Date: January 13th 2010

(You have received this message as you have previously joined or requested to join our mailing list. Information, including unsubscription instructions and our physical mailing address and phone number are located at the bottom of this message) I RECKON IT'S BEEN ABOUT 5 YEARS SINCE I GOT AROUND TO SENDING OUT A NEWS LETTER. MAGGIE HAMMONS SAID LONG ABOUT 1969 "NOW, DE-WIGHT, YOU'LL SEE WHEN YOU GET ANY AGE ON YOU THAT FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT, WILL SEEM LIKE A MONTH OR TWO.". IN MY YOUTH IGNORANCE, I WAS SURE SHE REALLY DIDNT KNOW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT. THAT ALONG ABOUT THE SAME TIME SHE SAID, "NOW, DE-WIGHT, THERE'LL COM ON A TIME WHEN YOU GET TIRED OF THE MUSIC; JUST WATCH AND SEE." THAT WAS WHEN I SAID, "MAGGIE, I'LL NEVER GET TIRED OF THE MUSIC" THAT WAS WHEN SHE SUFFERED THIS YOUNG FOOL BUT SAID NOTHING MORE. [A NORMAL STATE OF AFFAIRS WHEN DEALING WITH ME BACK IN THOSE DAYS WHEN I OFTEN HAD THE BRAINS OF A DOWNHILL SLEDTRACK] SO FINALLY FOUND A CALENDER AT THE DOLLAR STORE ON MONDAY AND GOT THIS COMPUTER WORKED UP SO I CAN, HOPEFULLY, SEND OUT A FEW MESSAGES.GAIL HATTON WAS "HELPING ME GET THIS NEWSLETTER THING INSTALLED" WHICH, WHEN TRYING TO HELP ME WITH DEALING IN THE COMPUTER WORLD, IS LIKE TRYING TO LOAD A BUSHEL OF FROGS INTO A WHEELBARROW, ONE AT A TIME. SO IF YOU HAPPEN TO WANT TO PROCEED, HANG ON................ THE DATE TODAY IS 13 JAN 2010. I AM GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE JUST WHAT MIGHT WORK FOR ABOTU 4-5 CLASSES HERE ON THE "KNAVE RUN" [ AKA "BROWN'S CREEK" WHICH IS ACTUALLY ACROSS THE ROAD AND OVER AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. KNAVE RUN, I CANT IMAGINE WHERE THE NAME KNAVE CAME FROM, COMES OUT OF THIS SMALL HOLLAR JUST BEHIND MY PROPERTY/BUILDINGS; HOWEVER, THERE IS ANOTHER SMALL HOLLAR WHICH RUNS PARALLEL TO KNAVE RUN WHICH HAS NO NAME ON ANY OFFICIAL MAPS. JEFF FROM CHICAGO WHO HAS MOVED IN HERE IS PUTTING UP A SMALL BUILDING [12' X 16'] FOR LIVING QUARTERS IN THE MOUTH OF THE SMALL HOLLAR. HE IS ALWAYS HIKING IN THE WOODS WHEN THE SNOW IS NOT HIP DEEP, SO WE DECIDED THAT WHILE HIS "OFFICAL U.S. GOVMINT MAPS HAS NO NAME FOR THE LITTLE HOLLAR, WE TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES TO USE EXECUTIVE PRIVILAGE SINC GOVMINT WAS SLACK IN THEIR DUTY AND NAME THE TINY RUN OF WATER" WHILE SEARCHING AROUND INSIDE MY MIND, IT CAME TO ME TO NAME IT AFTER MY FEMALE CAT THAT ROAMS A SMALL BIT AROUND THE HOUSE HERE - "ROXIE" SO WE ARE GOING IN AND ANNOUNCE TO THE "UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, MONONGAHELIA NATIONAL FOREST" THERE IS NEW LAND THAT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED AND NAMED: "ROXIE RUN". MAYBE WE CAN HAVE ONE OF THOSE METAL SIGNS INSTALLED OUT ALONG THE MAIN ROAD STATING THE NEW DISCOVERY. KIND O' LIKE "GEORGE WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE". ACTUALLY