The Junior Appalachian Musicians program, more commonly known as JAM, is an after-school program for primarily grades 4-8, with some students carrying on afterward as mentors. The program began in Sparta, NC, with the Alleghany JAM in 2005 to bring music into the school systems and continue to educate students in traditional Appalachian music and instruments. Supported by the NC Arts Council and others, the program is now a successful non-profit program across seven states with 65 affiliates and 205 teachers: West Virginia, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Music featured in this episode includes:
- Steve Kilby, “Forked Deer”
- Appalachian Heartstrings, “Lonesome John”
- Strictly Strings, “Cindy”
- The Burnett Sisters Band, “Cumberland Gap”
- Cary Fridley and Travis Stuart, “A Rovin’ on a Winter’s Night”
- Carley Arrowood, “Dear Juliana”
To learn more about JAM, visit JAMKids.org and BlueRidgeMusicNC.com.