About Alleghany JAM
Preserving Appalachian Heritage Through Music
Our Mission
Alleghany JAM (AJAM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Appalachian Heritage by enriching the lives of youth in our community through traditional music. Thank you to our sponsors!
Preserving Appalachian Heritage
Since its inception, over 2500 students have participated in Alleghany JAM, and it has become a well-respected entity within and beyond the county. It is funded through grants, donors, and fundraising events.
Enriching The Lives Of The Youth
Alleghany JAM fosters a safe space for students to belong. We offer performance opportunities both at our JAM House and in the community and festivals that build self-confidence and self-esteem. Over our twenty-three years we have touched lives that have been impacted both through music and by the encouragement of mentor teachers who have made that shy, oft overlooked student feel like they belonged. Last year, one of our students got in his mother's car after class and said, "I love Alleghany JAM. It's my happy place!" With the struggles many children face today, providing them their "happy place" while continuing to honor the musical traditions of our past, seems an honorable mission.
Making Music Together!
We have a caring staff who mentors these young, budding musicians not only in music, but in the joy and magic of making music together. They have opportunities to jam with their friends during our instruction day and before and after class in their free time.
What we offer
The Appalachian Arts Class
This class introduces a variety of traditional arts to our students, offering a Reader's Theater based on traditional stories, a songwriting class, and an art class that combine song and illustration with the creation of a crankie.
What we offer at
Alleghany JAM
Alleghany JAM provides student instruction in traditional music three days a week. We serve all three elementary schools in the county and home schoolers in both Alleghany County and Grayson County, VA. For twenty-three years, Alleghany Junior Appalachian Musicians (AJAM) has provided:
- Traditional music instruction for children in grades 3 - 8.
- Esteem-building performance opportunities.
- Enrichment opportunities such as visiting artists and field trips.
- Positive adult relationships with instructors.
Small group instruction by master traditional artists is offered twice weekly, 2.5hr/day after school, 12 weeks each semester in addition to summer performance opportunities.
Annual student enrollment averages 60 students. Students choose a primary instrument (fiddle, banjo, guitar, or mandolin) then two activities (traditional dance, bass, dulcimer, ukulele or singing) To ensure equity, Alleghany JAM provides instruments to students free and offers scholarships to those students in need.
What we offer
Classes for Adults
Instruments Classes
AJAM offers afternoon and evening instrument classes for adults. We offer single instrument group classes such as Beginning Guitar and Intermediate Banjo as well as a String Band class that includes all the traditional old-time instruments.
Our Journey
Since its inception, Alleghany JAM over 2500 students have participated in Alleghany JAM, and it has become a well-respected entity within and beyond the county. It is funded through grants, donors, and fundraising events. Today it serves students in grades 3-8 teaching classes in guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass, dulcimer, dancing, and singing.
2000
Started in the spring of 2000 by Helen White, who noticed that the once-prolific music traditions of the area were no longer celebrated.
2016
Alleghany JAM became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
2017
Until 2017, JAM was housed by Sparta School, but it received no direct funding from the school system.
2018
JAM moved from the school into a nearby house and further established itself as a separate entity.
2022
Built outdoor performance stage for student concerts and community events such as our Coffee House and Singing Circles.
Our History
Alleghany JAM was started in the spring of 2000 by Helen White, a guidance counselor and musician, who noticed that the once prolific music traditions of the area were no longer celebrated by the average student or family. She was also deeply concerned about the general cultural isolation of students and their families and saw the reintroduction of the music of the region as an appropriate means of offering positive after school activities for kids that would also generate community pride across the generations.
Until 2017, JAM was housed by Sparta School, but it received no direct funding from the school system. In 2016, Alleghany JAM became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In 2018, JAM moved from the school into a near by house and further established itself as a separate entity.
Since its inception, Alleghany JAM over 2500 students have participated in Alleghany JAM, and it has become a well-respected entity within and beyond the county. It is funded through grants, donors, and fundraising events. Today it serves students in grades 3-8 teaching classes in guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass, dulcimer, dancing, and singing.
Our Impact
1,200+ Students
participated in JAM
20+ Annual Events
catering both young and old
100+ Donors
...and counting!
Year 2000
Alleghany JAM was started by Helen White
Get Involved!
Need more information? Call 336-572-5266 now!