IT DID DO THAT AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE'S CLOSE BY. WHEN HE WAS "A RAKE 'N AH RAMBLIN BOY", HE CAME THROUGH MY HOME TOWN, MARLINTON, WHICH IS 7 MILES AWAY. THERE WAS A LARGE OR SHOULD I SAY, "A GREAT OL BIG OAK TREE" WHICH HE USED FOR A CORNER WHEN SURVEYING THIS COUNTRY FOR "LORD FAIRFAX' WHO "OWNED" ABOUT A KA-ZILLION ACRES OF LAND HERE IN THESE MOUNTAINS. I THINK THE TREE MIGHT HAVE BEEN CALLED THE "LEWIS OAK". I BETTER NOT GET INTO JUST WHO IN THE WORLD ANDREW AND CHARLES LEWIS WERE. IT WAS STILL THERE WHEN I WAS A BOY IN THE 1950s BUT NO ONE HELD IT IN ANY HIGH ESTEEM. [OH, I'LL JUST WHET YOUR APPATITE - THEY WERE THE HEAD HONCHOS FROM THIS AREA OF THE "WESTERN FRONTIER IN 1700s WHO RECRUITED A BUNCH OF MEN TO GO DOWN TO THE 'POINT' WHERE THE OHIO AND KANAWHA RIVERS JOIN TO MEET VIRGINIA GOVERNOR LORD DUNMORE WHO WAS 'SUPPOSED' TO BE BRINGING ANOTHER GROUP OF VIRGINIANS TO MEET SOMEWHERE ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF THE OHIO RIVER TO DEAL WITH THE 'INDIAN PROBLEM'. AT THAT 'POINT', THERE WAS THE FIRST LAND BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR - AS WE KNOW IT. LORD DUNMORE, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE CROWN, ENDED UP OVER IN OHIO COUNTRY POW-WOWING WITH SHANAWEES AND LEFT THOSE MEN DOWN AT THE POINT TO SWING IN THE WIND. IT SEEMED TO BE AN ACT OF TREASON. AS SOON AS HE COULD GET BACK TO THE OLD DOMINION OF VIRGINIA, HE HOPPED A SHIP AND BEAT IT BACK TO ENGLAND. SO THE PLACE WHERE THAT BATTLE TOOK PLACE CAME TO BE KNOWN AS 'POINT PLEASANT'. BUT THAT IS ALL 'REALLY OLD NEWS' I RECKON.] SEE WHAT YOU GET BY WASTIN TIME READIN MY SO CALLED "NEWSLETTERS". AS MY FRIEND RICHARD SAID ONE TIME "I APPOLOGIZE, BUT I AINT SORRY". NOW MOVIN ALONG WITH THE PROGRAM WITH ALL SERIOUSNESS ASIDE............. I AM GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THIS ITINERARY IN THE REGION OF FACT RATHER THAN FICTION. FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW [APPROX 23 - 24] I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING TO MICHIGAN IN LATE WINTER OR EARLY SPRING TO DO WHAT I CAN TO PASS ALONG BANJO/TRADITIONAL WVa MTN MUSIC THOUGHTS. HOWEVER, THIS YEAR IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL 1. EITHER NOT COME UP AT ALL 2. OR POSSIBLY COME UP LATER ON IN THE YEAR. KEEP AN EYE OUT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. I AM GOING TO KEEP THE NUMBER OF CLASSES TO PROBABLY NO MORE THAN 4 OR AT MOST 5. PLUS THE SIZE WILL BE RUNNING 3 OR 4 STUDENTS. MAYBE THERE WILL BE 1 OR SO MORE IN THE LAST CLASS IN OCTOBER. THIS IS MY 40TH YEAR OF TEACHING AND I AM A NATIVE SON OF THIS HIGH ALLEGHENY PLATEAU. JEFF WHO HAS MOVED IN HERE TO LEARN BANJO WAS ASKING ME LAST NIGHT 1. WHY I DONT SOUND LIKE THE HAMMONS THOUGH SPENDING SO MUCH TIME WITH THEM? 2. WHY I DONT SOUND LIKE ANYONE ELSE ON "AFRICAN DOWNSTROKE CLAWHAMMER FRAILING THUMPING