Handmade Youth Stringband Program
This weekly gathering is, at its core, a group music program for youth (ages 7-13) to explore traditional music, dance, and arts from the Blue Ridge Plateau of Southwest Virginia. More expansively, it is a community of youth and families connected by their interest in learning about and taking care of the traditions of our Appalachian people and places.
Meeting Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30PM in a 15 week-long semester, the program is open to all experience levels, from first-time players to advanced players.
The Fall 2026 semester will run from August 26 to December 9 (excluding November 25 for Thanksgiving).
Registration for winter/spring 2027 semester will open in november
About the Program
At our weekly gatherings, students will take interactive classes in their choice of fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin, taught by dedicated musicians and instructors from the area that are actively caretaking the music and culture of our region. Regular components also include Appalachian dance, singing, and cultural arts. Music is taught with a focus on playing together in community, and passing on the rich traditions from our area.
The program takes place at the Floyd Events Center at the Floyd EcoVillage on a beautiful 75 acre campus AND at The Floyd Country Store and The Handmade House at 110 Talleys Alley in downtown Floyd, VA.
Tuition & Registration
Registration Information:
Registration for the Fall semester is closed! We will begin enrolling for the winter / spring 2027 semester (January to April 2027) in November 2026.
Before you register, please read the detailed information below about our tuition, since this information will be useful to you as you complete the registration form.
This form will provide us with important information about your child and their skill level and interest to use in planning the upcoming semester.
After you fill out this registration form, we will complete the enrollment of your child/children for the upcoming semester using the information you provide. You will receive a confirmation email from us once your enrollment is complete, along with information on payment options for the semester.
Tuition Information:
No student is turned away due to lack of funds!
The cost to operate the Youth Stringband Program is $300 per student per semester. In an effort to ensure our program is accessible for all families, we have built in several price options, and also offer a 10% price reduction for each sibling. Read the information below and choose the best price option for your family, and then register your child/children using the registration form above.
Full tuition is $300 per semester, but we also offer two reduced tuition prices: a price reduction totaling $250 for the semester, and a price reduction totaling $200 for the semester. To discuss payment options, including payments on a monthly basis throughout the semester, call or email Leigh for assistance.
Reach out to Leigh at leigh@handmademusicschool.org or 540-745-2110 with any questions or concerns you have about the cost of attending or the process of registering – we want to help ensure your child/children can join us!
Payment Options
You are welcome to pay for Handmade Music School lessons, camps, workshops, and other events using credit card, cash, or check. Credit card payments will include a 3% processing fee by the credit card companies, and is the only option available in the ’self-booking’ method of our online registration system. To pay using cash or check, or with questions about payment options, please reach out to Leigh in our office. Call her at 540-745-2110 or email her at leigh@handmademusicschool.org.
Scholarships
Our mission is to make this program accessible to all, regardless of finances. Partial and full scholarships are available depending on need. Please fill out the scholarship form HERE. Scholarships are awarded based on need and funding availability. You will be notified within 2 weeks of your application date. Scholarship applications must be received on or before August 12th (two weeks before the start of the semester) in order to be eligible for review.
Cancellation Policy
Registration fees are fully refundable if cancellation is made two weeks before the program registration is closed. Registration will close on August 19th for the Fall 2026 semester, OR when enrollment reaches maximum capacity. If cancellation is made after registration is closed, only 50% of the registration fee will be refunded. (*In case of emergency, refund policy can be discussed with Handmade Music School faculty).
If you have questions about our registration, costs, or discounts please contact info@handmademusicschool.com
Teachers & Staff
The Handmade Music School is thoughtful and careful when considering who will be teaching at our weekly youth music program. All of our teachers are patient and caring caretakers of local traditions who have been involved in our traditional music and dance community for years. Each teacher is required to go through our safety procedures before being hired. This includes:
- A background check
- Mandatory HMS teacher meetings that include program training, policy updates, and emergency preparedness training
- The team includes staff who are certified in First Aid & CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
- Our staff is skilled at teaching Appalachian music and dance while creating a safe and compassionate learning environment
- Our staff understands the vision, mission, and values of the Handmade Music School and the importance of interpersonal and community building skills
Mac Traynham
Jesse Smathers
Gina Dilg
Jared Boyd
Raistlin Brabson
George Slusher
Dylan Locke
Heather Krantz
Leigh McKagen
Katie Burke
Josh Blankenship
Kyler Stanley
Tim Thornton
winter/spring 2026 Schedule
Below is the weekly schedule for the winter/spring 2026 semester of the Handmade Youth Stringband Program. We will share a tentative weekly schedule for the Fall 2026 program soon, but you can expect a similar schedule this fall as our previous semester.
