e We and th st Virg ry inia isto C H om nd m a i ss re i u o lt n u o C n f t o h e n A o i r s t i s v i D e h t m o r f r e t t e l s w e n y l r e t r a u q e e r f A Fall 2005 A Family Tradition: By Jeff Pierson The Musical Kessingers Photos by Michael Keller As I write this, I am surrounded by the sounds pillows around me so I would not fall off with the of banjos, fiddles, gui- mandolin” said Robin. His tars and other stringed father’s mandolin was his instruments. I am in the first experience with music. company of some of the “I do remember my first genre’s greatest students, guitar though; it was Christ- including Robin Kess- mas when I was 12 years inger. old,” he added. Robin and I are casu- “We have always ally chatting in a small played music because we cabin at Camp Wash- wanted to play. We never ington-Carver, as we thought we would bring at- both enjoy the Division tention to ourselves for it,” of Culture and History’s said Dan Kessinger, Robin’s Appalachian String Band younger brother. “I found Music Festival at Clifftop. the fiddle when I was 13 The Kessinger family is after playing the ukulele one of the most recog- from the age of 5.” nized groups of musi- I spoke with the broth- cians in the state. From ers in two separate con- famous fiddler Clark Kes- versations but the stories singer to Robin’s father they told came together Bob Kessinger, the fam- as if they were sitting in ily has made its mark by the same room. They both being passionate about spoke of vivid musical playing music. memories from their forma- “My mom used to put tive years. One of the most me on the bed and stack The Kessinger family includes, from top, Bob (de- Continued on page 2 ceased), Dan and Robin. 2 Kessingers Continued from page1 influential memories from their childhoods was a single reel-to-reel tape. “Dad became close to Robert ‘Georgia Slim’ Rutland, shortly before his death. Robert sent Dad a recording of a song he called ‘Bob Kes- singer Hornpipe’” Dan explained. “We would listen to the song and try to learn it by ear” Robin said. “Dad would not show us how to play a tune. He would make us learn Robin, Bob and Dan Kessinger practice at the 1989 Vandalia Gathering. it by hearing it. He actu- “It was his favorite place to play other than ally would turn his back to me [while playing] so home,” Robin said of his father and the Vandalia I would not be able to see what he was doing. Gathering. “When he won the Vandalia Award When he was playing a song he could not stop [the state’s highest folklife honor] in 2002, it was in the middle, you had to reach out and grab the the happiest day of his life.” frets with your hand.” Dan spoke of his father’s passion for music Rutland’s recording of “Bob Kessinger Horn- “We played music at the house. He was so very pipe” became the foundation on which the boys passionate for his and all music. I think that is would learn to play music. In fact, Dan performed what people will remember.” the song during a recent tribute to his father, “His knowledge of music was incredible. He held as part of this year’s Vandalia Gathering in was a walking encyclopedia,” Robin added. Charleston. The brothers agreed the song was the Robin and Dan now have the task of keeping most inspired of the evening because of its ori- the Kessinger legacy alive. They agree that all the gins. music they make from now on will be in memo- When Bob Kessinger died earlier this year at rial to their father, and a special tribute recording the age of 78, he left a legacy of music and wis- is in the works. Dan also is working on his own dom for generations to enjoy and learn from. His recording and continues to compose Appalachian absence at the annual festival, which celebrates traditional music for trios and even an orchestra. the state’s traditional arts, will be felt for many Robin just received a professional development years. grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and is planning to write his own new music and to record an instructional compact disc for guitar. Music will always be a big part of the Kessing- er family; Dan and Robin’s children have already shown interest. The legacy will continue. Bob Kessinger accepting his Vandalia Award in 2002 alongside his sons, Dan (left) and Robin. 3 From the Director How can students in your community get a quality arts education? By Richard H. Ressmeyer, Director of Arts Start by looking for information. Local school Form a group to support arts education in your systems are faced with the task of making arts educa- local schools. A group can set goals, assign tasks tion policies and requirements work in local schools. and support one another in the effort to improve arts County-level administrators and principals decide education in your area. What can this group do? who will teach the arts, how much time will be spent on the arts and what kinds of resources will be devot- • Make connections with and provide information to ed to the arts. The only way to find out what is hap- school administrators who are responsible for arts pening in your community is to ask. What questions education. should you ask? • Coordinate with the local media in a community- wide campaign to promote arts education. • Are all students receiving arts instruction accord- • Engage in fundraising activities and plan for spe- ing to state standards? cific arts programs and demonstration projects. • How often does my child receive arts instruction? • Coordinate professional development opportuni- • Is a specialist teaching my child? ties for teachers in the arts. • How are my child’s skills being assessed in these • Arrange for speakers to present information about subjects? arts education for boards of education and civic • Do teachers have resources such as current text- organizations. books, visual arts supplies, computers, CDs and • Write letters in support of arts education to elected an adequate stereo system? officials. • Are arts educators and general classroom teach- • Monitor board of education policies and actions ers receiving professional development in the arts? related to arts education. • Are artist-in-residence programs planned for the • Request that county school budget reductions be next school year? spread equally across the curriculum and not be • Does the local high school offer instruction in placed solely in the area of arts education. dance and theater in addition to music and visual art? The most critical factor in sustaining arts educa- • Are students, including high-achieving students, tion in schools is the active involvement of influential encouraged to take arts classes at the secondary segments of the community. Together, parents, teach- level? ers, artists and community leaders can ensure that all West Virginia children receive a quality arts educa- Identify potential partners who can help you sup- tion. Take action so the children in your community port arts education in your community. The key to will “know quality when they see it.” improving arts education is building a base of sup- port in your community. Find people who care about [This column is reprinted from the Summer 2002 issue supporting arts education and share information with of ArtWorks.] them. Where do you find these people? • Talk to groups such as the PTA, PTO, churches, Creative Writing civic organizations or the local school improve- ment council. Workshop • Talk to artists, teachers, students, local arts orga- The West Virginia Division of Culture and His- nizations and people who work in arts-related tory is sponsoring a creative writing workshop on businesses. October 15. The one-day workshop will be led • Talk to people who organize civic events such by writer Kate Long at Camp Washington-Carver as fairs, festivals and benefits. They usually have in Clifftop. The registration fee is $25, which contacts in the arts community. includes lunch. Members of West Virginia Writers • Talk to school administrators, business leaders, will receive a $5 discount. Overnight lodging is elected officials and members of the media. available for an additional fee. • Seek out local artists, arts councils or arts organi- For more information, contact Pat Cowdery by zations. No only might they be interested in join- e-mail at [email protected] or by phone ing an arts education support group, but they also at (304) 558-0220. have access to arts education resources. 4 From a Place Called Solid: Mapping the Literary Landscape of West Virginia By Belinda Anderson I laughed my way through this tale of two young hitchhikers terrorized by the speeders who pick them It was September, 1914. We homing Americans up and race across West Virginia in an attempt to were churning through an extraordinarily blue win a bet. The writer in me mulled over how cleverly ocean toward New York and peace, while back Knight had incorporated the state’s history into the there, just over our shoulders, a mad world was story, published in 1973 in The Atlantic Monthly. running red.