Testimonials From Educators

We of Wardsboro Curtain Call have produced 9 shows so far in our short existence, and all of the artists have been delightful, accommodating, wonderfully talented, and a joy to… Read more “Wardsboro VT – Oct. 2017”

“Scott is a master of anything with strings: his playing is effortless and soulful. He knows the history and the context of the music, and his own songs are sly… Read more “The gold standard”

Scott Ainslie was friendly (I spoke with him after the performance) and he invited students to look for his performances and more information on Youtube and his website. Ainslie was… Read more “Kept Performance Moving”

Scott is an outstanding musician and historian. Students and teachers were actively involved in this assembly. Ainslie was a complete package. Got right into it and didn’t quit ‘til the bell rang.

I have been teaching at my school for 13 years and this was the best cultural event I have attended. Mr. Ainslie was a calming, loving presence for the students.… Read more “Best Event”

Scott’s command of the audience and his professional information was wonderful.

Scott Ainslie was an excellent presenter who understood the age group he was presenting to and provided a program appropriate for that level.

Our students learned about the history and context of African-American influence on the development of blues as well as the birth of the cigar-box guitar and the banjo. Ainslie presented… Read more “Entertaining Singer, Musician, and Speaker”

My students saw a man who was passionate about his music and were exposed to variety of musical instruments. They heard about the history of the Blues. Ainslie combined the… Read more “Well-Educated and Passionate”

My students are 7th graders so this was a great connection between cultural heritage of western Africa that was brought to the U.S. They very much enjoyed the music. They… Read more “Great Connections”

Students experienced what was most likely a music genre that they have never heard before. In addition, they learned about the African influences in American music. Ainslie presented great historical… Read more “Great Historical Information”

A Phi Beta Kappa and honors graduate of Washington & Lee University, Ainslie also studied with elder musicians on both sides of the color line – in the Old-Time southern… Read more “Studied with Elder Musicians”

Ainslie is a beautiful stylist who respects the country blues and acoustic blues music, feels it deep down to his soul, and understands its essence. He is not just an… Read more “An Important Teacher and Protagonist”

Ainslie is one of the most important cultural protagonists of the old blues and Southern musical traditions.

Ainslie is a true master of the old traditions, not just as performer but also as a serious blues historian and musicologist. Here is a guy who gets the African-American… Read more “Mississippi Valley Blues Society”

It’s common knowledge that the vast majority of popular music owes a debt to American blues, but few have set about repaying it with Scott Ainslie’s sense of purpose…Spend a… Read more “A Debt To The Blues”

Thanks so much for your recent presentation on Blues Guitar Music & History at the LeClaire Community Library last Monday evening.  We received so many wonderful comments on your playing… Read more “Mississippi Valley Blues Society”

Thank you for the fantastic program this past Sunday at the NC Museum of History. The seamless mix of music and some of the stories behind it made for a… Read more “Fantastic Program at NC Museum Of History”

Thank you so much for performing yesterday. My students really had a wonderful experience. I had the group you did the workshop with today for class and we talked about… Read more “Students Had A Wonderful Experience”

I wanted to thank you again for the time you spent with our students here at West Cary in North Carolina.  Our kids really appreciated the history you shared, the… Read more “A Consummate Musician”

Once again, I want to thank you for coming to the high school.  It was a wonderful experience for our students, and I appreciate your willingness to perform in the… Read more “Thanks For Coming To The School”

What worked about your show was that it was sophisticated but also intimate.  These students identified with you, with your stories and your struggles, and I think this identification kept… Read more “Sophisticated, But Also Intimate”

With Scott’s performance, you don’t just get a guy singing songs. He’s a great storyteller, historian, and educator. From the minute he starts, you know you’re with someone who cares… Read more “It Doesn’t Get Much Better Than That!”

For our in-house outreaches, Scott Ainslie gave two 50-minute performances for K-8 students (with 300-400 students in each), and kept them engaged and interested the whole time. One parent who… Read more “It Meant A Lot to Our Audience”

I already knew you were an outstanding musician, but watching you interacting with the kids proved that you are a top notch educator as well. I don’t want to go… Read more “Outstanding Musician; Top Notch Educator”

I have worked here for two years and have only seen a standing ovation by a middle school/high school audience one other time.  This is simply an age group that… Read more “Standing Ovation from Students”

Thank you for the opportunity to host musician and historian Scott Ainslie at Park Elementary. Students sang, clapped along and responded thoughtfully and enthusiastically. Even a week later, they recall… Read more “Even A Week Later”

Scott Ainslie’s performance was extraordinary. Students positively glowed throughout the concert and were impressed with his scholarly knowledge of Blues history and his musical technique. Students assigned Ainslie’s show the highest… Read more “Ainslie’s Performance Was Extraordinary”

