pi beta phi students studying appalachian music heritage

GATLINBURG - To aid students in their study of Appalachian musical heritage in this Gatlinburg Bicentennial year, Pi Beta Phi Elementary School is seeking sponsors of its music program as the City marks the 200-year anniversary of its settlement.

Each year, Pi Beta Phi students in every grade participate in learning experiences that focus on heritage through its Parks as Classrooms program. Some of these units include a music and art component as students are introduced to their cultural history.

This year, teachers hope to expand these learning experiences and add more opportunities for students to learn about their local heritage.

Pi Beta Phi is looking for supporters to fund the purchase of lap harps (approximately $20 each) and a classroom set of traditional dulcimers (approximately $70 each).

"We would like to expand the opportunity for students to learn about the Appalachian music that was such a large part of settler culture here in our mountain community," said Dana Soehn, teacher and coordinator of the school's Parks as Classrooms program. "As there was very little contact with the outside world, early Appalachian settlers had to rely on their own resources for music and entertainment passed along in relation to their history and culture.

"Music was either handed down to each generation, or made up on the spot. By integrating Appalachian, old-time music, students can learn much about their own musical heritage and culture."

Prior to the sixth grade, students have been introduced to Appalachian music as a part of several units. Pi Beta Phi hopes to develop a unit in the sixth grade that gives the students the opportunity to learn how to play familiar Appalachian songs on the lap harp, with some advancing to the dulcimer.

As a part of this unit, students will also receive instruction that meets the following objectives:

• Students will learn how to play several Appalachian songs on the lap harp and recognize the instruments used by early settlers and know why they were used exclusively.
• Students will listen to the tone color of various instruments of the early settlers as played separately and together.
• Students will learn common rhythm patterns and melodies of Appalachian songs.
• Students will learn how these songs reflected and shaped early settler life.
• Students will contrast these songs and instruments with those heard today.

"This program will allow me to teach state-mandated music curriculum while also passing along an important piece of history," said music teacher Mike Hicks. "These instruments will provide future Pi Beta Phi Elementary students the opportunity to learn the instruments in coming years. We expect this program to be permanently incorporated into the music program at Pi Beta Phi."

The Gatlinburg Bicentennial Committee endorses the music program and encourages businesses and individuals to sponsor the school with a donation.

Soehn and Hicks' students will showcase their new skills by developing a musical program to present at the Pi Beta Phi Social Studies Fair, an official Gatlinburg Bicentennial event scheduled Friday, May 18. The festivities include storytelling and cooking demonstrations plus a student play and displays of mountain culture and traditions by each grade at Pi Beta Phi from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For more information or to sponsor the music program, call the school at (865) 436-5076.