Blues Infusion vs. B&I
Found in: Blues, Composition & Improvisation, Curriculum, Supplemental Programs
Heidi M., Canada
I would love some feedback please… as I really love the Blues Infusion Program (what I have seen so far of it) but also the Blues & Improvisation Program… My F6 student (who has also just completed TFMM and is working through the second part of Chord Drill) is beginning to really love the blues and wants to improvise more (which in itself is a miracle as he never used to want to improvise at all) . Can I do both those Blues related programs with him in parallel or is it more advisable to do Blues & improvisation first and then Blues Infusion. I love the applications (of Blues Infusion ) in Light Blue and see where that can relate to the Gaz and other more advanced blues songs, but the ideas in Blues and Improv are also awesome. I am looking for feedback from those of you who have taught both those Blues programs … Thanks!
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
To clarify:
* The Blues & Improvisation program is part of the Required Core Curriculum (all Special Programs are).
* The Blues Infusion is an optional Supplemental Program.
Having said that, you could out with B&I around Level 3 and teach the 3 basic rhythms with 1-3-5, then adding in Blues Infusion later in L3. This will give students some fun projects with Light Blue. Some of the B&I concepts are also in Blues Infusion; I see those Blues Infusion projects as reinforcing the concepts already taught in B&I.
Going forward, I believe the projects in each program are similar but presented differently. The B&I program seems to present more basic versions of the skills, and Robert Relly goes a bit deeper in Blues Infusion.
Robert R., Kansas
The programs are separate but have some overlap. If your Level 6 student is resistant to going back to Light Blue to add in the ‘Tricks’ from step 1 of the Blues Infusion Program, you could just have him start at the very next step after Tricks, which is ‘Melody Always Follows Chords’. This happens to be the step where the programs overlap but is simply explained from a different angle in my program. From there, I would progress him on to ‘Blues Rhythms’ and ‘Extending the Harmony-7s’. At that point, you could either just continue on with the program in order, or circle back and introduce ‘Tricks’ by demonstrating using Light Blue. Just an idea.
Also, keep in mind that the BIP has student videos that he can watch to reinforce anything you teach in class.
Original discussion started May 11, 2020