Stecoah youth program starting back up
Stecoah – As parts of the Graham County community slowly come back to life, 11 young students are back to learning how to play the music endemic to this region.
The Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center’s Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program resumed on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The N.C. Arts Council funded free program teaches students in grades 4-12 how to play traditional instruments including the guitar, fiddle, mandolin and banjo. The program has been offered at the center since 2001 and also exists in similar environments in southern Appalachia, including programs in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina.
At the center, students are learning their instruments through both face-to-face and virtual lessons. Students in the program attend twice-weekly lessons on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
“They’re taught the traditional method, by ear,” said Stecoah Valley Center Assistant Director Jennifer West. “It’s old-time and traditional music.”
The Graham County program currently is staffed by two instructors, mandolinist Joshua Jones and fiddler Larry Barnett. A third student instructor – Brinley Holder – teaches guitar.
The program has not had a banjo instructor for the past few years – and as such, does not currently offer banjo lessons.
“We’re going to try an in-person lesson twice a week, and a virtual lesson once a week,” West said.
Barnett and Holder are teaching face-to-face, while Jones will conduct his lessons virtually. West said the virtual lesson had been going well so far, with Jones able to teach his two beginner mandolin students without any serious technical issues.
Last year, the program ended in March with the first COVID-19 lockdown. As of now, the program is among the first to return since the pandemic began.
“It feels good,” West said. “We’re just looking forward to having some kids back in the building. It’s been a really quiet year.”
She said the program was smaller than normal due to COVID-19, with a normal year usually including up to 25 students.
The program is also taking general precautions against the virus.
“Masks are going to be required per the program’s mandate, and we’ll be sanitizing and maintaining social distancing,” West noted.
She emphasized the importance of the program in ensuring that mountain culture survived.
“It’s important to have the JAM Program to help keep this music and help keep our Appalachian culture alive,” West explained.
For more information on the program, West can be reached at Jennifer@StecoahValleyCenter.com, or at (828) 735-9966.