QAC’s Bursaries Fund Guitar Workshops & Blues in the Schools

QAC’s Bursaries Fund Guitar Workshops By David Reed

Matt Smith plays at Eastside Secondary

Spring was an exciting time in the Eastside Secondary School Music Department, thanks to the generous support of the Quinte Arts Council.

On Wednesday March 2, local blues musician Matt Smith was a special guest in the guitar classes. He shared his journey in music, the history of the blues, and demonstrated some amazing musicianship through performance on the guitar, National Steel and mandolin. Students also learned about slide guitar, open tunings and Smith even played a bit of harmonica and sang. After a month of students working on their skills, Smith returned for a second session on April 3, and the students played some blues with him. These workshops were generously funded with a Quinte Arts Council bursary.

Hanlon shared his thoughts on technique, and some truly inspiring solo and duet

On Wednesday March 20, guitar students were treated to a special performance and workshop with Queen’s University guitar professor Jeff Hanlon. The class learned about the history of classical guitar and heard Hanlon play a variety of traditional and modern repertoire, along with second-year guitar student Lucas. Hanlon shared his thoughts on technique, and some truly inspiring solo and duet performances. This workshop was made possible with funding from the Eugene Lang Bursary for classical music in the classrooms.

Blues in the Schools

By Ian McKendry On Thursday, April 25 blues rock guitarist Michael Schatte led grade 7, 8, and 9 students at Centennial Secondary School on a musical journey with his Blues In The Schools performance. Michael Schatte explained various guitar techniques and music history to the students, but it was his virtuoso guitar playing that wowed the audience and inspired an engaging question period toward the end of the show. Staff and students at Centennial Secondary School would like to acknowledge and thank Blues In The Schools, the Loyal Blues Fellowship, and the Quinte Arts Council for supporting this special event.