Museum Center serving up bluegrass JAM in September

The Museum & Cultural Center at 5ive Points is set to become the home of one of Southeast Tennessee’s first Junior Appalachian Musicians programs.

This initiative aims to teach children the rich traditions of old-time and bluegrass music, marking a significant cultural milestone for the Ocoee region.

JAM, founded in Alleghany County, North Carolina, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional Appalachian music.

The program offers instruction in fiddle, banjo, mandolin and guitar, focusing on small group settings to foster a deep connection to the music.

“Our mission is to provide communities with the tools and support they need to teach children to play and dance to traditional old time and bluegrass music,” JAM states on its website.

The introduction of JAM aligns with the Museum Center’s mission to connect members of the community to the Ocoee region’s past, present and future. “This program helps us tell the story of the Ocoee region, of which bluegrass music is a huge part,” Lucy Rymer, the museum’s executive director, said. “It fits right in there with arts, culture and education.”

The initial phase of the program will accommodate up to 25 students, depending on the availability of funding and interested instructors.

“We try to make our programs free or very low cost, but that is highly dependent on sponsors,” Rymer said.

Currently, the program has secured about a third of the necessary funding. To ensure that the program is accessible to all children, the Museum Center aims to offer free weekly lessons and provide instruments at no charge, allowing students to take them home and continue practicing.

Classes are set to begin in mid-September and will run weekly throughout the school year, culminating in performances around Christmas and in mid-April.

“If we get the funding we hope for, there might be a possibility for a summer camp next year,” Rymer said.

The JAM program at the Museum Center promises to enrich the community by preserving its musical heritage and providing children with valuable cultural experiences.

“This is something that we hope becomes a regular part of our program that people can count on every year,” Rymer added.

Looking to the future, the program aims to grow and potentially include additional community activities. “I’d love to see maybe an old-time JAM start after the JAM classes,” she said. “We could establish a great bluegrass festival to go along with that. The possibilities are limitless.”

For more information or to support the Museum Center’s JAM program, contact info@museumcenter.org.