About JAM
The Jackson County Junior Appalachian Musicians Program (JAM) is an after-school program providing students age 8 and up instruction and performance opportunities in Mountain Heritage Music on traditional Appalachian instruments such as guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin.
In addition to small-group instruction on their instruments, students learn local music history, music theory, ear and rhythm training, and dance. Local guest artists and professional musicians perform for the students to broaden their understanding of the diverse range of traditional music that exists. They learn to play music with each other in supervised jam sessions, and more advanced students participate in a string band.
Classes
Classes are held after school on Wednesdays at WCU’s Coulter Building from 4 – 5:30 PM. We welcome students from Jackson County public schools, private schools, and homeschools, in grades 3 and above.
The registration fee is $125 per 12-week semester. Loaner instruments are made available to students at no cost who need them.
Please contact Kim Oliver, Program Director at jcncjam@gmail.com for more information. You can also like and follow us at www.facebook.com/jcncjam.
The Jackson County JAM program is partially funded by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, as well as the Jackson County Arts Council and the Fontana Regional Library. Support also comes from registration fees, fundraising events, and donations from the public.
Jackson County JAM is an affiliate program of the regional Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc., headquartered in Independence, Virginia. (www.jamkids.org.)
