Avery JAM (NC)

Avery JAM serves children in the High Country of North Carolina at the First Baptist Church in Newland, NC. Avery JAM started as an inter-generational music education program in 2015 at the elementary school, taught by local old time musicians. Avery JAM is offered to students fourth grade and up, including family members. Fiddle, three-finger banjo, guitar, mandolin, bass, singing, dance, and dulcimer lessons are offered. Classes meet on Tuesdays. 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 are encouraged; an instructor will be present.

Current Avery JAM Instructors

Karen Magner, Program Director – Singing, Guitar
Floyd Townsend – Guitar
Janes Rogers – Mandolin
Jennifer Moore – Guitar, Bass
Suzie Solomon – Fiddle
Bobbie Willard – Guitar, Autoharp

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.

Archive of JAM Updates