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John Peters/The News
Robin Watson, 12 (left), of Elkin, offers to trade her slightly smaller guitar with Laura Couch, 5, also of Elkin. The two were on hand Thursday for the free guitar lessons given at Surry Arts Council by local musician Jim Vipperman.
Jim Vipperman, local musician, makes his way every Thursday to the Surry Arts Council, where he offers free guitar lessons to area youth, often using instruments supplied by the Council.
The program is one that Council officials have said is important to the area, because it is a way for local young people to learn a little about the roots of Blue Grass and Old Time music.
Those genres of music have deep roots in the Mount Airy region, with some of the biggest names in blue grass and old time music coming from the area.
The Mount Airy Fiddler’s Convention, held every June in Mount Airy, is one of the ways that heritage is honored locally. Another is the weekly lessons given at the Council by Vipperman.
Maybe one day some of the students at Vipperman’s Thursday class will be playing on the stage at the Fiddler’s Convention.
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