Thursday, June 18, 2009

Mountain Mysteries Camp



This week Alma has been able to attend this great day camp at WCU. Two of the Mountain Heritage Museum curators, Mr. David and Mr. Peter, teach 12 children (ages 8-12) Appalachian history, culture, folk arts, music, and botany. She made a quill and wrote her name in Cherokee, made a candle out of beeswax, cooked on an open fire, walked trails, played games the pioneers enjoyed, and enjoyed mountain music. Alma and I have an appreciation of country, bluegrass, and ballads. I love the litarary and historical signficance and the haunting sounds. Yesterday at the camp, Mr. David and a guest named Will entertained the kids with a concert. Will is a 22 year old who is an expert fiddle player and even makes his own fiddles out of maple. I got to hear a few tunes as I picked Alma up. As everyone was leaving, we heard more fiddle playing, so walked back in the auditorium. David was standing on the stage alone playing. No one else was in there, so we walked down to the front. I asked him if he knew any ballads. Duhh, of course he did. He asked Alma to sing "Miss Margaret" as he played. She joined him and did her most beautiful performance ever and the acoustics and lighting also added to to. As she was singing, her teachers wandered back in. I could see from their expressions that I am not impressed only because I am her mother. They were so surprised that a Florida girl knows these old songs, and gave me tips on how I can help to enrich this and continue her learning in folk music. I told them that I hesitate to tell mountain people that I am from Florida, because of the stereotype associated with Floridians. They assured me that they know that some Floridians are real southerners and not "half-backs"-people who move from up north, live in Florida awhile, then make it halfway back home showing their yankee ways with Florida license plates. Anyway, it was a chill-bump moment of Alma singing with and for these people. In fact, David personally knows Sheila Kay Ash! He told me I need to get her into banjo or fiddle lessons. hmmmm in The Villages?

5 comments:

  1. Hey Amy...this blog is awesome. I love that you have this time with all your big girls and little girls. Wish I was there too. Sounds like you're having a blast. Keep up the great posts! --lisa

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  2. I am sooo glad that some of the "right" people got to hear her sing. Who knows what will come of this, but I got "all a flutter" when I read this :)

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  3. Traci took fiddle lessons a couple of years ago.....I will ask her about it and let you know. I love reading all about what's going on with you guys....

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  4. This is so neat. Your Mom e-mailed me just a day or so ago and then Jill sent your blog site so that we all could keep up with you all. It was funny because I was just thinking what Niter was doing when i go her e-mail. She wasn't even in town but in NC. This blog will be so special in years to come. Somethings are funny and I can just see your face..I'll keep watching to see what happens next. Take care..
    Cindy

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  5. I know Alma has got to be enjoying all the new adventures. I'm so glad she's been able to experience it all. I wish you would have had the video camera.

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