The Junior Appalachian Musicians Program (JAM) Comes to Jackson County

Celebrating the Musical Heritage of the Southern Appalachians
submitted by Amy Ammons Garza

Currently in over a dozen mountain counties in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the Junior Appalachian Musicians Program (JAM) is providing access to the joy of music to hundreds of youth while instilling renewed interest and pride in their heritage. JAM introduces children to the music of their heritage through small group instruction in instruments common to the Appalachian region--banjo, fiddle, mandolin, guitar and dulcimer.

Instrument, dance and vocal instruction are augmented by stringband classes providing children opportunities to play and perform in small and large groups. JAM strives to make the program accessible to all students by providing free or low cost instrument loans and free or highly subsidized tuition. Field trips, visiting artists and an introduction to the rich history of music unique to local communities round out program offerings.

The program began in the spring of 2000, when local musicians and educators founded JAM in Alleghany County, NC. They realized the need to preserve a vital aspect of mountain culture as well as offer positive activities to under served youth. Interest in the program has spread rapidly with the National Endowment for the Arts, NC State Arts Council, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and “The Crooked Road - Virginia's Heritage Music Trail” providing partial funding to numerous individual programs in the region.

In 2008, the “Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc” was officially incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)3 tax exempt corporation to promote a shared vision and values and to provide an umbrella through which to offer resources, training materials and activities to benefit programs individually and collectively. For more information about the program, go to www.jaminfo.org.


JAM Comes to Jackson County - on March 24, 2011, a group of interested local leaders met at the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University to discuss the formation of an affiliate program of the regional JAM program out of Galax, VA—the Junior Appalachian Musicians Program of Jackson County Led by Helen White, founder of JAM, items discussed in getting the program started were many: community needs; target audience; teachers and training methods; site selection and management, goals and objectives; budget, finance and fundraising.

Results of this meeting set the wheels in motion for the implementation of an after-school program for Jackson County in the fall of 2011, providing instruction and performance opportunities for youth in traditional Appalachian & bluegrass string instruments. Upfront funding was granted by the Jackson County Arts Council, with other grant applications in the works.  Currently, selected board members are Ray Menze, Heather Gordon, David Brewin, Pam Dengler, Peter Koch and Amy Ammons Garza, with David Brewin chosen as the director of the program. Sponsoring Agent is the Jackson County 4-H.

Details of the startup of the program this first year:
1) Group Instruction will be offered in Fiddle, Guitar, & Banjo
2) After school classes will be taught by noted local traditional artists
3) One group class in each instrument once per week: October – December, 2011
4) Site: Cullowhee Valley School, 240 Wisdom Dr., Cullowhee, NC 28723
5) Offered to youth in grades 4 – 8 (ages 9-13), any Jackson County public school or homeschool
6) Class size a maximum of 6 students
7) Instrument rentals will be available, cost will depend upon program funding and instrument donations
8) Registration will be held in September, 2011 (contact: Heather Gordon, 828-586-4009)
9) Cost: $5 per class (11 classes = $55)
10) Instructors: David Brewin & Billy Norton, Guitar; Pam Dengler & Will Ritter, Fiddle; Dustin Norris, Banjo

Individual contributions of money or instruments is needed. Instrument contributions are coordinated by Ray Menze at 828-293-3407. Contributions (made out to Jackson County 4-H) should be sent to Heather Gordon, Jackson County 4-H, 538 Scotts Creek Rd, Suite 205, Sylva, NC 28779.
For more information contact: Ray Menze at 828-293-3407 or men8r@aol.com or Pam Dengler at 828-506-8802 or fidderpd@yahoo.com.