STYLE"? THE ONLY ANSWER I COULD GIVE IS "I CANNOT SOUND LIKE OR LEARN FROM ANYBODY ELSE. I AM NOT REALLY A MUSICIAN; PEOPLE JUST THINK I AM. I AM A TEACHER/PREACHER/SHOWMAN ALL OF WHICH WORKS ON STAGE, BUT I AM VERY LACKING WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A MUSICIAN. IT TOOK ME 2 YEARS TO JUST BEGIN TO START TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY THE BANJO AND IT TOOK ME 37 YEARS TO BE ABLE TO FINALL GRASP ANYTHING ON A FIDDLE - SO THERE'S THE PROOF OF THAT PUDDIN. THE OTHER THING I POINTED OUT WAS 1. PROBABLY NONE OF THE PRESENT DAY REVIVALISTS GREW UP IN A WVa MOUNTAIN BEER JOINT WHICH HAS IT'S OWN CULTURE 2. I DID NOT GROW UP ON A SIDEWALK IN THE FLAT LANDS 3. THERE IS A CERTAIN KIND OF "VIBRATIONS IN THE 'MIDDLE' SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS THAT ARE BROUGHT ON BY THE GEOGRAPHY WITH THE CROOKED MOUNTAIN STREAMS/RIVERS/ROADS/MOUNTAIN RIDGES" THAT ARE JUST ABSORBED UNKNOWLINGLY. 4. THIS AREA OF MIDDLE WEST VIRGINIA CONTAINS A CERTAIN KIND OF UNDERNEATH KINSHIP WITH DEATH/VIOLENCE/DARKNESS WHICH IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE 'YA-HOO' GET DRUNK AND DANCE ALL NIGHT WITH AT BOTTLE IN YOUR HAND -----I WILL STOP RIGHT THERE; YOU GET MY DRIFT. ["APPALACHIA" = PROUNCED 'APPLE-LATCH-CHA"] THIS IS WHY IT IS SO VERY VERY VERY HARD TO CATCH THE "RHYTHM" OF THIS LAND. IT IS ALSO WHY WHEN FOLKS SAY, I WANT TO PLAY THE WAY YOU DO, I CAN UNDERSTAND IT AND APPRECIATE THEIR SAYING SO, BUT I ALSO KNOW JUST HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO CATCH TO. "NOW" TAKE NOTE THAT I AM NOT SAYING IT IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE I AM OBSERVING JEFF QUICKLY MOVING ALONG TOWARD THIS ;GOAL IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS TIME. HOWEVER, HE IS HITTING A WALL AT THE MOMENT; NOT ONE THAT HE CANNOT GET AROUND. IT IS JUST ONE THAT HE HAS TO DIG DEEPER THAN HE HAS BEFORE. DO NOT EVER FORGET WHAT WILSON DOUGLAS, THE NOW DEAD FIDDLER FROM CLAY COUNTY WVa, SAID "IT TAKES ABOUT TEN YEARS JUST TO START TO LEARN THIS FIDDLE [BANJO-WVa TRADIONAL MUSIC]" SO IT IS JUST COMMITTMENT AND DISCIPLINE. - BTW, NO ONE IN THIS WORLD PLAYS LIKE TOMMY JARRELL DID; OR FRED COCKERHAM DID EITHER. QUICKLY HERE IS POSSIBLE ITINERARY FOR 2010 MOST ALL CLASSES WILL BE CENTERED ON LEARNING GOOD RHYTHM. AS I SAID, I HAVE BEEN TEACHING FOR 40 YRS NOW AND ALMOST NEVER EVER EVER HAVE A STUDENT WHO HAS RHYTHM THAT WORKS. OFTEN LOTS OF TUNES AND RIGHT HAND TECHNIQUE IS NOT GOOD AT ALL.. SO RHYTHM WILL BE MAIN EMPHASIS; NO PROPER RHYTHM, NO MUSIC - PERIOD. CAN KNOW A THOUSAND TUNES, BUT WITHOUT PROPER RHYTHM, THEY MEAN NOTHING. MOST WEEKS STUDENTS ARRIVE LATE AFTERNOON SUNDAY AND GET SETTLED IN. CLASS RUNS FULL DAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY MORNING;. THURSDAY AFTERNOON STUDENTS TAKE A SHORT TOUR THROUGHOUT COUNTY. EVENINGS THERE IS GENERALLY NOTHING PLANNED, BUT SOME