Calling all youth musicians who play guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and bass! You’re invited to a bluegrass jam just for you and your peers. Come make some music with other young musicians in the area who enjoy playing the same types of music you do!
This jam will include some skill building, a featured song at the beginning of the jam, and plenty of time for jamming together on a variety of other songs, too (sample song list below). This month’s featured song will be “Hot Corn, Cold Corn” in the key of G.
Participants are also encouraged to bring a prepared song to sing and/or play with the group, but this is not required for participation.
For those who don’t play an instrument yet, Marbles will have a build your own instrument station set up in Curiosity Square.
Sign up for e-mail updates about programs and opportunities for youth musicians; or call 919-664-8333 x103.
Directions and parking information for Marbles Kids Museum
Downtown Raleigh parking information
About the youth jam facilitators:
Jef Walter performs regularly on bass and guitar with a “who’s who” of North Carolina acoustic musicians, including Charles Pettee and the Iron Mountain Messengers. He is also the band mentor for The Carolina PineCones, a youth bluegrass band based in Raleigh. Walter will facilitate this year’s youth jams with a rotating group of special guest co-facilitators.
December’s guest facilitator will be Jamie Dawson, a Raleigh musician who plays both mandolin and bass. He played with Kickin Grass for 15 years, as well as with alt-country band Brothers Grim and in various other musical configurations. He is an avid supporter of music and arts in the Raleigh area and a current PineCone Board member. He and his wife Lynda co-facilitated many of last year’s youth jams.
Songs played at past youth jams have included:
Instrumentals:
- Angeline the Baker (D)
- Arkansas Traveler (D)
- Soldiers Joy (D)
- Whiskey Before Breakfast (D)
- Liberty (D)
- Old Joe Clark (A)
- Cripple Creek (A)
- Salt Creek (A)
- Cherokee Shuffle (A)
- Blackberry Blossom (G)
- Billy in the Lowground (C)
Songs with Lyrics:
- Bury Me Beneath the Willow
- Nine Pound Hammer
- Long Journey Home
- I’ll Fly Away
- My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains
- In the Pines
Newer songs the group has worked:
- Down the Road (featured song in November 2016) – Key of A
- Meet Me By the Moonlight (featured song in March 2016) – Key of G, Key of E
- (A) Worried Man Blues (featured song in February 2016)
- (D) Swallowtail Jig
- (G) June Apple
- (G) Long Journey Home ($2 Bill)
- (G) Red Clay Halo
- (G) Dooley (featured song in January 2016)
