irving, TX
- Otis Brown Elementary - Irving, TX
- Keyes Elementary - Irving, TX
- Britain Elementary - Irving, TX
- Good Elementary - Irving, TX
- Gilbert Elementary - Irving, TX
- Universal Academy - Irving, TX
- Elliot Elementary - Irving, TX
- Lively Elementary - Irving, TX
- Hanes Elementary - Irving, TX
- Stipes Elementary - Irving, TX
- Wells Elementary - Plano, TX
- Brinker Elementary - Plano, TX
- Miller Elementary - Richardson, TX
- Ellis Academy of the Arts - Rockford, IL
- Dakota Elementary - Dakota, IL
- Immanuel Lutheran School - Rock Island, IL
- Jordan Catholic School - Rock Island, IL
- Ridgewood Elementary - East Moline, IL
- Wells Elementary School - East Moline, IL
- All Saints Catholic School - Davenport IA
- Tozer Elementary - Windsor, CO
- Skyview Elementary - Windsor, CO
- Mountain View Elementary - Windsor, CO
- Grandview Elementary - Windsor, CO
- Glen Oak Primary School - Peoria, IL
- Livermore Elementary - Livermore, CO
- Stove Prairie Elementary - Bellvue, CO
- Oak Grove Elementary - Medford, OR
- Lopez Island Elementary School - Lopez Island, WA
- Laurel Elem. - Ft. Collins, CO
- Shepardson Elem. - Ft. Collins, CO
- Beattie Elem. - Ft. Collins, CO
- Odea Elem. - Ft. Collins, CO
- Eyestone Elem. - Wellington, CO
- Rice Elem. - Wellington, CO
- Lincoln Academy of Integrated Arts - Davenport, IA
- Tveiten School - Notodden, Norway
- Lake Creek Learning Center - Eagle Point, OR
- Coarsegold Elementary School - Coarsegold, CA
- Rivergold Elementary School - Coarsegold, CA
- Jackson Charter School, Rockford, IL
- Johnson Elementary School, Rockford, IL
- Van Allen Elementary School, North Liberty, IA
- Paul Banks Elementary – Homer, AK
- Nanwalek School – Nanwalek, AK
- Port Graham School – Port Graham, AK
- Fireweed Academy – Homer, AK
- West Homer Elementary – Homer, AK
- McNeil Canyon School – Homer, AK
- Susan B. English School – Seldovia, AK
- Polser Elementary School - Carrollton, TX
- Garfield Elementary School - Spokane WA
- Irish Elementary - Ft. Collins, CO
- Bacon Elementary - Ft. Collins, CO
- Willow Wind Learning Center - Ashland, OR
- Garfield Elementary - Spokane, WA
- Hutton Elementary - Spokane, WA
Special Community Presentations :
- The BB King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center - Indianola,
MS
- Colombian-American Cultural Center - Cali, Colombia
- Annie Wittenmeyer Home, Davenport, IA
- Arrowhead Ranch, Coal Valley, IL
- Barnes and Noble (children's book area), KC, MO
- Boys & Girls Club, Davenport, IA
- Boys & Girls Club, Moline, IL
- Brother James Court, Springfield, IL
- Handicapped Development Ctr., Davenport, IA
- United Neighbors, Davenport, IA
- William Young Home, Milan, IL
- Boys & Girls Club - Peoria, IL
- Master Class for musicians & teachers - Castle La Roche Guyon,
France
- Master Class for teachers - Delta Blues Symposium/A.S.U., Jonesboro,
AR
- Master Class for musicians & teachers - Mississippi Valley
Blues Society, Davenport, IA
- Master Class for musicians & teachers - Colorado Blues Society,
Longmont, CO
- Blues Education Forum for musicians & teachers - The Blues
Foundation, Memphis, TN
- FAR-West Folk Conference - Vancouver, WA - Traditional Music
Panel/Forum
- Hawkeye Blues Master Class/"Blues in the Schools" -
Castle of La Roche Guyon, France
- Declic Association (for homeless) - Mantes-la-Jolie, France
- Childhood House - La Roche Guyon, France
- Swallow Hill Music Assoc. - blues guitar instructional workshop - Denver, CO
- Oakdale Detention Center - blues/lyric/songwriting workshop - Oakdale, IA
- Lopez Library - blues history presentation - Lopez Island, WA
- Mojo's Cafe - River Music Experience Museum - blues history performance/workshop - Davenport, IA
- American River Acoustic Music Camp - blues guitar instructional workshops - Coloma, CA
- Ashland Historic Railroad Museum - Ashland, OR
- Sierre Blues Festival Community Concert - Sierre, Switzerland
- Notodden Public Library - Notodden, Norway
- Kongsberg Community Concert - Kongsberg, Norway
- Oakdale Correctional Facility, Coralville, IA - Concert/Songrwriting Workshop for prison/community choir
- Homer Council On The Arts Community Concert – Homer, AK
- Nanwalek School Community Concert – Nanwalek, AK
