Joyful Noise is a non-profit community arts center that serves Buncombe and Madison Counties. Our mission is to provide quality arts experiences that inspire creativity, cultivate connections to our regional cultural heritage, and enrich the lives of all members of the community. Currently, the organization is offering a variety of instruction in dance Appalachian Arts, Early Childhood Education, as well as on many instruments including violin, fiddle, viola, piano, voice, guitar, flute, double bass, banjo. Group classes and a variety of performance opportunities are available. Merit and financial scholarships are available for interested students.

Winter 2009 Class Offerings

Below is a preview of the classes Joyful Noise plans to offer this Winter- including a couple of New Classes! The specifics are subject to change. If you are interested, but the times given won't work for you, please contact the instructor anyway. It is possible that the class time can be changed so that it will work for all that are interested. We are pre-registering now, so please go ahead and sign up. We don't want a class that appeals to you to fill up, or to be canceled due to too few inquiries.

Private and Group Lessons:

Currently we are offering private lessons on: piano, voice, violin, fiddle, viola, cello, mandolin, guitar, banjo, bass, dobro, pedal steel, flute, woodwinds, and percussion! We're adding new instruments all the time- just call and ask! Contact Joyful Noise 828-649-2828.

Appalachian Arts:

Cary Fridley's Old-Time Music Workshops will continue in 2009, offering instructions in Appalachian Ballad Singing and Old-Time Guitar and Bass. Workshops are $10, and a Free slow jam with instruction (Great for all ages and levels!) follows every workshop. Contact Cary: 828-337-6467 Classes held at the First Presbyterian Church Weaverville.

Mountain Lap Dulcimer:

A beginning mountain dulcimer class is a now being offered in Marshall through Joyful Noise! The 6-week introductory class is limited to four students. Classes will be held in downtown Marshall at the BridgeBack Movement Studio, 36 Bridge Street, behind the Post Office at a time to be arranged amongst the participants. MaryEagle has been playing and performing mountain traditional music ever since she was gifted with a dulcimer over 30 years ago. She claims that if you can walk and talk at the same time she'll be able to teach you how to make friends with your own dulcimer (a loaner dulcimer is also possible).

Musical Mornings with Mommy and Me:

This new musical offering will be a creative 5-week course, Habitats Around the World, Part II, one hour each week that will include music, movement and laughter. Habitats Around the World will explore different sounds and music heard within different regions in our country and around the globe. The total cost will be $65.00 for a 5-week class, for ages 2-4. Please add an additional $25.00 per sibling to the total cost of the class. Classes will begin late January. Questions or comments, contact Cynthia Roop at croop@mhc.edu or 828-319-7077 Classes held at the Weaverville United Methodist Church.

Sole Impact Dance:

Irish/clogging beginning class for kids from 5:15-6:00 pm (all classes take place on Monday evenings).
Intermediate Clogging for kids from 6:00-6:45.
Adult Beginning clogging from 6:45-7:30.
Intermediate teen and adult clogging from 7:30-8:15
Session runs approximately January 5th through mid May. Classes held at the First Presbyterian Church Weaverville. Classes will be $10 per class, or $8 per class for current Joyful Noise students and family members! Contact Heidi: 828-319-720

Traditional Hand Quilting:

Learn the traditional way of making a quilt by hand. Participants will complete a 32"x32" sampler quilt using a variety of hand-sewing techniques and patterns. (Supplies are not included - a supply list will be provided upon registration.) Classes will be $12 per class. Classes held at the First Presbyterian Church Weaverville. Lynda Sondles is a multi-media artist whose colorful and vibrant quilts, baskets and pastel drawings are in private collections throughout the country. Lynda works out of her studio near Weaverville, where the mountain colors and landscapes provide continual inspiration for her work.

About the Director:

Gina Caldwell is a graduate of the North Carolina School for the Arts (BM), Boston University (MM), and has earned a doctoral degree from the Catholic University of America (DMA). Before returning to North Carolina, she was Professor of Violin and Viola at Shepherd University. There she founded the Shepherd Trio, a faculty Ensemble in Residence and the Sheperd University Chamber Orchestra. Previously, she was Director of the String Department for the Arts Education for Children Group (Maui, Hawaii) and Professor of Violin, Viola, and Chamber Studies at Atlantic Union College (MA). In addition to performing extensively in the United States, Dr. Caldwell has performed solo recitals and taught master classes across Costa Rica. Caldwell has taught students of all ages for over 15 years and is an adjunct Professor at Mars Hill College. She has played with many North Carolina Symphonies and is currently a member of the Asheville Symphony.