Old-Time Tunes & Scottish Roots
Special Guest
William Ritter
Join North Carolina folk musician William Ritter as we dive into the world of old-time music and its deep connections to Scottish heritage. In this episode, we discover how traditional songs helped people share stories, carry on culture, and bring a sense of home to the Appalachian mountains.
NC Old time music with William Ritter
What We're Learning Today
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How songs and stories travel: Discover how Scottish tunes crossed the Atlantic and found new life in the Appalachian Mountains.
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The power of memory: See how immigrants carried their heritage not in suitcases, but in melodies and lyrics.
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Musical “accents” and evolution: Hear how a tune called Lord McDonald’s Reel in Scotland became Leather Britches here—and what that tells us about cultural adaptation.
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Ballads vs. instrumentals: Learn the difference between dance tunes (fiddle reels) and narrative songs (ballads), and why both mattered in daily life.
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Work-song tradition: Explore how families sang through repetitive chores—shelling peas, harvesting hay, winding rope—to make the work feel lighter.
In The Classroom
Discussion Questions for the Classroom
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Why carry songs instead of instruments?
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How does renaming a tune (“Lord McDonald’s Reel” → “Leather Britches”) reflect local life?
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What chores in your home would you turn into a work-song, and why?
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How do ballads preserve stories and characters (knights, ladies fair) for centuries?
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In what ways do musical accents (Scots vs. Appalachian fiddle) act like spoken accents?
Curriculum Connection
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Social Studies (K–5): Migration & settlement; cultural heritage and traditions; map skills.
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English/Language Arts: Story structure (beginning-middle-end in ballads); descriptive language (“lady fair,” “knight”); creative writing (lyric composition).
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Music: Rhythm and meter in reels; listening skills; folk traditions; ensemble vs. solo practice.
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Art: Storyboarding and visual storytelling; mapping and infographic design.
It also aligns with goals in SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) by promoting self-awareness and cultural understanding.
Extension Ideas
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Family Music Interview: Have students interview a relative about a song or tune their family sings—and share its story aloud.
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Instrument Build Workshop: Create a simple “stomp box” or shaker to accompany a class performance of Leather Britches.
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Gaelic Glossary: Research and present five Scottish-Gaelic terms found in ballads (e.g. “ceòl,” “pìobaire,” “bannock”).
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Cross-Cultural Comparison: Compare Appalachian old-time songs to another immigrant tradition (e.g. Mexican corridos, Irish sean-nós)—what’s similar or different?
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Digital Remix Project: Record a classroom performance of your chore-song, then remix it digitally (change tempo, add virtual instruments) and reflect on how style shifts meaning.
More From This Series:
Scotland In Our Backyard is a video series celebrating Scottish heritage in North Carolina — created by the Scottish Cultural Outreach Foundation with support from NC Humanities.
Explore the full series on YouTube
This program is supported in part by North Carolina Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, www.nchumanities.org
