About the Shenandoah Music Trail
The Shenandoah Music Trail was formed out of love and respect for the Shenandoah Valley's rich musical traditions and is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and maintaining the integrity and roots of acoustic Mountain Music, its traditions and variety, including bluegrass, old-time string band, American fiddle/banjo traditions, Appalachian folk songs, shape-note and gospel, and old-time country.
At concerts, festivals, workshops, lessons, and jam sessions, you will meet musicians who place a high premium on instrumental virtuosity. The music features sophisticated interplay between instruments relying heavily on improvisation, often at lightning speed. Many musicians have the life-long dedication to perfecting the techniques of creating instant performing art—music alive for the moment for all those who are there to listen.
You will find the best musicians playing the songs that reflect the rich heritage of the Valley's music communities along the music Trail. From haunting ballads to breakneck speed hoedowns to shape-note and gospel sings, the region's authentic music has defined the fabric of American music for nearly three hundred years.
The Shenandoah Music Trail is a Virginia-based, all-volunteer 501(c)3 corporation formed out of love and respect for the Valley's rich musical traditions.A project of The Shenandoah Valley Mountain Music Makers Association, Inc, a Virginia based, all volunteer 501(c)3 corporation, the Trail is a viable resource that brings musicians and audiences together.
The Trail invites those who are seeking an authentic Appalachian music experience to explore the Valley's deep musical roots. You will be singing your way back home.
And don't forget your instrument.
Virginia's Shenandoah Valley is a well-spring of music dating back to the early settlers' days in the 1700s. Generations of family musicians still gather in fields, porches, living rooms, and kitchens to make music a way of life. Here you will find music that has evolved out of the people's need to express their daily lives through music that speaks to their hearts and souls.
Children start early, often learning to sing harmony and play multiple instruments at the community's master musicians' feet. Making music creates a natural bond that encourages individual musical expression, builds authentic community, and fosters life-long relationships. The personal health benefit of playing an instrument at any skill level is well-documented.
Programs & Activities
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