Giving Tuesday Fall Fundraiser

The Handmade Music School strives to cultivate and strengthen community through experiences in music and dance rooted in our Appalachian traditions. We envision thriving communities that connect through place-based traditions and are asking for your support this Giving Tuesday 2023 as we deepen and expand our programming with this north star in mind. 

Your donations will fund operations for the Handmade Music School, provide scholarships for our weekly youth program and youth summer camps, and will help support County Sales in Floyd, VA.  Your donations will help support our team in building upon existing opportunities and creating new vibrant music and dance opportunities. It's our mission to welcome everyone into the Handmade Music School community without finances getting in the way, and also to support the musicians and teachers that make these opportunities possible. 

Join us for a Handmade Music School Thanksgiving Celebration and Fundraiser on Tuesday, November 28th at The Floyd Country Store from 5:00-7:00 PM. 

About HMS Youth Programming:

Engaging young people is vital in preserving the future of these beautiful traditions and creating sustainable community. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for young people and their families to engage during and after their school day and throughout the week while making these opportunities accessible to all. This currently happens through private lessons, recurring classes, workshops, camps, presentations, and community jams as well as regular performance opportunities. Our annual summer camps are an incredible opportunity for youth to take a deep dive into traditional music and dance, while developing an understanding of local culture and Appalachian traditions through hands-on experiences. Through consistent guided engagement with community members and mentors, we demonstrate the importance of community, mentorship, and lasting friendships while students develop their own connection to these traditions and share their own blossoming and unique skills. 

Our Youth Get Together Camp was sold out last year, and scholarships were given to all who applied. We will be doubling our capacity this year to serve our community and will continue our mission of ensuring that the next generation gets to experience the community and joy found in our traditional music and dance.

We also just launched the Handmade Youth Stringband, a semester long weekly group music class for musicians ages 7-18!

About County Sales:

For fifty years, County Sales has served Floyd, Virginia and the world as the premier bluegrass and old-time music-centric music hub. As a part of Handmade Music, County Sales works to provide musicians and enthusiasts of all levels with a vast catalog of both timeless classic recordings and timely new releases. County Sales provides a global platform to musicians and labels don't have as wide of distribution as mainstream artists. Southwest Virginia's musical heritage is built largely on the passage of traditions and even as we advance further in time from the original sources of these traditions, recordings and moments captured in time serve as the vein that circulates the music we hold dear. In an era where few brick-and-mortar record stores continue, your generous contributions help connect our region's rich musical heritage to an international customer base and provide priceless musical resources to those learning directly from Handmade Music schools instructional projects. 

There are many ways to help the Handmade Music School share the music this Giving Tuesday. Choose a specific project to donate to or donate to our general operating fund. Thank you for helping us share the music! Your support is greatly appreciated.

Learn more about our programs here: https://handmademusicschool.com