Carus Elementary School

Artist in Residence Ellen Whyte has been working with Carus students over the last few weeks to write and rehearse blues songs to be performed in a special concert on Friday, January 29th. Whyte, long known in the Portland Metro area and throughout the country for her blues performances, is greatly enjoying her first experience as an artist in residence working with elementary age students.

"I have had such fun with this project. I am working with kids who have never heard of blues music, sharing the history of where and how blues music began, and helping them to understand its roots between 1800 ando 1850 where African slaves developed work songs", Whyte shared. "Why is it called the blues?" asked one student. "Because at one point someone said, 'this is such sad music, I think I'll call it the blues'," she shared. "This is one of the biggest highlights of my career. It's been just amazing." After exploring the history of the blues and how it progressed through the decades into different forms of music such as rock and roll, as well as the different moods demonstrated in this genre, Whyte began the process of writing songs with the students. Expressing feelings by asking them to fill in the words to "I feel mad when I...." "I feel happy when I..." As the students shared their words and experiences, the process began to write their own songs to be performed at the 'Carus Sings the Blues' concert on Friday night.

Students were fascinated with the different instruments Whyte could play, including the accordian, which most students had never seen or heard of before. "How'd you get so good with every instrument?" Whyte told them she'd been playing the accordian since she was six years old, playing the guitar since she was fifteen, and taught music lessons along the way. It's been quite an experience for Carus Elementary students and staff. "We're extremely excited to have her partnering with our school," said principal Sam Thompson.

The 'Carus Sings the Blues' concert will be held at the Richard R. Brown Fine Arts Center on January 29th with tickets distributed at the school. For information call 503-263-7190.