Avery JAM serves children in the High Country of North Carolina at Banner Elk Elementary School. Avery JAM started as an inter-generational music education program in 2015 at the elementary school, taught by local volunteering old time musicians. Avery JAM is Offered to kids in grades 3-8 and their family members. It is available to all children throughout Avery County during different sessions at varying locations throughout the year (Banner Elk Elementary, Cranberry Middle School, Freedom Trail Elementary). For questions about transportation, please contact the program director (see below). There are also community jams sponsored by Avery JAM the second Saturday of every month at Historic Banner Elk School in the exchange library from 12 – 2 PM. All community members are welcome and beginners encouraged. They will be led by an instructor.
For more information or to sign up, please call Niki Lamotte, Program Director at 919-624-0466.
Current Avery JAM Instructors
Guitar: Floyd Townsend
Guitar: Kathy Khune
Fiddle: Art Lang
Mandolin: Faith Shaffner
Clawhammer Banjo: Ellie Hjemmet
Dulcimer: Edie Ferguson
Bass: Niki LaMotte
Singing: Denisa Dellinger
Avery JAM Advisory Board
Dan Greene
Barbara Roesner
Bruce Roesner
Bobbie Willard
Timothy Cummings
Teresa Taylor
Avery County is rich in musical and other Appalachian cultural history. It is home to Beech Mountain, where the legendary storytelling Hicks family lived. Other notable musicians include Lulu Belle & Scotty Wiseman, Jim & Jennie Vance, and old-time fiddler Red Wilson. The traditions are alive and well today in the area.
Practice Songs for Students – Fall 2017
You Are My Sunshine
You Are My Sunshine (slow)
Where the Roses Never Fade
Where the Roses Never Fade (slow)
Walking in the King’s Highway
Walking in the King’s Highway (slow)
You Are My Flower
You Are My Flower (slow)
Shady Grove
Shady Grove (slow)
Mole in the Ground
Mole in the Ground (slow)
Angel Band
Angel Band (slow)
Angeline the Baker
Angeline the Baker (slow)
Banjo Pickin’ Girl
Banjo Pickin’ Girl (slow)
Farther Along
Farther Along (slow)
Hop High Ladies
Hop High Ladies (slow)
Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace (slow)
Have I Told You Lately
Have I Told You Lately (slow)
Previous Years Practice Songs (mp3)
I’ll Fly Away (medium speed)
I’ll Fly Away (jamming)
Standing in the Need of Prayer (medium speed)
Standing in the Need of Prayer (slow)
She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain (slow)
She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain (medium speed)
She’ll be Coming Around the Mountain (jamming speed)
Polly Wolly Doodle (jamming speed)
Polly Wolly Doodle (slow)
Polly Wolly Doodle (medium)
Oh Susanna (jamming)
Oh Susanna (slow)
Oh Susanna (medium)
My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains (medium)
My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains (slow)
My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains (jamming)
Down in the Valley (jamming)
Down in the Valley (medium)
Down in the Valley (slow)
Crawdad Song (slow)
Crawdad Song (jamming)
Crawdad Song (medium)
Bile Them Cabbage Down (jamming)
Bile Them Cabbage Down (slow)
Bile Them Cabbage Down (medium)
Cotton Eyed Joe (medium)
Cotton Eyed Joe (jamming)
Cotton Eyed Joe (slow)
Buffalo Gals (jamming)
Buffalo Gals (slow)