The morning dawned bright and sunny! A few thunderheads still lingered, but posed no threat to our day. God certainly watched over us. We got our awning in just in time last night. A trailer down the way had theirs completely torn off by the wind. We took it easy in the morning and took care of business. Sharon had heard music presentations at the Blue Ridge Music Center just down the parkway from Fancy Gap would be starting today at noon.  


As we drove out of the campground, we noticed farms right across the road from the campground. These are part of a program as described in the attached photo - The Agricultural Scene. Further down the parkway, we came to an overlook, so we pulled out. It is the Granite Quarry overlook, in the distance is the Mt. Airy Granite Quarry. Great view, but as to which white "scar" the sign is referring to is not something I could identify. This quarry is the world's largest "open face" granite quarry. There are larger quarries, but not "open-faced".
 

  The sky began clouding up again. We arrived at the Blue Ridge Music Center right before the rain doused us! The Center was very interesting! They were conducting workshops for children who played instruments in playing "mountain" music. Inside, there was a museum of what they term as "mountain music". Most interesting is how this type of music got started! Many of the instruments that are still being used have been around for centuries. Some of them have origins in Germany or Ireland. As explained in "American Frontier", homes were isolated as people cultivated their own farms. So community activities took on importance - activities like harvesting or barn-raising. Music was found in the home, but during times of community gatherings, whoever could afford to have a musical instrument brought it. Very few played instruments, but everyone sang! Religious or gospel music was a part of the repertoire because it was also apart of the home and community life.
 

Before we left, we enjoyed a "jam session" out in the breezeway. Normally they would have a program in the amphitheater, but today was the first day of the "season". So today was just a "jam session", but it was excellent anyway! We took several videos so you can experience some of the "mountain music". The adult instrumentalist even invited a young man to come play his banjo with them after his workshop had completed. It was a nice touch before we headed back home to Fancy Gap.