Details subject to change before the beginning of the semester!
- Wed. Jan. 14 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Jan. 21 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Jan. 28 –Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Feb. 4 – Community Day, Everyone @ the Floyd Country Store for some community learning & fun!
- Wed. Feb. 11 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Sat. Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day Dinner Fundraiser @ EcoVillage (and concert later at FCS)
- Wed. Feb. 18 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Feb. 25 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Mar. 4 – Community Day, Everyone @ EcoVillage for some community learning & fun
- Wed. Mar. 11 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Mar. 18 –NO CLASSES (Floyd OT Get Together)
- Wed. Mar. 25 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Apr. 1 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Apr. 8 – Community Day, Everyone @ EcoVillage for some community learning & fun AND for the family Squaredance and Potluck
- Wed. Apr. 15 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Apr. 22 – Adv/Intermediate and beginner students @ EcoVillage / Advanced students @ Floyd Country Store
- Wed. Apr. 29 – Community Day, Everyone @ Floyd Country Store & Handmade House for the end of semester celebration!!
Policies & Procedures
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Policy
This semester we will host the Youth Stingband Program in two different locations.
EcoVillage Event Center Campus
Drop-off and pick-up will take place in the lobby of the EcoVillage. Please park in the parking lot in front of the EcoVillage Event Center. Parents/guardians are asked to walk your student(s) into the main lobby of the Event Center. Please do not send your student in without the accompaniment of an adult chaperone without pre-written consent of this drop-off via email. A Handmade Music School staff person will help check your student(s) in for the day.
Pick-up from the EcoVillage Event Center Campus: Parents/guardians are asked to come inside to the Event Center to pick up their child between 5:25 pm and 5:30 pm. Please do not arrive later than 5:30pm. If there is an unexpected reason to be late, please call or text (540) 230-6714 and let a HMS staff person know.
Floyd Country Store and Handmade House Campus
Drop-off and pick-up will take place in front of the Floyd Country Store starting at 3:00pm where an HMS teacher or staff member will check in your student. Please park in the parking lot across from the Floyd Country Store or you may pull in front of the Store temporarily to sign your student(s) in for the day. Please note that the Floyd Country Store will be closed so please instruct students to use the side door to enter the building.
Pick-up from the FCS/HH Campus: Parents/guardians may pick up students between 5:30 pm-5:45 pm. If there is an unexpected reason to be late, please call Leigh at (540) 745-2110 and let her know.
Additional Pick-up Information:
All students must be signed out by a parent/guardian. If someone is there to pick up your student(s) and they are not listed on the “allowed pick-up” section of your registration form, we will call the main parent/guardian contact we are given for approval. Your child will not be allowed to leave before we can get a signature, we require this signature as a safety precaution for our students.
If there is anyone who is not allowed to pick up your student, please list this in the “NOT allowed to pick up” area on the registration form AND notify us so we have that information ahead of time.
Contact With Student
If you need to contact your student at any time throughout the program, or drop something off to them, please call:
EcoVillage Campus: Heather at (540) 230-6714
Floyd Country Store Campus: Leigh at (540) 745-2110
HMS Behavior Policy
If the student disrupts the learning opportunities of other students with behaviors such as screaming, name calling, bullying, not following instructions, not respecting the space or equipment, the following steps will be taken:
- A staff member will speak to the parent/guardian(s) about the situation. This will be considered the first warning.
- If the behavior continues a second warning will be given. Our staff will work with the student and parent/guardian(s) to create a plan to help the student be more successful in the program.
- If the behavior continues, a student may be asked to leave the program.
Injury or Emergency Procedures
If the student’s parent/guardian cannot be reached and the program staff have followed the emergency procedures below, the parent/guardian agrees to assume all expenses for moving and medically treating the student.
- In a life threatening emergency ONLY, 911 will be called first.
- In a non-life threatening emergency, the program coordinator will call home. If there is no answer, the emergency contact will be called. The director will administer First Aid as needed.
- If none of the emergency contacts answer, the program coordinator will call an ambulance if necessary to transport the child to a local medical facility.
- Based upon the medical judgment of the attending physician, the child may be admitted to a medical facility.
- The program coordinator will continue to call the parents, guardians or physician until someone is reached. Please make sure you provide correct emergency contact information.
Closures and Inclement Weather
The Handmade Youth Stringband Program follows the Floyd County school schedule for closures due to inclement weather.
Illness General Statement
If your child is sick please keep them home from the program. If a student notifies an instructor that they are not feeling well, the parent will be notified to pick up their child.