Weekly Music Lessons with JAM Kids at the Museum!
2026-04-11 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | VA
Date: Weekly on Saturdays
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
Location: The Learning Center, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: $5 per class or $45 for 10 lessons
Through a new partnership with Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM), the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is a new affiliate location for the program, offering weekly music lessons at the museum for children grades 4-8 and beyond. JAM Kids introduces music through small group instruction on acoustic instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as guitar, banjo, and fiddle. Students may bring their own instruments, or they can be provided as a loan while your child is participating in the program. Other instruments may be introduced as to be determined by instructors. Weekly classes will be held throughout the year, and students can join the program at any point in the year.
Registration is required to participate in this program. You can download the Registration Forms and bring it with you when you drop off your child for their first lesson or complete it at the museum’s front desk upon arrival. Each week, lessons will be filled based on arrival and capped at 30 students. Registration allows you to participate but does not guarantee your spot each week.
We do not offer online registration or spot reservations for this program. Lessons can be purchased as-you-go for $5 or as a bundle of ten pre-paid lessons for $45. The bundle is a discounted rate and will expedite your check-in process, but does not guarantee your spot each week. The class will be closed if capacity is reached before your arrival. Scholarships are available upon request. For more information about signing up for JAM or to inquire about scholarships, email Erika Barker at ebarker@birthplaceofcountrymusic.org.
Registration Forms: Please bring all three forms with you when you arrive for your first lesson.

Registration Form
Student Contract
Media Release Form

Junior Appalachian Musicians is a non-profit and the parent organization for 50+ after-school programs for children in grades 4 – 8. We provide communities with the tools and support they need to teach children to play and dance to traditional old-time and bluegrass music. JAM introduces music through small group instruction on instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as fiddle, banjo and guitar. Each JAM program is individually operated and funded. By affiliating with the JAM organization, each program is eligible to receive support and resources for free and is licensed to use “Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM)” to identify their traditional music education program.
Be sure to check out JAM Kids on Facebook and Instagram!

The JAM Program Model
JAM is an after-school program for children in grades 4 – 8 and beyond that introduces music through small group instruction on instruments common to the Appalachian region, such as fiddle, banjo and guitar. Each JAM program is individually operated and funded. By affiliating with the JAM organization, each program is eligible to receive support and resources for free, and is licensed to use “Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM)” to identify their traditional music education program.
Junior Appalachian Musicians ® is a registered trademark of Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc.
In JAM, instrument instruction is often augmented by dance and vocal instruction as well as string band classes and group enrichment lessons, which introduce children to additional Appalachian culture and history. The JAM program model provides children with opportunities to not only learn traditional music, but to also perform in small and large groups. Field trips, visiting artists and an introduction to the rich history of music unique to each local community further supplement program offerings. Each JAM program is encouraged to foster musical traditions by teaching local styles of traditional mountain music and dance to children. Instructors are also encouraged to teach students to learn music by ear, as to preserve oral traditions as much as possible. Other teaching methodologies and instructional skills are covered in regional professional development and training sessions held multiple times per year and hosted by JAM. JAM also encourages student engagement across programs with regional performance and learning activities throughout the year. For a full list of benefits to affiliates, click here.
JAM believes that all children should have access to traditional old time and bluegrass music. It is recommended that each program provide financial assistance through scholarships to children in need. The program model bases tuition fees on student lunch status: $10/week for full pay children, and $5/week for reduced pay children.
Class sizes typically have a student teacher ratio of 8:1 or less. JAM mandates that each affiliated program conduct criminal background checks on their instructors, directors, and other staff members and volunteers. Programs must be held in public facilities accessible to the community. Junior Appalachian Musicians, Inc prohibits discrimination against any persons on the bases of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, political beliefs, familial or parental status, and sexual orientation.
For a full listing of affiliation requirements, click here.
History of JAM
Realizing the need to preserve a vital aspect of mountain culture as well as the need for positive activities to underserved youth, Helen White, then a guidance counselor at Sparta Elementary School, founded the first JAM program in Alleghany County, NC in the spring of 2000 with help from other local musicians and educators. Interest in the program spread rapidly with assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts, NC State Arts Council, Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and “The Crooked Road – Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail.”
In 2007, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation provided funding to allow the development of a regional infrastructure. The Dana Foundation, Virginia Commission for Arts, the Virginia Foundation for Humanities, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Harris and Frances Block Foundation and the Tides Foundation have provided funding for materials development.
“Junior Appalachian Musicians” was incorporated in 2008 as a non-profit 501(c)3 tax exempt corporation to promote a shared vision of JAM and to provide an umbrella through which to offer resources, training materials and activities to benefit programs individually and collectively. Currently in nearly 30 locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, JAM affiliates are providing access to the joy of music to thousands of youth while instilling renewed interest and pride in their heritage.
Interested in learning more about JAM? Click here.

Songwriters Circle SHOWCASE
2026-04-11 14:00 - 15:30 | Birthplace of Country Music Museum, 101 Country Music Way, Bristol, VA, 24201, United States
2026 Songwriters Circle Showcases

April 11, 2026
November 14, 2026

Location: Performance Theatre, Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Cost: Free and open to the public, donations encouraged to benefit the artists and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum
The Birthplace of Country Music Museum and Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia are proud to continue these events designed to highlight the talents of songwriters in our region. The Songwriters Circle Showcase will be held twice a year in 2026 at 2 p.m. ET, April 11 and November 14, in the performance theater at the museum. These two Showcases accompany the monthly Songwriters Circle events on second Saturdays. The event is free and open to the public; donations are appreciated.

