CTBMA presented its  "Bluegrass in the Schools" program to a packed room of enthusiastic parents and kids on July 21, 2003  at the Andover Public Library. The presentation was set up by our good friend and radio DJ, Amy Orlomoski, who is also the director of the library.  Kim Cyr, CTBMA president,  discussed the history of Bluegrass music as an American genre, and had each of the participating musicians explain a little bit about the individual instruments used in traditional bluegrass bands.

  During the presentation, the musicians, who are all regular participants in the monthly CTBMA jam sessions,  played some representative tunes from the traditional Bluegrass repertoire.  For many of the kids in the audience, this was their first exposure to live traditional American acoustic music.  Their enthusiasm for what they had seen and heard was evident after the presentation, when they  crowded the musicians to ask questions and get a close-up look at the instruments.

  Bluegrass in the Schools is an important focus of CTBMA's community activities.  With funding for arts education being cut in many school systems, our kids are being deprived of experiences essential to their development as creative, productive individuals.  Direct exposure to artists and musicians and the tools of their trade will stimulate their curiosity and encourage them to explore beyond the limits of their cost-controlled, shrink-wrapped educational programs.

  If you're interested in sponsoring a Bluegrass in the Schools presentation at your school or library, contact us by email at
ctbma@yahoo.com or by mailing us directly using the address found on the home page.