Program Description

APPALACHIA: Music & Culture of the Mountains
This fascinating journey takes you on a musical and cultural trip through the Appalachian Mountains in a highly educational and entertaining program. Discover the cultures, traditions, and music of the mountains, tracing the roots of the early settlers and discovering what life was like in the Appalachians. The program covers music, instruments, the nature of sound, geography, pioneer life, where early settlers came from, and more.
During your journey, L.J. will play on 7 different musical instruments, including: fiddle, banjo, pennywhistle, limberjack, jaw harp, harmonica and musical saw.

List of terms:

Fiddle
Banjo
Harmonica
Limberjack
Jaw Harp
Musical saw
Mandolin
Pennywhistle

Musical pieces:

Mole in the Ground
The Haunted Ridge (ghost story with music)
The Pet Pig
Irish Hornpipe
Turkey in the Straw
O Susannah
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Buffalo Gals
Groundhog
Greensleeves
Wabash Cannonball
Ragtime Annie


GUIDELINES FOR FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION

Q: What instruments were used in the mountains?
A: banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, autoharp, jew’s harp, pennywhistle, musical saw.

Q: What is drawn against the strings of a violin to produce sound?
A: A bow.

Q: From what materials were bows originally made?
A: Wood and hair from a horse’s tail.

Q: In folk and mountain music, what is the violin called?
A: A fiddle.

Q: What is the difference between a violin and a fiddle?
A: The type of music that is being played on it: Classical: violin; Folk &
Mountain music: Fiddle.

Q: What is an “Acoustic” instrument?
A: An instrument that is non-electric.

Q: What is “Instrumental” music?
A: Music with no words or lyrics.

Q: How do you play a “wind” instrument?
A: You blow air through it.

Q: In what part of the country are the Appalachian Mountains?
A: They are in the eastern part of the country.

Q: Name some states in the Appalachian Mountain chain.
A: Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York

Q: Where did the early settlers come from?
A: Europe, British Isles, Ireland.

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT FEEDBACK
ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENTS TO WRITE TO US
USING ONE OF THESE BEGINNINGS

What was your favorite part of the program?

Which instrument of the Appalachians would you play and why?

Listening to this type of music made me think of...

The Appalachian Mountains and its music peaked my interest because…

Watching this program made me realize that…