YAM introduces children to the traditional music of their heritage. Realizing the need to preserve this vital aspect of mountain culture as well as of positive activities for our youth, local educator, Betty McDaniel, began the program in January, 2008 with thirty two 3rd-5th graders at Holly Springs Elementary. Local traditional musicians teach students to play time-honored music on fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and banjo by ear – the traditional way. Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music (POSAM), Inc. is the non-profit that supports the YAM program.
The model that was used to create the YAM program was the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program which originated in Sparta, NC by a traditional musician, Helen White. Realizing the need to preserve a vital aspect of mountain culture as well as offer positive activities to under served youth, local musicians and educators, she founded JAM in Alleghany County, NC. , which serves as the central resource center for JAM programs currently located throughout western North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. The geographic target area of JAM includes all of the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountains. YAM is now an affiliate of JAM.
Currently the YAM program provides instruction to over three hundred 3rd-8th grade students enrolled in the after-school program offered at 12 schools/sites in Pickens County. Pickens High School has bluegrass in the curriculum and a bluegrass string band. Sweet Potato Pie Kids is the performing band for YAM that promotes the YAM program by playing at various venues throughout the year. A traditional arts and music day camp, TAM YAM Camp, has been held for the past nine years. Evening programs for 3rd graders up through adults are held in 6 upstate locations: Easley, Greenville, Pickens, Six Mile, Walhalla and Clemson.
As with all things, instruments and instruction come at a cost. The goal of the program is to keep the tuition to the lowest level possible so that all interested youth will have an opportunity to carry on the heritage of our traditional Southern Appalachian music. To help assure this, the minimal tuition / rental fees are set on a sliding scale based on what the student pays for their school lunch. The program stands alone, and only receives funding from tuition, grants, sponsorships, fundraisers, and donations.
The model that was used to create the YAM program was the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program which originated in Sparta, NC by a traditional musician, Helen White. Realizing the need to preserve a vital aspect of mountain culture as well as offer positive activities to under served youth, local musicians and educators, she founded JAM in Alleghany County, NC. , which serves as the central resource center for JAM programs currently located throughout western North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. The geographic target area of JAM includes all of the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountains. YAM is now an affiliate of JAM.
Currently the YAM program provides instruction to over three hundred 3rd-8th grade students enrolled in the after-school program offered at 12 schools/sites in Pickens County. Pickens High School has bluegrass in the curriculum and a bluegrass string band. Sweet Potato Pie Kids is the performing band for YAM that promotes the YAM program by playing at various venues throughout the year. A traditional arts and music day camp, TAM YAM Camp, has been held for the past nine years. Evening programs for 3rd graders up through adults are held in 6 upstate locations: Easley, Greenville, Pickens, Six Mile, Walhalla and Clemson.
As with all things, instruments and instruction come at a cost. The goal of the program is to keep the tuition to the lowest level possible so that all interested youth will have an opportunity to carry on the heritage of our traditional Southern Appalachian music. To help assure this, the minimal tuition / rental fees are set on a sliding scale based on what the student pays for their school lunch. The program stands alone, and only receives funding from tuition, grants, sponsorships, fundraisers, and donations.
Administration
Betty McDaniel, Executive Director
864-878-4257, Email: mcdanibw1@gmail.com
Pauline Blackston, Assistant Director
Email: blackspm1@outlook.com
864-878-4257, Email: mcdanibw1@gmail.com
Pauline Blackston, Assistant Director
Email: blackspm1@outlook.com
Pauline Blackston, our YAM Assistant Director, has regular office hours for YAM business at Holly Springs Center, 120-B Holly Springs School Road, Pickens, 29671. She is there every Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm if anyone needs to drop by or call. The phone number is 864-878-9335.
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Ambler Elementary
Carlton Lewis, Principal Janet Hardin, program director janethardin@pickens.k12.sc.us Ben Hagood Elementary Paula Alexander, Principal Christine Esancy , program director ChristineEsancy@gmail.com YLA Charter School Sandee Blankenship, Principal Gretchen Carpenter, program director GretchenCarpenter@gmail.com Dacusville Elementary and Middle School Travis Chapman, Elementary Principal Wanda Tharpe, Middle School Principal Cristy Flowers, program director CristyFlowers@pickens.k12.sc.us Liberty Elementary Lowell Haynes, Principal Suzanne Aldridge, program director SuzanneAldridge@pickens.k12.sc.us Chastain Road Elementary Jessica Patterson, Principal Mary Johnson, program director Maybelle.johnson@gmail.com Pickens Elementary Donna Harden, Principal Tiffany Short, co-program director tiffanyshort@pickens.k12.sc.us |
Pickens Middle School
James King, Principal Tom Kelley, program director tomkelley1@att.net Six Mile Elementary Melissa Terry, Principal Jan Nations, Program Director JanNations@pickens.k12.sc.us Getty's Middle School Mr. Michael Cory, Principal AleciaGilcrease, program director aleciagilcrease@pickens.k12.sc.us Home-School Arts Academy Rebecca Moore- program director Alleluiadance@yahoo.com Central Academy of the Arts Tish Goode, Principal Kim Keasler- program director KimKeasler@pickens.k12.sc.us McKissick Academy of Science and Technology Heather Touchberry, Principal Ashley Gilbert- program director AshleyGilbert@pickens.k12.sc.us |
POSAM Board of Directors:
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Betty McDaniel, Director
Chad Dalton, Secretary Russ Hennessee, Treasurer Ryan Ferrell, Chair Greg Lucus,Vice-chair |
Perry Gravely
Russ Hennessee Donna Harden Ed McDaniel Frank Porter Mandy Ellenburg Josh Johnson Guy Latham Sondra Hennessee |
YAM Ambassadors Council (YAC)
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Rick Baumgarner
Martin Beckman Joey Bowers Julie Brown Jennifer Bryan Elaine and Tom Cloer Wayne Erbsen |
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Mission Statement
To create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to participate and perpetuate the old time music, bluegrass music and dance traditions of the Southern Appalachians.
