Super Kidsfest

Winter 2013

Saturday, March 16th

The annual KidsFest at Hagood Mill, to be presented by the Pickens County Cultural Commission on Saturday, March 16, has become a Super KidsFest this year with the addition of a bluegrass and old-time music competition for youth. The event is aimed at young musicians, but music lovers of all ages will enjoy some outstanding performances between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Admission to the event is free. Hosts and emcees Steve McGaha and Gregg Buffalo Barfieldthe Wizards of Oddwill start the day with a concert featuring their music and performances by bands from the Young Appalachian Musicians (YAM) program, an after-school music program in Pickens County schools. Participants in a Found Instrument Workshop will learn how to make traditional musical instruments from found objects. They will decorate their instruments, learn to play them, participate in a big jug band jam scheduled for 1:10 p.m., and take the instruments home with them. Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music (POSAM), will conduct a youth competition starting at 2 p.m. Categories include guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, vocals, an open category for other instruments, as well as a band competition. The competition will be divided into two divisions middle and high school students in one and younger musicians in the other. Registration will take place on site, closing at 1:30 p.m. The Sweet Potato Pie Kids, a band composed of top students from the YAM program, will perform while the youth competition judges are making their decisions. Food concessions will be provided by The Gatehouse Restaurant.
Historic Hagood Mill is located at 138 Hagood Mill Road, just off U.S. Highway 178, north of Pickens. More information can be found online at www.pickenscountymuseum.org and www.yamupstate.com.

IN THIS ISSUE
Super KidsFest TAM YAM Camp 2013 Blue Flame Bluegrass Band Evening Music Program Kathy Gravely - Staff Member Jennifer Bryan- Volunteer Sweet Potato Pie Kids

Pancake Breakfast
Thanks to all who have supporter the pancake breakfast fundraisers in previous months. Please join us on Saturday, March 9th and Saturday, April 13th and well do it again. If youd like to help out by volunteering to bus tables or by collecting money/ tickets for 45 minutes or more, you will get a free breakfast! Please contact Betty McDaniel at 878-4257 if you can help.

TAM YAM CAMP

July 15 - 19, 2013
TAM YAM Camp 2013 information announced! See page 2 ...

TAM YAM Camp 2013

Looking for something to do this summer? How bout Traditional Arts and Music (TAM) YAM Camp?! This years TAM YAM Camp will be held at Pickens Recreation Center July 15th - 19th and is open to all (FROM ANYWHERE) rising 3rd - 8th graders. In the mornings instruction is offered from local musicians in the traditional instrument of their choice. Afternoons will be spent doing many of these activities: outdoor games, nature activities, traditional arts and crafts, clogging and square dancing, water activities, Native American lore, folk singing, and more. Camp cost will be based on school lunch status of participants: paid lunch - $210, reduced lunch - $140, or free lunch - $110. Students not in public school $210. Instruments will be available to rent at a nominal fee for students who do not have their own. Parents must provide transportation each day but lunch will be provided. Camp hours will be 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. but extended care from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. will be provided for an extra fee. This year well

also be having a Jr Counselor Program for students in rising 9th-12 grades. They will take part in some activities as a camper and assist the counselors/instructors in other activities. There will be no charge for camp for Jr Counselors but these positions must be applied for. For campers with more music experience but in middle school, they can assist in some music activities but take part as a camper in others. The tuition rate for these music assistants will be less. Campers will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. If your child is interested, please contact Betty McDaniel by phone at 864-878-4257 or by e-mail at mcdanibw@bellsouth.net.

Blue Flame Bluegrass Band - Update

The Blue Flame Bluegrass Band has been busy lately playing at a private party in Pickens and at Panchos in Liberty where they have been invited back. Please watch Ponchos billboard for the future date. They are also scheduled to perform on May 3rd at the Silver Dollar Music Hall in Long Creek, South Carolina. They recently acquired their own sound system which has been a welcomed addition. Please try to catch one of their performances. They are really good!

Evening Music Program

Have you, or anyone you know, ever wanted to learn to play an instrument? Well, heres the chance! Our Evening Music Program is for anyone from third grade to adult who wants to learn to play an acoustic instrument in the traditional way, by ear. Classes include guitar, mandolin, fiddle, claw hammer banjo, and bluegrass banjo. The next six-week session of classes will start the week of April 15th and will be held at the First Baptist Church in Easley on Tuesday nights, the Pickens Senior Center on Monday and Thursday nights, St. Paul Methodist Church in Greenville on Thursday nights, the Oconee Heritage Center in Walhalla different nights, in Clemson on Thursday nights - location to be decided, and at My Sisters Store in Travelers Rest on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The cost is $60 per six-week session and instrument rental is available for $25 per six-week session. Anyone interested in signing up for the next six-week session should contact Betty McDaniel, by phone at 864-878-4257 or by e-mail at mcdanibw@bellsouth.net by April 15th. Like the Young AppalachianMusician (YAM) program, the Evening Music Program is sponsored by Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music Inc. (POSAM), a charitable non-profit organization.

