Blog
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Mountain Music Folk School is on the Map Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Jessica Martin is a senior fellow at CreateHere, and an aspiring Mandolin player. She sends us this update on the Mountain Music Folk School.
In less than one year, Mountain Music Folk School (MMFS) founders Matt Evans and Christie Burns have laid groundwork for the preservation, perpetuation, and promotion of folk music in Chattanooga. By way of innovation, alternative thinking, and love for the music, Christie and Matt have established themselves as entrepreneurs and artists in our community.
Since the inception of MMFS in 2009—aided by a MakeWork grant—the program has completed a successful first semester of classes, landed a brick and mortar space on the North Shore, and revitalized the breadth of energy surrounding folk music in Chattanooga.
After helping administer MakeWork grants for two years, it has become apparent to me that there is certainly no lack of talent in our city. And along with many other projects and initiatives that were born out of the grant program, this is one worth mentioning and even getting involved in.
The beauty that lies in the MMFS model is that it’s all about participation and collaboration. Classes are held in group sessions and not only embrace the music itself, but there is a strong emphasis on collective knowledge and experimentation.
Fortunately, whether you’ve signed up for the next semester of classes or are just scoping out the scene, it matters not; the group is holding an event to honor past, present and future students this Sunday, January 24 from 1 PM to 4 PM at Barking Legs, so join the party, bring a friend and bring an instrument!
