Contact the Music Maker Foundation. The Music Maker Foundation is based in Durham. The original goals of the Foundation was to provide recognition and economic aid to older North Carolina blues and folk musicians who had played in obscurity for most of their lives. These musicians represent a living legacy of the music of North Carolina and other parts of the Southeastern United States. The Music Maker Foundation also arranges lessons and musical instruction for younger musicians . The goal is for the older generation to pass on its musical knowledge and heritage to a younger generation.
Study old-time music in Asheville. Asheville is a central location for people interested in old-time music. Old-time music is Appalachian music, the progenitor of bluegrass, that centers on fiddle and banjo tunes. Asheville, as the surrounding areas, is full of musicians who play and study old-time. Asheville features a number of old-time jams and performances that provide opportunities for meeting and studying with other musicians. For tips, advice, and up-to-date information about the old-time scene in Asheville visit Oldtimemusic.com.
Enroll for music instruction classes at the Music Academy of North Carolina. The Music Academy is based in Greensboro and it has sister sites in various locations around the state. It offers musical instruction in various musical genres including classical, jazz, folk, bluegrass, and gospel piano. Classes are taught in the summer, fall, and spring. You must register at least three weeks prior to the class. The administration fee is $12.50 for summer, $25 for the fall and $25 for the spring. Contact Mittie Douglas at (336) 691-0672, extension 102. Tuition for summer classes ranges from$150 to $530. Tuition for fall classes ranges between $270 to $954. Payment plans and scholarships are available.
Devote one to two weeks of the summer to intensive music study. North Carolina offers a variety of summer music programs. The Brevard Music Center offers lessons, workshops, and performance opportunities for young classical musicians. Brevard is ten miles south of Asheville. The Swannanoa Gathering provides musical instruction in a wide range of genres ranging from swing, folk, celtic, blues, jazz as well as others. Classes are for all types of instruments and range from beginner to advanced. The Swannanoa Gathering is hosted by Warren Wilson College. The campus is five miles east of Asheville.
Pursue a music degree at a college or university in North Carolina. If you are interested in pursuing a professional career as a classical musician or as an educator the best path is pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in music. Contact the North Carolina School of the Arts at uncsa.edu.