Participation Type
Roundtable
Session Title
Session 9.15 Music: Teaching Old-Time Music in Higher Education
Session Abstract or Summary
This session will gather together teachers from East Tennessee State University, Morehead State University, and Warren Wilson College to discuss various methodologies for teaching traditional music at the college level in an institutional setting. The roundtable discussion will focus on ensemble classes, individual instruction, and performance, and the ways that we have found to provide context and a semblance of the oral tradition in our teaching. Both Morehead State University and East Tennessee State University offer bachelors degrees in traditional music, and Warren Wilson College has an Appalachian Music Program and a minor in traditional music. All three offer old-time music instruction alongside bluegrass instruction and we will discuss some similarities and differences between the approaches to teaching the two musics. We will also share our observations on what directions we are seeing the music take, and the various orientations of young, serious-minded traditional musicians.
Presentation #1 Title
Teaching Old-Time Music in Higher Education
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This session will gather together teachers from East Tennessee State University, Morehead State University, and Warren Wilson College to discuss various methodologies for teaching traditional music at the college level in an institutional setting. The roundtable discussion will focus on ensemble classes, individual instruction, and performance, and the ways that we have found to provide context and a semblance of the oral tradition in our teaching. Both Morehead State University and East Tennessee State University offer bachelors degrees in traditional music, and Warren Wilson College has an Appalachian Music Program and a minor in traditional music. All three offer old-time music instruction alongside bluegrass instruction and we will discuss some similarities and differences between the approaches to teaching the two musics. We will also share our observations on what directions we are seeing the music take, and the various orientations of young, serious-minded traditional musicians.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Roy Andrade is a musician and assistant professor in Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music Studies at ETSU. He is a former member of Reeltime Travelers and a current member of New Reeltime Travelers and the Blue Ridge Trio, and has played major festivals and venues across the country including the Grand Ole Opry and the film tours for Down From the Mountain and Cold Mountain.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Jesse is host of "Pickin' Parlor" on Morehead State Public Radio on the air from 2 to 4 p.m. each Sunday. He performs regularly with the Clack Mountain String Band and Kentucky Wild Horse. He has been invited to teach workshops at the Festival of American Fiddle tunes, Port Townsend, WA; Appalshop, Whitesburg, KY; and the Old Town School of Folk Music's Old-time Festival, Chicago IL.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Phil is nationally-known as a dance caller, old-time musician, and flatfoot dancer. Phil teaches mathematics as well as Appalachian music at Warren Wilson College, where he also coordinates the Old-Time Music and Dance Week at the Swannanoa Gathering.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Raymond McLain, noted performer, composer and educator is the Director of the Traditional Music Center at Morehead State University. He started his professional music career in 1969, when his family began their weekly television series in Hazard, Ky. A highly respected multi instrumentalist and an exciting onstage performer, he is among the most well traveled musicians in his field, having performed in 63 different countries at venues including Carnegie Hall, The Grand Ole Opry. Finlandia Hall, The Carter Fold and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Teaching Old-Time Music in Higher Education
This session will gather together teachers from East Tennessee State University, Morehead State University, and Warren Wilson College to discuss various methodologies for teaching traditional music at the college level in an institutional setting. The roundtable discussion will focus on ensemble classes, individual instruction, and performance, and the ways that we have found to provide context and a semblance of the oral tradition in our teaching. Both Morehead State University and East Tennessee State University offer bachelors degrees in traditional music, and Warren Wilson College has an Appalachian Music Program and a minor in traditional music. All three offer old-time music instruction alongside bluegrass instruction and we will discuss some similarities and differences between the approaches to teaching the two musics. We will also share our observations on what directions we are seeing the music take, and the various orientations of young, serious-minded traditional musicians.
