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.

Click this link to explore the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s listing of historic and current musicians from Avery County.

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)