Contact: Sue Ella Boatright-Wells
September 7, 2007

Mountain Music “Jam” Sessions at MECC

After a very successful Mountain Music School in August, Mountain Empire Community College is once again creating hands-on learning experiences in traditional music. Offering courses in banjo, fiddle, guitar, keyboarding, mandolin, shape-note singing and old-time string band, the college has the most extensive traditional music program in the region. The instructors for the classes are some of the area’s best traditional musicians, and they encourage students to take advantage of all the local opportunities they have to hear the music being played live.

In addition to making students aware of the rich musical resources available to them, the college has created a Traditional Music Jam for local musicians. The “Jam” takes place every third Saturday until the completion of the school year. Musicians gather at the Goodloe Center foyer starting around 1 p.m., and play a lively blend of tunes and songs until 4 p.m.  Any musician who plays a stringed, non-electric instrument is invited to participate, and in keeping with MECC’s teaching role, students with beginning and intermediate skills are welcomed.

The first Mountain Music Jam will take place on September 15 at the Goodloe Center on the campus of MECC.  Music Program Coordinator Ron Short invites all musicians, including his former students and friends, to come and play along or just listen until you feel comfortable enough to join in.

                “There is no ‘right way’ or ‘wrong way’ to play these tunes, but it does help if we can all agree on the same key,” jokes Short. “The great thing about this music is that it invites people to create their own styles and interpretations of the tunes.”

                For more information about MECC’s traditional music courses or the college’s upcoming mountain music “jam” sessions, contact Sue Ella Boatright-Wells at (276) 523-7464 or sboatright@me.vccs.edu.

Area musicians who play a stringed, non-electric instrument are invited to participate in a Traditional Mountain Music Jam, every third Saturday of the month, beginning on September 15.  The “jam” sessions will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Goodloe Center on the campus of Mountain Empire Community College.

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