Karen Bump,Traditional Music Coordinator
740-592-1488

Rural Action, Project Sponsor 740-767-4938

E-mail Rural Action:
info@ruralaction.org

E-mail Arts and Heritage
raarts@ruralaction.org

New! Rural Action's first Community Toolbox Book is now available:
Community Murals Handbook & Case Studies

Arts and Heritage Program Staff:

Bram Riddlebarger, VISTA

Did your grandfather play fiddle tunes? Maybe you remember your grandmother and mother singing old-time songs to you as a child.

Ohio's Appalachian counties are a rich source of traditional, old-time music, much of it passed along through the oral tradition from generation to generation. Old hymns, canal songs, ballads, dance tunes and instrument-building traditions were brought to our region by families with roots in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, the Germanic states and Africa.

Mission of the Project

The Traditional Music Preseravtion Project is part of Rural Action's Arts and Cultutal Heritage Program. The goal of the project is to preserve old-time music on videotape so that it will exist for future generations and to promote local traditional musicians throughout Southeast Ohio. The project seeks out and records traditional musicians and singers in Athens, Meigs, Vinton, Morgan, Hocking, Perry and Washington counties. Our archived recordings include 13 traditional musicians on fiddle, banjo, guitar, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer and vocals. Videos of the project are available at area museums, libraries, historical societies, schools and the Ohio Arts Council Library.

Apprenticeships

We have information available for musicians interested in becoming an apprentice to a 'master' old-time musician. Call or write for more details.



Traditional Music Gatherings
Jam sessions are held twice a month, one in Trimble and one in Athens. All singers and acoustic musicians are welcome, whether you are a beginner or a master musician.

History of Appalachian Music

We can arrange a presentation on the history of Appalachian music, which includes demonstrations of various instruments and music. If your organization has interest in a presentation, please call us. A small fee is requested which goes to support local musicians.

Hocking College Partnership

Rural Action has recently partnered with Hocking College on the Traditional Music Preservation Project. Hocking College is a two-year technical college based in Nelsonville Ohio, located in the scenic Hocking Valley. Using all digital equipment provided by Hocking College, students in Broadcast Engineering and Production receive class credit for recording and editing old-time musicians. Hocking College also archives the footage so it will exist for many future generations.