The quarterly Songwriters Circle Showcase is an extension of the monthly Songwriters Circle program, organized by Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, and will consist of artists who participate in the monthly Circle. The Showcase event is structured similarly to “in the round” events, with each songwriter introducing themselves and their song, which will be performed with or without accompaniment. The songwriter will then hold a discussion about the piece–the origins of the song, its structure, and inspiration–and take questions.
About the featured Songwriters on April 11
Julia Maggard is an Appalachian songwriter from the mountains of southwest Virginia. Her story started in a Pentecostal mountaintop church when she was only three years old and improvised “Away in a Manger” after a Christmas service. She has been singing ever since. When she was only twenty, she signed with an independent record label that produced her debut album “Hard to Believe.” One of its songs, “Ain’t Made Weak” made to number 77 on the Music Row Breakout charts. Today, she’s fully independent and has a 2026 single called “Forever Won’t Be Long Enough”. Her love of language, storytelling, and people has curated a catalogue of music that truly connects.

Jonathan Short has called the APP-UH-LATCH-UN Mountains home his whole life, and like most mountain folk, he has been deeply impacted by mountain music culture. His parents were his first musical influence as part of a southern gospel trio when he was a little boy. Because of the strong religious influence, Jonathan cut his musical teeth by singing in churches in different bands. While still a worship leader in his church, his musical tree sprouted a new branch as his songwriting began taking him on a whole new musical journey.
In 2015, Jonathan began gigging around with his rock and roll band, Hello October, playing lots of local music festivals and venues. Now Jonathan is standing out on his own with a new batch of songs and a new emphasis on his songwriting, hoping to pave a new way for himself as a singer/songwriter. He is a member of SOHA (Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia) and the 2025 winner of the Gathering in the Gap Songwriting Contest with his original song, “Hometown.”

Hannah Rae Adams is an independent singer-songwriter whose music blends elements of funk, folk, rock and baroque pop. Originally from Michigan, she has called Bristol, Tennessee, home since 2017, immersing herself in the region’s rich musical heritage while staying true to her diverse influences. With a background in mental health counseling, Hannah Rae brings a deep sense of introspection and emotional authenticity to her songwriting, crafting lyrics that resonate with themes of love, self-discovery, and transformation.
Her sound is shaped by the timeless grooves of Motown, the raw storytelling of folk and country, and the energy of classic rock, resulting in a style that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique. She is often compared to artists such as Carley Simon, Stevie Nicks, Alanis Morrisette and Joni Mitchell. Whether performing solo with an acoustic guitar or layering harmonies and intricate arrangements in the studio, she delivers music that is as heartfelt as it is compelling.
Hannah’s journey as an artist has led her to stages across the Southeast, where her rich, dynamic vocals and magnetic presence have captivated audiences through her original music as well as a range of crowd-pleasing covers. She has performed live on platforms like Radio Bristol and Appalachian Artists Live, gaining recognition for her ability to connect with listeners on a personal level. With an EP released last spring and a new, full album coming next fall, she is an artist to watch!
With a growing catalog of original music and a passion for storytelling, Hannah Rae Adams continues to carve out her space in the independent music scene, proving that honesty and artistry go hand in hand.

Led by Mary Munsey, a local musician, educator and founder of Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, the weekly Songwriters Circle is open to songwriters of all ages and skill levels. The Circle encourages participants to share songs, brainstorm ideas, and support one another in their creative endeavors. Songwriter Circles are held the second Saturday of each month at the museum, 2-5 p.m. There is no cost to participate.
“The Songwriters Circle aims to foster a collaborative environment for songwriting,” said Munsey. “Importantly, aspiring songwriters do not need to play an instrument to join in the fun.”
The Songwriters Circle not only provides an opportunity for performance and networking, but also emphasizes the importance of clarity and storytelling in songwriting. The group’s mission is to encourage creativity, introduce songwriting shows to regional audiences, and elevate the appreciation of songwriting as a valuable art form.
About Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia

Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia is led by Mary Munsey, a local musician and educator, recently retired from Virginia Highlands Community College. The program offers a great deal of flexibility in its format for attendees, with varied songwriting interests and abilities. Some of the attendees play instruments and some are curious about songwriting and the process. Lyrics can sometimes only pare up with others that play instruments and put music with the words. Some writers don’t sing, but enjoy hearing others perform their songs. Some of the performances can be a cappella. Some members of the group write one to three songs between sessions and some write more. Sometimes as busy as life gets, writers don’t get to write new material between meetings. We don’t pressure anyone to write, and we don’t criticize anyone. We treat each other with respect. We don’t discuss politics, use profanity, or write antagonistic lyrics.

The focus is not on the beauty of the voice or skill of the instrumentation, but the clearness of the pronunciation and the effect of the song. We work on making sure the audience can hear every word. We are not professional musicians but we are creators of musical stories and that is the beauty of it. The sessions are open to anyone visiting the museum. Genres are not specified. Songs can be instrumental, folk, country, bluegrass, Americana, blues, humorous, jazz, R&B, electronic, and even pop, to name a few. Writers are allowed to bring CDs for sale and to accept tips after performances.
For more information about the Songwriters Showcase and Songwriters Circle programs, visit the Events page at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org. For more information on Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia, HighlandsAppalachia.org.