CONVERSATIONS WILL BE CARRIED ON. MIGHT BE ABOUT THE MUSIC, THE CONTEXT, SOME HISTORYM ETC ETC FRIDAY MORN THE STUDENTS DEPART. FOR SOME OF THESE WEEKS THERE WILL BE A STATE MUSIC GATHERING WHICH IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC . ONE ON WVa CAPITAL COMPLEX SPONSORED BY THE STATE; ANOTHER IS THE WVa STATE MUSIC FESTIVAL AT GLENVILLE WVa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a; IT HAS BEEN RUNNING SINCE THE 1940s. IT IS REALLY GEARED FOR LOCALL FOLKS WITH PARADE AND OUTDOOR SQUARDANCING. THEY ARE BIG TIME DANCING FOLKS. STREETS ARE BLOCKED OFF. THERE ARE ALSO SMALL CONCERTS AND CONTESTS UP AT THE SMALL COLLEGE AUDITORIUM AT THE TOP OF THE HILL. OFTEN A GOOD TIME IS HAD BY ALL!!! 4. JULY ______SOMETIME AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH - 2ND OR 3RD 4 DAY WEEK, I AM THINKING OF HAVING A 4 DAY FIDDLE CLASS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE FAMILAR WITH WHAT FIDDLING I DO. LET ME KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAPPEN TO BE INTERESTED IN A FIDDLE CLASS 2-3 STUDENTS [SINGLE ROOM, FOOD, INSTRUCTION]. I DO HAVE A CD OF MY FIDDLING. ****BTW, MY FACILITY SITS IN HIGHLANDS OF ALLEGHENY PLATEAU, SURROUNDED BY WOODED STEEP HILLS AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST FOR HIKING IF YOU ARE SO MOVED. 5. AUGUST - I HAVENT PLANNED ANYTHING YET FOR AUGUST. CAN SEE IF THERE IS ANY INTEREST IN BANJO INSTRUCTION 6. SEPT - LAST YEAR I HAD A 2 PERSON 4 DAY FIDDLE CLASS AND IT WORKED WELL 7. OCTOBER - FIRST FULL WEEK - OCT 3 SUNDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL **SATURDAY MORN** OCT 9TH, STUDENTS DEPART. THIS WILL BE A FULL 5 DAY WEEK. THE STUDENTS CAN MAKE A DECISION WHETHER THEY WANT TO TOUR FOR 1/2 DAY OR WANT TO TRAPSE AROUND FOR A FULL DAY. AND CAN BE DIVIDED UP HOWEVER. EITHER WAY, IT WOULD BE ON THURSDAY UNLESS THE WEATHER WAS SO BAD THAT FRIDAY MIGHT SUIT BETTER. ONE OF THE FAMOUS LOCAL ATTRACTIONS IS THE CASS LOG TRAIL WHICH TAKES FOLKS UP ON CHEAT MOUNTAIN. BUT UP THERE AT 4500'-4900' IT WILL SNOW, SLEET, FROST ALL MONTHS OF THE YEAR. MY UNIVERSITY PROF SAID IT WAS SAME CLIMATE AS "400-500 MILES INTO CANADA" THERE ARE CLOSE TO A HALF MILLION ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST PLUS 8 WVa STATE PARKS AND FORESTS 8. FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS, I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING TO PITTSBURGH PA TO TEACH FIRST WEEKEND IN DEC. IT IS HELD AT CINDY HARRIS' HOME. CAH@LONEWOLF.COM. SHE CAN TELL YOU WHETHER SHE CAN STAND ONE MORE TIME. NOW, I AM GOING TO TRY TO FORWARD THIS ON. LAST NIGHT I WROTE ONE AND THE MACHINE ATE IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO SHORT OF DOING WHAT ELVIS DID -- SHOOTING HIS TV. I'LL TRY TO DO BETTER TO SOMETHING BETTER THE NEXT TIME - MAYBE IN A FEW WEEKS; I SURE HOPE THIS DOES NOT CRASH AND BURN!!!!!! 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