John C. Campbell Folk School

SCENIC NORTH CAROLINA CAMPUS STRIVES TO KEEP APPALACHIAN MUSIC, DANCE AND CULTURE ALIVE IN BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA The traditional Morningsong music program is offered several days a week at 7:45 a.m., and Friday performances are streamed live on the Folk School’s Facebook page. A socially distanced and masked crowd filled the historic Keith House Community Room to hear Baugus, who was teaching a weeklong beginning clawhammer banjo class at the school. Toes started tapping and eyes smiled as he shared stories about the songs he frailed on a black clawhammer banjo that he built. Charmaine Slaven, music and dance studio coordinator, welcomed attendees to Keith House, the second oldest building on the school’s 270-acre campus. The wood floors are scuffed from the footwork of generations of flat foot cloggers and contra dancers.  “Many happy things have happened here. There’s a loving energy infused in the walls,” Slaven said.   Baugus closed his half-hour pr