The AAC's Appalachian School of Luthiery teaches stringed instrument construction to students and apprentices of all ages.  Luthiery is deeply rooted in Hindman, as far back as 1871 when the beautiful dulcimers of James Edward (Uncle Ed) Thomas first appeared.  Besides building museum-quality replicas of those early pieces, students can also learn to build, service and restore guitars, mandolins, and many other stringed instruments at a professional level.

Many decades of stringed instrument-making experience have been folded into our very unique, very Appalachian program.  The skilled luthiers of the Appalachian School of Luthiery stand ready to guide the student through all levels of musical instrument construction.  Here in Hindman, we like to think that our students receive the best training possible, while experiencing cultural immersion of the richest kind.  We work long days and hit it hard in order to ensure excellent results.

The School of Luthiery hosts many of our Culture of Recovery clients each week - giving them the opportunity to gain skills in woodworking and team building while using art and music as a step forward in their recovery journey. A select group have now gone on to become full time luthiers at the AAC's Troublesome Creek Stringed Instrument Company.