11/16/2023

 

Dear Parent,

 

We are excited to announce that the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is planning a Spring Semester Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program to serve the young people of Townsend and Blount County.  JAM seeks to preserve our important mountain music heritage by offering low cost lessons in fiddle, banjo, guitar, and other instruments of the Appalachian region to small groups of students in after school settings.

 

We are currently hoping to begin a program with in-person registration and orientation on Monday, January 29 4:00pm. Its a 12 week program, we will not meet on 2/19 (Presidents Day) or 3/11 (Spring break) as Blount County Schools will be out those days.  Classes will be offered at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, 123 Cromwell Dr.  Townsend, once a week. Children will need to commit to attendance at all weekly classes.  Transportation from school to the JAM site will not be provided.  Parents will need to pick up students at 6pm. Cost will be kept low. 

 

Tuition for the 12 week program is $180. Payment can be split in 2 or 3 installments, and can be made in cash, check, or card. A limited number of need-based partial and full scholarships are available, please email program director Sarah Pirkle about applying.spirkle@gsmheritagecenter.org

 

Students will receive an after-school snack and instructional sessions once a week for this fee.  Instruments will be provided as available on a loan basis for JAM students during the time of their participation in the program.

 

In order to help us plan the program we need to hear from you.  If you and your child are interested please give us the information requested below.