Old-Time Stringband & Harmony Singing

Bring your voice, instrument, or both as we explore the musical traditions of Southern Appalachia together. Learn songs and tunes with fun melodies, harmonies, and accompaniment. All stringed instruments welcome! Make good music in a friendly atmosphere and take away a treasure-trove of string band music from a wide variety of sources. This class is accessible for confident beginners and also has plenty of challenges for more advanced musicians and singers.

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Sam Gleaves is a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist from Wytheville, Virginia. He began studying and playing Appalachian music as a teen. As a performer, Sam has collaborated with Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, Peggy Seeger, Sheila Kay Adams, Kay Justice, John McCutcheon, Al and Alice White and Ruth McLain Smith (of the McLain Family Band), and many others. Since 2020, Sam has served as the Bluegrass Ensemble Director and Appalachian Instruments Instructor at Berea College. Sam holds a master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Kentucky.

Deborah Payne is a fiddler from Berea, KY. She carries many years of teaching music to students of all ages and is known for helping build comfort and confidence in students who are just picking up an instrument for the first time. Deborah's experience playing in old time, bluegrass, and folk dance bands has taken her to festivals across the US as well as internationally to Ireland, Denmark, Japan, and China. Deborah currently plays in a band with Sam Gleaves, a duo celebrating the traditions of Appalachian music.