We are still reeling from the after-effects of your visit. I’ve heard nothing but positive comments from teachers and students who were lucky enough to witness first hand your demonstration… Read more “We Are Still Reeling”

Last, but definitely not least, was Scott Ainslie, a virtuoso of Delta blues slide guitar. When he walked on stage, his 1931 National steel guitar shone like a polished silver… Read more “Blues Like an Electric Shock”

Durham resident Scott Ainslie led the way, accompanied by his trusty National Steel guitar and a heart full of the best of Robert Johnson, Blind Boy Fuller, and Blind Blake.… Read more “He Lives In The Groove”

Scott Ainslie is renowned not only for his Robert Johnson-esque guitar picking, but as a consummate story teller who peppers his shows with heartfelt and often harrowing true stories about… Read more “A Consummate Storyteller”

Your concert was a wonderful success for Calliope. When we set about crafting a unique and diverse series every season, evenings like that and performances like yours are exactly what… Read more “Exactly What We Hope For”

Ainslie is no ordinary Blues musician. Not hardly. He has delved into the music and its history and doesn’t mind sharing it. – “Year’s 10 Best Jazz & Beyond,” Pittsburgh,… Read more “No Ordinary Blues Musician”

It is rare to have a performance that is so completely engaging and so universally praised afterwards. Faculty were impressed that they learned some things about the history of music… Read more “The Best Assembly We’ve Ever Had”

I really enjoyed and appreciated your presentation here at Columbia Falls High School…Your talent and obvious passion for your work impressed me, and your skill at gaining the attention of a large group… Read more “Talent, Passion, Skill”

The kids really, really enjoyed it, and all I talked with got a lot out of the performance and talk, too. My first period…was jumping all over themselves to say… Read more “They All Saw the Same Show”

I had the privilege to be in the audience during your show Friday morning. You delivered a fantastic performance. I teach American history and when my students returned to class… Read more “A Fantastic Performance”

We truly enjoyed your time here and the schools cherished your outreach.  Your blues workshop scored a major impression on the guitarists from all over the West Georgia region.  The… Read more “Magical in Both Song and Storytelling”

During his career, Ainslie has become particularly tied to the life and work of late bluesman Robert Johnson, whose legend states that he sold his soul to the devil at… Read more “Tied to the Life and Work of Robert Johnson”

Scott Ainslie stepped onto the stage and swept back his long, graying hair. He slung his 1931 National, a guitar he bought 20 years ago in a pawn shop in… Read more “Teaching the Historical Roots of Blues”

Scott Ainslie has a high calling. He’s a blues and traditional roots musician, a blues historian, storyteller, teacher, record producer, and ethnomusicologist. He’s developed a strong voice and conscience to… Read more “Scott Ainslie Has a High Calling”

Scott Ainslie was friendly (I spoke with him after the performance) and he invited students to look for his performances and more information on Youtube and his website. Ainslie was… Read more “Kept Performance Moving”

Scott is an outstanding musician and historian. Students and teachers were actively involved in this assembly. Ainslie was a complete package. Got right into it and didn’t quit ‘til the bell rang.

I have been teaching at my school for 13 years and this was the best cultural event I have attended. Mr. Ainslie was a calming, loving presence for the students.… Read more “Best Event”

Scott’s command of the audience and his professional information was wonderful.

Scott Ainslie was an excellent presenter who understood the age group he was presenting to and provided a program appropriate for that level.

Our students learned about the history and context of African-American influence on the development of blues as well as the birth of the cigar-box guitar and the banjo. Ainslie presented… Read more “Entertaining Singer, Musician, and Speaker”

My students saw a man who was passionate about his music and were exposed to variety of musical instruments. They heard about the history of the Blues. Ainslie combined the… Read more “Well-Educated and Passionate”

My students are 7th graders so this was a great connection between cultural heritage of western Africa that was brought to the U.S. They very much enjoyed the music. They… Read more “Great Connections”

Students experienced what was most likely a music genre that they have never heard before. In addition, they learned about the African influences in American music. Ainslie presented great historical… Read more “Great Historical Information”

A Phi Beta Kappa and honors graduate of Washington & Lee University, Ainslie also studied with elder musicians on both sides of the color line – in the Old-Time southern… Read more “Studied with Elder Musicians”

Ainslie is a beautiful stylist who respects the country blues and acoustic blues music, feels it deep down to his soul, and understands its essence. He is not just an… Read more “An Important Teacher and Protagonist”

Ainslie is one of the most important cultural protagonists of the old blues and Southern musical traditions.

I just found two lessons on YouTube.com that you did with high school physics teacher Dr. Tom Altman about resonance and wavelength. I loved the fact that you connected science… Read more “Connecting Science To Music: YouTube.com”

Thank you so much for performing yesterday. My students really had a wonderful experience. I had the group you did the workshop with today for class and we talked about… Read more “Students Had A Wonderful Experience”