Teaching & Tradition
Dwight Diller
Teacher Folklorist Banjoist Fiddler Minister
Dwight Diller dedicated his life to preserving the music, stories, and spirit of the West Virginia mountains. A clawhammer banjo player fiddler, teacher, folklorist, and Mennonite minister, he introduced the Hammons family and other mountain tradition bearers to the wider world. Guided by a deep Christian faith, Dwight taught that traditional music was more than entertainment—it was a way of understanding place, people, and purpose and a way of letting God move through the rhythm. His influence continues through the thousands of students, musicians, and families who carry forward the traditions he spent a lifetime protecting.
Dwight Diller & Lee Hammons
The Transmission Project
The Transmission Project collects and preserve the memories, stories, photographs, recordings, and personal reflections of Dwight Diller’s former students, friends, colleagues, and family members. Our goal is to create a lasting online archive that future generations can explore to better understand Dwight’s life, music, teaching, and influence. We welcome submissions of personal stories, photographs, audio recordings, videos, tunes learned from Dwight, written reflections, and other materials that help tell the story of his remarkable legacy.
Please note that our online submission form accepts only certain file types. If you have materials in another format, our archivist may still be able to work with them. Simply send us a message, and we will be happy to help. Every contribution, whether a cherished photograph, a favorite tune, or a brief memory, helps preserve Dwight’s music, teachings, and spirit for future generations.
Please note that our online submission form accepts only certain file types. If you have materials in another format, our archivist may still be able to work with them. Simply send us a message, and we will be happy to help. Every contribution, whether a cherished photograph, a favorite tune, or a brief memory, helps preserve Dwight’s music, teachings, and spirit for future generations.
