Making Music At The Market
By JoAnne Leone

When we think of the great institutions of music education in this country, Juliard, the Peabody Institute and the Boston Conservatory, all northeastern academies, come to mind. But Georgia Tech? Sure, they have a great band at half time shows, but innovators in music? In fact, the Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology is the breeding ground for the development of new musical instruments. Every year they host an International Competiton in musical instrument design. This year’s winning creation was an armband that transmits vibrations from your muscles into sound, and one’s arm movements become compositions.

In 1851, ten years prior to the Civil War, another great instrument was invented and first manufactured in Georgia. An African American from Macon, GA designed a tube with a piece of material that vibrated with the players hum. He took his idea to a German immigrant clock maker in town who manufactured a mirliton, or as we know it, a Kazoo.

The Kazoo was introduced in 1852 at the Georgia State Fair. And the Union County Farmers Market is celebrating this accomplishment 160 years later at our 3rd Annual Green Bean Festival, with the formation of the Market’s “Green Bean Kazoo Band”.

This year’s Green Bean Festival is being relocated from Downtown Blairsville to the Farmers Market location where it can spread its wings. A committee of volunteers has been hard at work for months to assure that Saturday, July 28th, holds the key to the best food, fun and family entertainment of the summer.

Part of the plans for the merriment include bringing together young and old alike in a community band with an instrument any one can play proficiently. If you can hum you can play a kazoo! Interested in joining the band? Visit www.GreenBeanFestival.com for details.

That brings me to another musical opportunity for local musicians. This year we have taken the booth in the center of the Market and dubbed it “Blackberry Jam Sessions”, where educational sessions will be held on Tuesday afternoon markets and on Saturday, the booth will be swinging with live music. We are now booking musicians for the season. If you and your group would be interested in finding out more about this opportunity, email me at UCFarmersMarket@gmail.com or stop by the Market Manager’s office any time the market is open.

The Union County Farmers Market is open every Tuesday from 3pm-7pm and Saturdays from 7am-1pm. Trash and Treasures is every Friday from 8am-1pm.