The Floyd Country Store is able to play a special role in Music Education in the community because so many fine musicians play at the store and are prepared to share their skills with others.
Jamming has always been a part of the Friday Night Jamboree, with musicians of all ages and levels of skill gathering around the store to play and talk about the old time music, to share songs and licks.
Here at the store we believe in supporting music education in the area. The store currently hosts structured education programs including music classes for babies and toddlers, and we have opened our space for teachers in the area to provide private lessons to the public. Weekly donations are made by our Sunday Mountain Jam group at the store to youth education programs in the area.
Here at the store, every Friday morning you will find Floyd’s youngest music students when Kari Thomas Kovick leads some of her early childhood music classes. Held on the store’s dance floor with a group of parents and young children, they are always having fun making music and dancing. Call Kari at 540-745-7331 or email her at kariok at swva.net for information about her fun musical foundations classes for babies and young children and their adults.
Now offering lessons at the Floyd Country Store:
David Cannaday
David Cannaday offers instruction on Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Lap Dulcimer, Autoharp and Dobro. David started teaching at 15 years old. He has worked in music stores and teaching studios ever since. David plays with his own variety band “Stairwell” that offers country, bluegrass and oldies rock & roll. He is also a member of bluegrass band “Southern Rail Express”. Plus works as a sideman with many other groups as well. David has produced many recordings including his own “Inheritance Bluegrass Band with special guest Dan Tyminski”. “Virginia Bluegrass Sampler – Carry Me Back To Old Virginia”. And the most current “Alleghany Rails – A Collection of Railroad Folk Songs From Virginia’s Rail Heritage Region”. All may be purchased at The Floyd Country Store. For lessons contact David at 540-483-3373 or email Soundstopmusic@aol.com
Chance McCoy
Chance McCoy is an award winning musician with eight years of experience teaching students of all ages and abilities. He makes learning music fun by teaching the students the songs they want to learn with a focus on creativity not just technical learning. He has toured as a performing artist in the United States, Canada, and the U.K. with many different bands ranging from Nashville country acts to swing bands to traditional string bands and more. He has been featured on half a dozen recordings, including his own debut recording which received much acclaim in reviews from County Records, Bluegrass Unlimited, The Old Time Herald and many other publications. Chance teaches music on Fiddle, Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Ukulele and Dulcimer, delving into the styles of Old Time Mountain Music, Bluegrass, Swing, Blues, Country and Folk. Taking a tune the student wants to learn, Chance uses the tune as a way of teaching the student the important skills necessary to good musicianship and learning an instrument. Contact Chance McCoy at 540-285-0078 or email at oldtimefiddle at gmail.com
Here in Floyd we have some great music teachers!
One place to go is The Floyd Music School where a number of teachers offer lessons. Mike Mitchell, director, teaches violin, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin, and can be found at the school most days. Under Mike’s guidance, several skilled local music teachers. The school teaches students to read music and play by ear on all stringed instruments as well as piano and flute. Classical, Jazz, Mountain Music, and Music Theory and History are taught. Floyd Music School students are winning ribbons at fiddle competitions and playing in the Roanoke Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings programs. Contact the music school at (540) 745-4517 or visit the website at www.FloydMusicSchool.com for further details.
Another great place to go for instruction is The Pickin’ Porch at the Jacksonville Center. Scott Perry the owner and main instructor teaches over 50 students of all ages and levels each week in beginner, intermediate and advanced guitar in a variety of styles, beginner and intermediate ukulele and beginner mandolin and banjo. Scott offers instrumental instruction in several styles including blues, jazz, old time, bluegrass, gospel and rock and is dedicated nurturing and promoting music making in Floyd County, VA. Inspired by the robust Floyd County music community, The Pickin’ Porch is committed to fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of traditional music and creating a community of acoustic music makers and music lovers. Contact the Pickin’ Porch at (540) 745-8863 or visit the website at www.ThePickinPorch.com for further details.
The store also regularly presents educational programs such as the Appalachian Ramblers Reunion concert in which host Joe Wilson, executive director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, moderated a discussion and teased out stories about the early days of the group and their place in the history of our local music. Click here to check out our upcoming events schedule!
