Kids Love the Blues Camp

Dear Editor,
    Your article about the Blues Camp and Fernando Jones is so true [“Summertime Blues,” Music, June 22]!
    Blues Camp was an amazing experience and opportunity for my grandson to learn more about the blues and the way it has influenced music around the world.
    A "big" 12 year old, Austin is never more than a few feet away from one of his guitars. He is painfully shy, and does not have a combo of other musicians with whom to play. I listen to Austin play his guitar daily, and when I heard him improvising I immediately thought of the blues. We visited the Fender Center in Corona and, on Thursday afternoon, found out about the Blues Camp audition. The audition was on Saturday of that same week. He tried out, made it, and spent five wonderful days (and evenings) learning about and playing the blues. There were several performances that we really enjoyed.
    Mr. Jones and his team were wonderful with the kids. There was no nonsense – they kept the parents and other family members under control, and worked tirelessly to make every kid's experience a memorable one.
    We hope that Austin will be able to participate again next year. In the meantime, he is signed up for another music camp this summer. This time it will be rock & roll ….
    Please support the Blues Camp program in any way that you can. I will continue to support their work.