Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music

Ffotm presented the 17th annual 3-day pickin in the pines bluegrass & acoustic Music festival september 15-17, 2023. The festival attracted total paid attendance of 3240 adults and over 500 children under the age of 15 receiving free admission. The main stage features multiple grammy award-winning bluegrass & acoustic Music performances with a total of 15 national, regional and local acts performing bluegrass, folk and old-time Music. The festival also offers free educational Music workshops that feature fiddle, bass, guitar, banjo, mandolin,and singing instruction. Along with informal Music jams, childrens programs, family activities and a Traditional dance event, the festival promotes the mission of the organization.

Other programs ffotm provided in 2023 include the young jammers Music instruction program for local youth ages 9 to 17. Between 25-30 children attended the weekly Music lessons in an indoor setting. The program provides children an opportunity to learn how to play Traditional Music on a free, donated musical instrument. Ffotom also hosts weekly Music jams that averages 15 adults, and an annual member campout that averages 50-75 people. Ffotm hosted 7 contra dances. Ffotm also produced a monthly digital newsletter that is published and delivered to members featuring stories, announcements, instructions, and a calendar of events.

Ffotm presented the 21th annual Flagstaff folk festival, a 2-day event held in june providing a venue for over 100 local and regional amateur musicians to perform. Presented on 3 stages, the festival includes educational workshops and jams at a low cost of $10 per person and $5 for seniors and students. The festival is a family-friendly event that encourages attendees to bring a musical instrument along to join in the fun. The performance opportunities to amateur musicians and exposure of a large audience to Traditional Music contributes to the organizations mission to preserve and promote and present Traditional Music.