JAM believes

that children who are actively engaged in traditional mountain music are more connected and better prepared to strengthen their communities for future generations.

We envision

a world in which all children have the opportunity to experience community through the joy of participating in traditional mountain music together.

Our mission

is to provide communities with the support and tools they need to teach children to play and dance to traditional old time and bluegrass music.

What’s Happening in the JAM World

Youth Music Festival and Competition

Join us Saturday, May 13 to enjoy this youth event in Southwest Virginia hosted by The Crooked Road at the SWVA Cultural Center and Marketplace (formerly known as Heartwood). This event features workshops and competition for youth musicians.

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A Clover Picker at the Earl Scruggs Music Festival

by Anna Tokar Anna Tokar, from Tryon, NC, is 15 years old and has played fiddle in the PacJAM program since age 10.                       PacJAM students dance the Virginia Reel at the Flint Hill Stage at the first Earl Scruggs Festival Photo by Eli Johnson It was months ago when I was told that our band, the Clover Pickers - a house band of Tryon Fine Arts Center’s Pacolet Junior Appalachian Musicians - would be playing at the Earl...

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Free Tix to Earl Scruggs Memorial Fest!

We wanted to remind you to please ask your JAM students and staff to register by Sunday night, August 28th for our regional JAM Gathering & FREE access to the Earl Scruggs Festival next weekend, September 2nd & 3rd. This weekend is entirely FREE for ANY JAM kid, plus one parent (or JAM-teacher chaperone) per family, including meals. Participants may lock-in for with their own sleeping bags at Tryon Fine Arts Center, or camp with their families for $75 at the Festival. We have an exciting...

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