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about

Back about 1977, I was substitute music teacher at the Marlinton Elementary School. I was in Marlinton Elementary from '52 - '58. Traditionally, in the WVa schools from 1st grade to PhD, there has been so much shame built in to the system that the children learn nothing which amounts to anything in regards to their heritage. Our music teacher had us 4th grade boys singing "OH WONT YOU BUY MY SWEET GARDENIA? MY LOVELY FRAGRANT NICE GARDENIA. YOU CAN WEAR IT IN YOUR HAIR.............." then there were the black plastic "flutes"????
so we boys learned to hate singing and all other kinds of music. she knew no more about the local mountain music than Stalin and could not have cared less.
I was hired for 3 months to cover for maternity leave period.

I got an old Harmony guitar and began having the kids sing local mountain songs. the final number was 21 songs. some were songs like Knoxville Girl. Sherman Hammons grandchildren taught the class some of those kinds of songs. when the children came into the room, we sang steady until they left. there were 18 [1-6 grades] twice a week. =36. then there was 2 kindergarten once a week. almost 40 classes of singing each week.

it was sad, but in those years, the classes were divided up into A, B, C and it hurt the C class children. however, there was something which was really interesting which surfaced. I refused to give the classes any written words. there was none of this ignorant making children try to read music dots on lines. it is to sing and sing loudly when the song called for it. I began to notice.... the 2nd grade "C" group KNEW EVERY SINGLE WORD TO ALL THE 21 SONGS!!! the 3rd grade "C" group KNEW EVERY SINGLE WORD TO ALL THE 21 SONGS. THE "A" AND "B" GROUP WERE NOT ABLE TO REMEMBER ALL THE WORDS???

in looking at school system policy, everything is set up for those who learn visually and then take tests visually. but those who learn by hearing, they become the lost ball in the high weeds. so the "high rollers" in this case were the "C" children. and the 2nd & 3rd grade.

why? by the 4th grade, those who learn aurally are losing that capacity which they were born with to pick up languages, etc. so where does the creative music come from, the 'homemade kind' which is there for everyone........ not just "entertainers"......... . so very often it comes from those who are marginalized. no matter the race, generally those who are marginalized operate in a different world. they are the "C" group of this world.

as for the WILD HOG IN YONDER WOODS, 'LL CUT YOUR THROAT AND DRINK YOUR BLOOD!!.... now sit there and take it you SWEET GARDENIA. and, boy, did most all those kids really get this song cranked up! maybe you can learn it and crank it up also. there are some "C" group kids around who are the un recognized back bone of the community. always have been; always will be.

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from All Old Songs, released November 13, 2016

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Dwight Diller and David Nemec West Virginia

Traditional Mountain Music from
the Yew Pine Mountain range of Pocahontas County containing Cheat, Elk, Black, Cranberry, Kennison, Viney, Caesar and Droop Mountains. Virtually every musician in these recordings are West Virginians. ... more

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