The mission of the Traditional
Music Program is to strengthen and support the infrastructure
for traditional Appalachian music, story and dance culture
in the Central Appalachian region with an emphasis on
communities in southeastern Kentucky and southwestern
Virginia.
Our objectives are:
• To organize community arts and education programming
that teaches the art of traditional Appalachian music,
story and dance as well as the history, culture and
community of these arts
• To encourage and initiate new activity and support
ongoing events which broaden the region’s traditional
music, storytelling and dance infrastructure
• To build local interest in traditional Appalachian
music through outreach and arts programming at schools,
senior centers, local festivals and regional performance
venues
• To deepen and broaden traditional music education
across the region through the development of curricular
and program models for mountain string band instruments,
storytelling and square dancing
Radio
Broadcasts, Concerts & Festivals
 Appalshop
puts traditional mountain music in the spotlight through
old time programming on WMMT Mountain Community Radio,
Old Time Days concerts and the Seedtime on the Cumberland
Festival. Some of the greatest regional mountain musicians
have been presented to local audiences and WMMT radio
audiences worldwide via internet broadcast. From Art
Stamper to the Dirk Powell & the Foghorn String
Band, the Traditional Music Program brings the best
of traditional mountain musicians, young and old, into
the heart of Central Appalachia and beyond.
Jams, Dances & Storytelling
The Traditional Music Program brings
traditional Appalachian music into the daily lives of
people by helping communities build and sustain ongoing
events such as jam sessions, square dances and storytelling
events. Appalshop is proud to be a part of Central Appalachia’s
living traditions through its work with the Carcassonne
Square Dance—one of the oldest continuing square
dances in the country! From October to May Appalshop’s
Old Time Jam takes place at 1:00 PM on the first Saturday
of each month.
 Masquerade Square Dance band
 Angelyn DeBord teaches children how to tell stories
Visiting Masters
Appalshop strives to provide opportunities
for people in mountain communities to enjoy and interact
with their musical heritage. Throughout the year, the
Traditional Music Project brings local and visiting
musicians into schools, senior centers, nursing homes,
and community centers. Recent visiting masters have
including:
 Art Stamper and his Fiddle Class
Apprenticeship and Recording Projects
The Traditional Music Project documents and preserves Appalachian musical heritage by setting up apprenticeships between master musicians and talented students. Apprentices have included elementary strings teacher Kim Thacker who now teaches old time fiddle tunes to her students and works actively to incorporate mountain music into school curricula. In addition to teaching apprentices, masters make studio recordings with instruction on technique and style, including personal stories of the music’s history and how they learned to play. Shane Hall describes his apprenticeship with banjo master Jimmy McCown: “The only comparison I can draw would be for a rock and roll fan to go, every week, sit down in the living room of Eric Clapton, and let him teach you how to play guitar.”
Passing the Pick and Bow After-School Program
The Passing the Pick and Bow after-school music education program exemplifies the heart and soul of the Traditional Music Project by putting banjos, fiddles, guitars and mandolins in the hands of nearly 100 students each year. Workshops in storytelling, singing and square dancing are also offered, in addition to monthly square dances, and jams. Twice a year Pick and Bow students gather with kids from across the region for Old Time Days for Youth, a full day of music, storytelling, dancing and old timey games.
Old Time Days Workshops
 For over a decade, Appalshop has offered the Old Time Days workshop and concert series in an effort to nurture the rich musical traditions of the area. The workshops provide an affordable way to learn old time music directly from master musicians. Masters such as Art Stamper, George Gibson and Rayna Gellert have taught workshops as well as some of the best beginning-level instructors, Cathy Grant and Trish Kilby-Fore. Old Time Days students have commented on the patience and resourcefulness of their instructors. A recent participant recounted, “A series of musical light bulbs came on throughout the room throughout the day.”
Curriculum Development
The Traditional Music Project has formed an association of music teachers, musicians and community organizers to develop an old time mountain music educational initiative. The Mountain Music Teachers Association (MMTA) works with universities, schools, musicians and community groups to develop a collaborative method of teaching mountain music. The curriculum project aims to create materials that teach not only traditional mountain instruments, but also how to become part of a mountain music community through jamming, dancing, singing, and storytelling.
Suzanne Savell
Traditional Music Program
91 Madison Avenue, Whitesburg, KY 41858
606.633.0108
ssavell@appalshop.org
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