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. 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 12 plus years. Evening programs for 3rd graders up through adults are currently being held in 3 locations: Easley, Pickens, and Six Mile.
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. 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 12 plus years. Evening programs for 3rd graders up through adults are currently being held in 3 locations: Easley, Pickens, and Six Mile.
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
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Betty McDaniel, Co-Director
864-878-4257, Email: mcdanibw1@gmail.com Tiffany Short, Assistant Director Email: Tdgshort@gmail.com Ambler Elementary
Thursday Dr. Carlton Lewis, Principal Janet Hardin, Program Director jhardin745@bellsouth.net Ben Hagood Elementary Tuesday Jessica Hendricks, Principal Christine Esancy, Co-Program Director ChristineEsancy@gmail.com Lacey Ellenburg, Co-Program Director LaceyEllenburg99@gmail.com Central Academy of the Arts Monday Tish Goode, Principal Kim Keasler, Program Director KimKeasler@pickens.k12.sc.us Dacusville Elementary Wednesday Travis Chapman, Elementary School Principal Cristy Flowers, Program Director CristyFlowers@pickens.k12.sc.us Liberty Elementary Thursday Lowell Haynes, Principal Jared Roper, Program Director JaredRoper@pickens.k12.sc.us |
McKissick Academy of Science and Technology Thursday Heather Touchberry, Principal Nikki Henderson, Program Director NikkiHenderson@pickens.k12.sc.us Pickens Elementary Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (depending on instrument) Shannon Lawton, Principal Tiffany Short, Co-Program Director tdgshort@gmail.com Heather Hennessee, Co-Program Director HeatherHennessee@pickens.k12.sc.us Six Mile Elementary Monday Melissa Terry, Principal Joey Herring, Program Director JoeyHerring@pickens.k12.sc.us West End Elementary Wednesday Angie Garrison, Principal Kela Simpson, Co-Program Director KelaSimpson@pickens.k12.sc.us Kayla Gifford, Co-Program Director kaylagifford@pickens.k12.sc.us Home-School Arts Academy Rebecca Moore, Program Director Alleluiadance@yahoo.com |
POSAM Board of Directors:
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Betty McDaniel, Director
Ryan Ferrell, Treasurer Issac Ferrell, Asst. Treasurer Perry Gravely, Secretary Chad Dalton, Chair Greg Lucas,Vice-chair |
Russ Hennessee
Ed McDaniel Josh Johnson Guy Latham Sondra Hennessee Jan McKenzie Joseph Bowers Leo Pearson |
YAM Ambassadors Council (YAC)
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Rick Baumgarner
Martin Beckman Julie Brown Jennifer Bryan Elaine and Tom Cloer Donna Harden |
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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.
