What we do

Carter Mansion - Friday, December 4, 2009

The Carter Mansion is said to be the oldest frame house in Tennessee. It is a part of the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. We have been invited to sing there during the Christmas candlelight tour. (A small flashlight may be helpful.)

Directions have been e-mailed. Please plan to arrive at 7:30. 

Second annual SW Virginia All Day Singing and Dinner on the Ground - Saturday, October 3

This will be the Saturday before the first Sunday in October - the third. Alexander Garden is chairman and the singing will be in his home.

First Annual Half Day Julianne Ten Speed Memorial Singing with Nothing to Eat - Sunday, June 21, 2009

Our regular third Sunday singing at the Old Fields has been now named to recognize the noted and beloved alto singer.  Please come and help us lift our voices and our spirits. We're beginning at two o'clock at the regular place, headquarters of Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area.

Old Harp singing school - Saturday June 20, 2009

Learn to sing seven shape notes, the rudiments, in the morning, have lunch and sing what you've learned with other experienced singers in the afternoon, in a wonderful building in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee!

Starts at 9:00 a.m and concludes at 4:00 p.m.

Map

3/4 mile beyond the traffic light at the Highway 321 and 73 intersection in Townsend, Tennessee, 3/4 mile fromentrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Hopwood Christian Church (Milligan College) - April 26, 2009

Hopwood Christian Church will observe its 175th anniversary on Sunday, April 26. We have been invited to come and teach them how to sing shape note. Those who have been around for any length of time will recognize this as a unique opportunity. Often we are asked to "come and sing for us." This is better!

There will be a dinner around noon after morning worship (singers are not expected to bring anything). Then I will try to lead a little instruction time. My approach is to do as little talking and as much singing as possible. And for this, I encourage singers to come and support this.

Directions from exit 24 off I-26: Pick up US 321 / TN 67 towards Elizabethton. There is a very quick exit onto Milligan Highway. It's 2.5 miles to the church. At about two miles, bear left at the fork wherein is an Exxon station. Turn right into the college main entrance and then an immediate right to the church.

NEW! Gospel shape note

I scouted around a little looking for existing gospel singing. I did not find any, so I decided to see if I could begin one. I have received enough interest to schedule the first. We will meet prior to the third Sunday Christiam Harmony singing at the Old Fields - begin at 1:30.

I found a book that I would like to use and I am asking folks to try to get a copy of their own.

Here is the link.

My own connection to this type of music is not through church. Rather, I heard it on the radio which played while we ate breakfast when I was probably six years old - The Chuck Wagon Gang. And my Daddy bought Tennessee Ernie Ford records as well.

I believe this music resonates with many of us and I look forward to giving it a try.

3/31 update: We tried it once, before the regular singing. I would like to try a different time and perhaps a different location. I hope for input on this.

Third Sunday of the month

Some people call it a workshop. Some call it a singing.

What it is, is relaxed and informal. We'll sing a song more than once. We'll break it down into the parts, if need be.

It's a time for learning and also a time for making new friends.

Place is the headquarters building of the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton.

We begin at three o'clock and conclude at five.

Please come join us.

Singing in St Paul, Virginia

Following the two day singing at Natural Tunnel State park in October and a two hour singing in November, we shall now proceed to regular monthly singings. We will meet on the second Sunday of the month at two o'clock and sing until about four. The location is in the downstairs of St Mark's Episcopal Church.

From 58, turn East on 66 at the stoplight
Go under the railroad tracks and take the fourth right onto 5th Ave

St. Mark's is one block down on the left, at the corner of 5th and Broad.

For more information, contact Alexander Garden

276-206-3012

andamiborntodie@gmail.com

And there will be the second annual all day singing early in October. Location and other details to come. Pass the word and come sit a spell. Let's sing.

Sacred Harp in Charlotte - Saturday, February 7, 2009

Singing school will be led by Hugh McGraw. 

They have a web site

Let's sing in Jonesborough - Saturday, March 7, 2009

We will sing in historic Jonesborough on Saturday, March 7 - beginning at 10, dinner on the ground at noon, and conclude around 3. at the Central Christian Church. The church is right next to the courthouse and there is plently of parking available behind.

For those travelling I-81, if you do not want to go through Johnson City, I believe you can pick up state 81 at the Fall Branch exit. I believe it is marked. From I-26, the exit is, I believe 22 (Main Street / Market Street). Cross Main and turn left onto Market (both are one way). There are a couple of tricky turns but the way is well marked (US 321 - 11E). It's 7 or 8 miles on a dismal four lane to Boone Street (a left off the four lane which leads to a right turn onto Main Street. Two blocks on the left is the church.

(There is also a "backroads" route from Erwin, but I do not know the way. There are big signs at the exit, though, and I would expect it is well maeked.)

View Larger Map

I will be contacting some folks to ask for help in planning and if you would volunteer, please let me know.

I am asking for registration just to get an idea of how many to plan for. So also let me know who is coming.

Flyer for Jonesborough -

One side flyer

Jonesborough pics

Have books - will sing