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LAFOLLETTE, TN. (WLAF)- The South Campbell County Rotary Club learned about handmade stringed instruments on Tuesday at its weekly luncheon.
WLAF reporter and local instrument builder Charlotte Underwood guest spoke at Rotary about Appalachian culture and instrument building. Underwood also talked about her experiences with the Campbell Culture Coalition and providing musical instrument building classes to local elementary schools over the past two years through C3 grants.
Teaching music and Appalachian heritage to local students has been one of her greatest joys in life, Underwood said. “If you have music in your heart, you’ll find a way to let it out. Even if you can’t afford to buy an instrument, you can always build one, and here in these Appalachian Mountains ingenuity abounds. That’s the message I try to teach to these kids and you should see their faces light up when they realize they can do it,” Underwood said.
Through the Campbell Culture Coalition, Underwood has taught simple instrument building classes to fourth graders at Valley View Elementary and Wynn Elementary, as well as fifth graders at Elk Valley Elementary schools. Students participating in the classes built “single string cigar box guitars.”
“Classes are taught around the concept that Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong learned music on hand made cigar box instruments he built himself and that musical instruments can be made from items around the house,” Underwood said. As part of the Culture Coalition’s “Strung Together” program, several students have their instruments on display at the Campbell County Courthouse. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 03/15/2023 – 6AM)
Great work Charlotte and C3. Getting youth involved in music and teaching them how to make an instrument out of practically nothing is something these young minds can have fun with, and hopefully pass on what they have learned to other friends.
I think this is wonderful! Music has, and always be a part of my life. It is like family to me. Music is the Universal language. I remember playing Patsy Cline for my daddy on the piano. Such memories! God bless everyone and everything!