My mother is from the NW corner North Carolina, which is very similar to most of the SW-VA area around the turn of the century. She tells of going to visit friends and relatives and just about every family brought an instrument of some kind. After eating supper, they would gather in the living rooms and entertain. This came down from our Scotch-Irish-German heritage. She played the guitar and learned from listening to other people playing. Radio was not very wide spread in the mountains until after the 30's. Music has always been a celebration and an expression of joy and sadness. Bobby Vencill Looking for info on VENCILL, BROOKS