A Welcomed Opportunity
In the first part of 2009, Mrs. Kathy Brazinski, principal at A. R. Lewis Elementary, asked me if I would help with some kind of music program she was looking into starting at A. R. Lewis during our afterschool program. I just casually said yes without thinking anything else about it. Then in the Spring of 2009, I was asked to sit in on a meeting with Dr. Libba Floyd, principal at Pickens Middle; Mrs. Brazinski; Kerry Tucker, our afterschool director; and Betty McDaniel to discuss the possibilities of writing a music program into a 21st century afterschool grant that Pickens Middle and A. R. Lewis were going to share. It was then that I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into! Ive often thought about why Mrs. Brazinski asked me to be a part of this. I sing at church, but I dont play any instruments! The only thing I could ever come up with is that I was already working in the afterschool program and I am the most country sounding person at A. R. Lewis! Whatever the reason, I sure am glad Mrs. Brazinski asked me because it certainly has been a great experience. This is my fourth year as program director and my second year as YAM newsletter editor. Ive enjoyed getting to know some very talented people!

By Kathy Gravely

Kathy Gravely enjoys helping out as the program director with the YAM after school program at A. R. Lewis.

The Rewards of Volunteering

I first became involved with the YAM program in 2009 when my daughter, Ivy, began mandolin lessons at Ambler Elementary School when she was in the third grade. I saw the program as a wonderful opportunity for her and hoped she would soon feel the same way. Right away it became a very big interest and outlet for her. I began helping at festivals and school performances when I could, and doing some graphic design work here and there, but didnt become real involved until this past year when Ivy made it into the Sweet Potato Pie Kids band (the performing band for YAM). When asked by theYAM director, Betty McDaniel, to be the performance coordinator for the band, I hesitated at first. I wasnt sure what was involved and was afraid it would interfere with my job, creative director and coowner of Vibrant Marketing Solutions. I decided to give it a try since I was very fortunate in being able to work from my home. What a fun journey it has been! Keeping up with the busy schedule for the kids has been a challenging task, but the rewards are endless. Watching the kids improve at every performance and being there to see the joy on their faces when they have successfully impressed and entertained an audience gives me such delight. The phone keeps ringing and the performance

By Jennifer Bryan

requests keep coming. I think this year will be even busier than last. Thankfully, my son Myles and husband, Mike are very supportive of my efforts to be involved with the YAM program and very patient about my crazy schedule. I have also been involved with designing and producing this YAM newsletter that comes out four times a year. I enjoy getting the word out to the community about the wonderful YAM program and how it is positively affecting so many lives. Thank you to all that support it. Jennifer Bryan hanging out with the Sweet Potato Pie Kids at practice.

Sweet Potato Pie Kids Update

The Sweet Potato Pie Kids are keeping up with a very busy schedule this year. They didnt even slow down over the winter. The requests for performances keep coming in. This spring will prove to be a very active season for the kids. Upcoming events include: Bell Fest at Devils Fork State Park in Salem, SC - March 16th; Super KidsFest at Hagood Mill in Pickens, SC - March 16th; Bluegrass Under the Stars at Tri-county Technical College in Pendleton, SC - April 6th; Pancake breakfast fundraiser at The Gatehouse Restaurant in Pickens, SC- March 9th and April 13th; Clemson Area Walk for Water at the Botanical Gardens in Clemson, SC April 21st; ELCMA assembly at Faith Lutheran Chapel in Pickens, SC - April 22nd; The Strawberry Festival in Slater, SC - May 4th; Bluegrass Express in Hartwell, GA - May 11th; and the Issaqueena Festival in Six Mile on May 18th. The kids would like to thank everyone who supported their kickstarter campaign to raise money to record their first CD. They hope to be headed into the studio within the next month or so. To keep up with the Sweet Potato Pie Kids and their busy schedule go to www.facebook.com/ SweetPotatoPieKids.

Support the Young Appalachian Musician Program By Joining

YESIYAM 2013

YESIYAM is a booster club dedicated to promoting community interest and cultivating support for the Young Appalachian Musician program. At a time when many school systems are cutting programs, YAM is reconnecting children with their musical heritage by teaching them to play in the traditional way of the Southern Appalachians, by ear. The program has experienced phenomenal growth and your contribution will help ensure the continuity of the excellent instruction the children have come to expect. Individual/Family Membership $50 Business Membership $125 Instrument Donor $250 Benefactor $1000 Corporate Sponsor $1000 (and above)

Deepest Heartfelt Sympathy is Welcome back to Matt Oglesby as banjo

sent to Mrs. Betty McDaniel on the loss of her father on February 28th. instructor at A. R. Lewis Elementary and Liberty Elementary! Matt had been experiencing some health problems but is feeling much better.

Depending on contribution level, benefits include special recognition in POSAM event programs, the YAM Newsletter and other privileges. Application forms and additional details are available from Betty McDaniel at 864.878.4257 or by emailing yam.upstate@gmail.com.

792 Holly Springs School Road Pickens, SC 29671

This newsletter dedicated to supporting the Young Appalachian Musician program is provided at no charge to all YESIYAM members. The letter is published through volunteer efforts and the support of Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music, Inc. and other sponsors. Editor: Kathy Gravely Designer: Jennifer Bryan Photography: Jeff Catlin and Jennifer Bryan
The Young Appalachian Musician program is sponsored by Preserving Our Southern Appalachian Music, Inc. (POSAM) a charitable non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible. To join the booster club, YESIYAM, or otherwise contribute to the program, donations may be sent to: POSAM, c/o Betty McDaniel, 792 Holly Springs School Road, Pickens, SC 29671. For further information call 864.878.4257 or e-mail yam.upstate@gmail.com.