After getting Blues in Schools started here in Nevada County, CA we are excited and ready to continue the program again this coming school year at Nevada City School for the Arts and beyond.

We have a great team of local Blues musicians here in Northern California who are dedicated to giving the students a truly unique learning experience.

In a 4 week residency BITS gives students a look at the origins and evolution of Blues.

The program is designed to pass on the rich tradition and heritage of this distinctive African American art form. Students learn how Blues has contributed to the music we love today, forming a lasting impression by combining music and history.

Students learn about important blues figures, like Muddy Waters , Bessie Smith, and others.

Students learn basic harmonica and vocals and learn to write and perform a blues song.

A final concert of songs learned during the residency is performed by the students and Blues in Schools team for the entire school.

Your donation will help this happen: by buying harmonicas and supplies, paying musicians stipends, and administrative fees

After years of conducting programs in the Midwest and again in the Pacific NW, I am now living in Northern California and am working to expand and teach other musician/teachers how to bring Blues in the Schools to the California foothills, Sacramento and the Bay area.

-Annette Taborn

“The BLUES in SCHOOLS program is exactly the kind of outreach into the community that I wish were being done all over America. It is so important to let kids know about the incredibly rich contribution that Black music has made to so much of the music that we love today. I salute the work Annette Taborn and Blues in Schools is doing to help build" - Bonnie Raitt

Help Bring Blues In Schools to Students!

Please help us continue this wonderful program into the 2026/7 school year.

My name is Annette Taborn, and I am a vocalist, harmonica player, and educator with decades of experience sharing music in schools, community centers, and even prisons. Since 1994, I’ve been leading a program called “Blues in Schools,” introducing young people to the rich history and artistry of this uniquely American art form and its African American origins.

I have assembled a group of talented and dedicated musicians. Currently, we have been working with a classroom of 4th-grade students at Nevada City Schools for the Arts.

We plan to continue this wonderful program at NCSA and other schools.

The program is a unique and special welcome addition to any school's regular curriculum, opening the door for young people to learn not only about music but also about culture, history, and creativity.

But here’s the challenge: schools are underfunded and cannot cover the costs of bringing in guest teaching artists. To make this opportunity possible, I need support to cover supplies and stipends for myself and two incredible musicians who join me in this project. Together, we give students a hands-on, heart-filled experience with the blues—through storytelling, live performance, and participation.

Your donation will help us:

—Pay fair stipends to the three teaching artists

—Provide instruments and materials for student participation

—Cover travel and basic program costs

Our program will consist of:

1. A "kickoff" presentation by the musicians/teachers

2. A 16-session program

3. A live performance by the students presented at the school and in the community.

By supporting this campaign, you are giving children access to a transformative musical experience that nurtures creativity, celebrates cultural heritage, and plants seeds of inspiration for a lifetime.