In this lesson, students will listen to early music used in Appalachia community gatherings and a part of the Bristol Recordings. Students will play various songs, describe the music, and define why the music was used or performed in community gatherings or small groups. Students will also recognize local community events and how music is used to bring people together.

After viewing the video “Anatomy of a Jam Session” from Virginia Roots: A Journey Through Appalachian Music, Blue Ridge Public Media, students will collaborate to create a performance of a two or three chord old-time song with available classroom instruments in the style of a jam session.

After learning basic Appalachian dance movement related to flatfooting, clogging, buckdance, or the Charleston. Students will create a rhythmic cue sheet diagraming the steps of a newly created dance based on original Appalachian dance steps, using traditional or iconic rhythmic notation. Students will choose Appalachian music to demonstrate and/or teach their original dance to others providing the cue sheet as a reference.