Performing Blues and Americana

Why the Blues?

The programme is suitable for singers, band members or solo musicians. During the entire programme you will be mentored by teachers from the Little Steven’s Blues School – competent teachers with extensive experience of stage and studio, as well as master classes and mentoring by both national and international artists. The blues programme at USN offers you a unique opportunity to explore the musical and cultural universe of the blues, together with other students.

Why Notodden?

Notodden is renowned as Europe’s number one blues destination. In partnership with the Notodden Blues Festival, students will have the opportunity to participate in the festival, as well as in jam sessions and concerts throughout the year. Notodden library has an award-winning blues collection, which includes a huge volume of blues literature and LPs and many artefacts donated by both artists and private individuals. In the fabled Juke Joint Studio, students will make recordings on legendary recording equipment, including equipment from the famous Stax Studio in Memphis.

What will you learn in the Blues Programme?

Over a period of two semesters you will engage in in-depth studies of the styles and traditions of blues music. Performing and collective music-making are key components of the blues programme.

You will develop meaningful reflections regarding the significance this unique Afro-American music has had on the evolution of popular music. Afro-American music will also be placed in a societal context in which the students, through historical analysis and reflection, establish a broad basis for understanding Afro-American culture in terms of both the past and the present.

Once you have completed your studies as a blues student, you will have acquired good knowledge about one of the most fundamental musical genres to permeate contemporary popular music.

It is also possible to take individual modules from the study programme. Contact the student adviser if you need help applying for modules.

Performance and music-making

Together with your fellow students, you will broaden your skills on your main instrument through group interaction and as a band member. The teachers will provide both individual and group mentoring.

There will be scope for creativity and personality regarding how you solve the various musical tasks: You will also learn to place the music in a historical perspective and recognise key elements and artists.

In cooperation with the Notodden Blues Festival, you will have the opportunity to perform concerts at various venues in the town throughout the year.

Studio work

Another key element of the programme is creating music and recording it in a studio. USN is proud to have the opportunity to use the Notodden Blues Festival’s renowned Juke Joint Studio in the Book & Blues House. Using analogue music technology – such as vintage microphones, rare backlines, tape recorders and an old plate reverb – together with state-of-the-art digital technology, you will make your own studio recordings together with others or on your own.

Notodden Campus also has his own studio that you are free to use during the opening hours on campus.

Reflection and immersion in the blues

As well as learning about the different traditions and styles of the blues genre, you will have the opportunity to identify and strengthen your own personal form of expression.

You will also create a project assignment using relevant issues to reflect on the historical and societal role of the blues in popular and contemporary culture. The assignment can either be prepared as a solo or group work and can be submitted either as a musical performance or in the form of a written paper.

Bluegrass

In this subject you will acquire an understanding of the bluegrass tradition through listening, imitation, interpretation and in-depth study from a historical perspective. We use the main instrument and voice in order to gain an in-depth understanding of how grooves and harmonics progress through a set of reference songs. Acquiring fundamental skills in bluegrass will give you the key to solving musical challenges way beyond this genre.