The Music Roots program was started in 1998 by Danny Thomas, then superintendent of the Mountain View School District.  Mr. Thomas received a career orientation grant and used those funds to buy instruments and pay teachers to teach the students how to play them.

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The Mountain View Bluegrass Association, Inc. and the Music Roots program are dedicated to keeping old time and bluegrass music alive by teaching youngsters to play acoustic instruments, starting with guitar and fiddle. Other instruments including banjo and dulcimer are added for second-year students.

The Music Roots program is in place at three Stone County schools for students in fourth grade – Mountain View, Timbo, and Rural Special. Classes for fifth grade and up are held at the Ozark Folk Center State Park. 

We pay for the teachers and provide instruments for all the classes.  We regularly have over 100 students from 4th grade on up learning how to play acoustic instruments. 

When students show real dedication to continuing to play, and their Music Roots teacher makes the recommendation, we provide them with a new instrument of their own.

We also grant scholarships for students to attend summer music camps to hone their skills with other youngsters who love bluegrass and old-time music.

The Music Roots program plays a major part in keeping music alive in Mountain View, Arkansas!