- Port Graham School Community Concert – Port Graham, AK
- Seldovia Arts Council Community Concert – Seldovia, AK
- East Benton County Historical Society & Museum - Kennewick, WA
- Richland Public Library - Humanities Washington - concert/lecture series - Richland, WA
- Halifax Central Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia
- Music For Minors - Teachers & Musicians 2-day workshop - Fremont, CA
- Utah Blues Festival - Salt Lake City, UT
- City of Los Angeles Birthday Blues, Jazz, & Spoken Word Festival - LA, CA
- William Inge Center for the Arts - Independence, KS
- Center for the Arts at Kayenta - Ivins, UT
- Zion Canyon
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Hawkeye's Blues in the Schools Program Description
Blues musician Michael "Hawkeye" Herman was recipient
of the Blues Foundation's 1998 "Keeping the Blues Alive" Award
for achievement in education. The honor was presented at the KBA
Awards Banquet, on May 1st, 1998, in Memphis, TN. He served for six
years on the Blues Foundation's Board of Directors, and was the chairperson
for the Foundation's committee on education.
His selection for the "Keeping the Blues Alive" Award
is the result of 24 years of dedication to bringing blues music to
students of all ages through his "Blues in the Schools" program
and his helping initiate such programs for blues societies, as well
as educational workshops at blues and folk festivals.
Hawkeye has reached out to a diversity of students, from pre-school
to the college level. The list of institutions that have benefitted
from his presentations ranges from Stanford, Colorado, and Arkansas
State Universities, to elementary, junior and senior high schools
throughout the nation. He credits the support of blues clubs and
societies for the rise in interest in blues music, and for helping
to bring "the watershed of American popular music" to young
people.
Hawkeye has two types of in-school programs to choose from. One
program is a one-hour performance/concert that is done
for the entire school in an assembly format. In this program
he introduces the students to the roots of American folk/blues music,
and the influence it has had on contemporary popular music and culture.
The second program is a full day spent with the children. This is
usually done by combining classes of the same level (i.e.: all first
graders in one group, etc., throughout the day), and focusing
on material that each level is capable of understanding. Because
he is aware of the differences in attention span and comprehension
that exists between a child of five and a child of twelve at the
elementary level, he is able to gear each class toward their interests/abilities,
while making the learning experience fun.
His fees are set up to create incentive for the all day program.
However, he is not adverse to doing a single one-hour performance. "Hawkeye" enjoys
approaching the children on the appropriate level. The full day arrangement
allows him to do so. Two and three day residency programs are also
available, as well as extended residencies of one to two weeks. In
these extended residencies he is able to teach the history and significance
of American roots music, its relationship to geography, social studies,
and other arts, as well as instruct students on how to write blues
songs, compose and arrange music, and even make their own instruments.
"My mission is to let young folks know that the blues is an
important aspect of American music history, influencing other styles
of music in the past, right up to the present," Hawkeye states. "Blues
is the real deal, the story of the human experience, and that will
always hold a place in the hearts and minds of the people. I'm trying
to ensure, through my educational programs and workshops, that future
generations are aware of their own rich musical heritage.
"The personal satisfaction of doing what I love, combined with
reaching out to people, are wonderful rewards in themselves. I am
most honored, grateful, and encouraged to be recognized for my efforts
by the Blues Foundation."
For information on Blues in the Schools Programs, K - 12, Workshops,
Seminars, Symposiums, and Residencies contact Topaz Productions.
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