Blues in a Box

Recently, WSD Middle School students immersed themselves in two uniquely American art forms. Thanks to outreach from the Utah Blues Society, students participated in a Cigar Box Guitar workshop that also celebrated the importance of blues music in American history and culture. Students loved this workshop, which combined hands-on craftsmanship with an actual blues music lesson.

Cigar box guitars go back to the mid-1800’s but are enjoying a modern revival. The box is used as a resonator and the strings are connected either to the end of a broomstick or a wood slat. In this workshop, students were not only able to build a cigar box guitar from start to finish, they learned the classic 12-bar blues progression and played it on their newly built guitars.

The Utah Blues Society is dedicated to cultivating and supporting blues music throughout the state. The Cigar Box Guitar workshop was provided through its “Blues in the Schools” educational outreach program.