Pickens County, SC is located in the upstate piedmont region, near Greenville. The highest point in the state is in Pickens County – Sassafras Mountain. It is also home to Table Rock State Park. With a history steeped in agriculture, the area has many bluegrass and country music traditions which students in the YAM programs are learning to carry on. There are several annual festivals celebrating Southern Appalachian Music.
Dacusville YAM is part of the Pickens County, SC YAM (Young Appalachian Musicians) initiative, supported by P.O.S.A.M, Inc (Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music, Inc.), Pickens County Schools, Pickens Recreation Department, Pickens Senior Citizens’ Center and the Hagood Mill Historial Society. This program offers beginner and intermediate/advanced guitar, beginner and intermediate/advanced mandolin, beginner and intermediate/advanced banjo, beginner and intermediate/advanced fiddle, and YAM band for 2nd year and up students. The program is held Monday and Tuesday afternoons at Dacusville Elementary School, but includes students from both the elementary and middle school.
Current Instructors
Sam Talley – guitar
Logan Redding – banjo (bluegrass)
Kaitlyn Holder – fiddle
Ross Flowers – mandolin
For more information about the YAM program at Dacusville, please contact:
Sondra Hennessee, Co-Director
[email protected]
or Courtney Gibbs, Co-Director
[email protected]
Young Appalachian Musicians website:
Sweet Potato Pie Kids is the performing band for YAM students.