Round Peak, North Carolina facts for kids

Round Peak is a small, unnamed community located in Surry County, North Carolina, in the United States. It sits near the town of Mount Airy and is nestled in the southern Appalachian Mountains. This area is famous for a special kind of music called the Round Peak style of old-time music.

Discovering Round Peak

The community of Round Peak is named after a nearby mountain peak, which is also called Round Peak. This mountain reaches a height of 2,094 feet (about 638 meters)! The community itself is at a lower elevation of 1,280 feet (about 390 meters). A popular place to visit in the area is the Round Peak Vineyards, which is part of the Yadkin Valley wine region.

The Sound of Round Peak Music

The Round Peak style is a unique type of "old-time" or mountain string band music. This music mixes sounds from Anglo-Celtic fiddle music and African banjo music. People say it has a very special sound. Musicians like Charlie Lowe, Tommy Jarrell, and Fred Cockerham helped make this style popular in the 20th century.

What makes Round Peak music different? It uses the banjo in a special way. Banjo players create interesting, bouncy rhythms by using a technique called "drop thumbs." They also focus on making the banjo play melodies, not just background sounds.

The Round Peak area is a hub for this music. It hosts the Mount Airy Fiddlers Convention, which is a big event where musicians gather. Also, Appalachian State University has a special collection of research materials about Round Peak old-time music.