Fiddle & Pick

Home of the Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee // 615-646-9131

Welcome to the Fiddle & Pick website!

Welcome to the new website for Fiddle & Pick. The Fiddle & Pick is home of the Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee at 456 Highway 70 in Pegram, TN at (615) 646-9131). Founded by music educator and Pegram resident Gretchen Priest-May, it is a place where people old and young can come to discover the joy found in making traditional music - mainly, but not limited to, music played on fiddles, banjos, mandolins, guitars and similar instruments - and in particular, music played in the Middle Tennessee region throughout its history. In addition to affordable private and group lessons, the Fiddle & Pick will feature workshops in advanced instrumental study.

This network page will keep you informed on the latest news and events at the center. Feel free to join and network with others, whether you are a current student or not.


Location and Directions

The Fiddle & Pick building is located at 456 Highway 70 by Harpeth Clock & Quilt in Pegram, TN. See Mapquest for more detailed directions.

Directions: The Musical Heritage Center at the Fiddle & Pick is located 22 minutes west of downtown Nashville. Directions from downtown Nashville: It is at 456 Hwy 70 on the corner of Hwy 70 and Hannah Ford Drive. Go I40 West and take the second Bellevue exit; It is exit 196 which says, Bellevue /Newsom Station. Be sure to go Right after taking that exit (which is Hwy 70s in Bellevue). You come to a "T" in the road (a land mark is a "Narrows of the Harpeth sign" and also a newly built one room white steeple church which is in of you when you are at the "T". Be sure to go Left at the "T" (which is also Hwy 70 but going west. Then the first stop light (Hannah Ford Drive) you come to, you are there.

Parking Policy: As we welcome our next door neighbor, the Mud Puddle Art Center, we have implemented a new parking policy. Park in front of or in the back parking lot of the Fiddle & Pick, or park in the train station parking lot, which is huge, across the street. Parents with small children and seniors or other people that shouldn't have to park across the street can use the Mud Puddle lot if all of the Fiddle & Pick parking is full. Never block the passage that goes to the back parking lot. Never, never block the drive that goes to a residence behind the next door building. Please help us be good neighbors by taking this parking request seriously! Thank you!

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Upcoming Events

 

More Events


 Casting Auditions for The Mockingbird Sings at the Fiddle & Pick:


The play on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mockingbird-Sings-Play/354751221254610

Synopsis of Play:

Eddie Snow is a budding country singer with a lot of heart and short of prospects in 1927, before American Country Music was known outside a handful of mountain folk and coal-miners that made up the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. 
Ralph Peer, a music historian and free-thinking businessman endeavors to capture a revolutionary idea: that is, to broadcast on live radio and simultaneously record the rich and soulful sounds of America's voice of common people, who could never imagine they'd be heard alongside the slick and composed popular music manufactured out of the big cities.
Eddie finds himself by geographical luck to be in the heart of this event. Marrying the sounds he grew up on brought to America by his forefathers in Scotland and Ireland with the soulful gospel melodies he heard from railway workers, he mirrored a unique folksy style that went straight to the heart with little production and the conventional "studio" arrangement.
So in 1927, long before the well-known and oft credited as "the beginning" of country music in Nashville "Grand Ol Opry," Eddie records his first song at the Bristol sessions in Bristol, Tennessee alongside Jimmy Rodgers and The Carter Family. This became what is commonly held as THE BIRTH OF COUNTRY MUSIC.
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More Fliers

 

In Memory of Bill Whittington

A Memorial service honoring the life of Bill Whittington will be held and the Fiddle and Pick on Thursday, September 1st.

We will begin to gather at 6pm, music for the service will begin around 6:30 and will be performed by members of the Fiddle and Pick staff.

All friends, family, and members of the Fiddle and Pick community are welcome to attend and celebrate Bill’s life.

After the service has concluded, the banjo students and slow Jammers will play a few songs together in honor of Bill. Other members of the Fiddle and Pick community, who would like to participate, are invited to attend.

A food table will be set up to share after the service. Please feel free to bring a snack or dish to share. Drinks will be provided by the Fiddle and Pick.




Many of you knew Bill, even without knowing his name. He was a tall, slender, bearded man wearing a dark hat and warm smile. He spent many hours at the Fiddle and Pick as a volunteer. His usual post was as a greeter by the front door. He was likely the first to greet you, hold open the door, and help carry your instrument. Recently he spent the whole day volunteering at our Pickin’ for Pegram Station event. Being so very dedicated to helping with our events, he rarely missed one.

Bill was a very generous, helpful, cheerful, and big hearted man. He was a weekly banjo student of Alan O’Bryant, and loved to play. Bill’s determination to play the banjo was a great encouragement to other students who played with him. He loved music. Whether he had his banjo in his lap, or was volunteering at a show or jam, if there was music, Bill was wearing a smile. He will be greatly missed.

Please help encourage and comfort Bill’s wife Patricia, his family, and each other.

 

 

Blog Posts

June 2012 Calendar

Posted by Gretchen Priest-May on May 25, 2012 at 2:30am 0 Comments

Announcements:

Happy Summer everyone!



There are 2 events which dates have changed... although excitement has built up that the Center is hosting a play, “The Mockingbird Sings”, which is about the early radio recordings in Bristol; “the birth of Country music, Pre-Grand Ole Opry. Then, after scheduling the play date we found out…
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May 2012 Calendar

Posted by Gretchen Priest-May on April 28, 2012 at 4:08am 0 Comments

May 2012 Calendar & News

“Fiddle and Pick”, Home of The Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee

located at

456 Hwy 70, Pegram, TN 37143 Phone: 615-646-9131



Announcements: The Irish dust has not yet settled from our 4th annual Irish Workshop Weekend Event

and already folks are asking us what the date is in 2013 so they may attend again next year! We have made a

decision. We are going to have it every year on the first full weekend in April (as long as that…

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Events

 
 
 

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Latest Activity

Bill Durkin liked David Martin's group Mandolin
7 hours ago
Profile IconRick Crump, Jerry Tucker, Carolyn Akland and 2 more joined Fiddle & Pick
Friday
Gretchen Priest-May's blog post was featured

June 2012 Calendar

Announcements:Happy Summer everyone! There are 2 events which dates have changed... although excitement has built up that the Center is hosting a play, “The Mockingbird Sings”, which is about the early radio recordings in Bristol; “the birth of Country music, Pre-Grand Ole Opry. Then, after scheduling the play date we found out that Cheatham County Theatre is putting on a play that opens same weekend. We decided to reschedule our play performance to Sept 22 & 23 2012. We want CC Community…See More
Friday
Gretchen Priest-May posted a blog post

June 2012 Calendar

Announcements:Happy Summer everyone! There are 2 events which dates have changed... although excitement has built up that the Center is hosting a play, “The Mockingbird Sings”, which is about the early radio recordings in Bristol; “the birth of Country music, Pre-Grand Ole Opry. Then, after scheduling the play date we found out that Cheatham County Theatre is putting on a play that opens same weekend. We decided to reschedule our play performance to Sept 22 & 23 2012. We want CC Community…See More
Friday
Sharon Cort commented on Gretchen Priest-May's group Guitarists
"Hi Richard - im not aware of any formal song list; I think it depends on who shows up and what they feel like. I believe that there could be several jams on, but they will be up to speed, not like the slow jams, which are for people just learning.…"
Friday
Richard Shames commented on Gretchen Priest-May's group Guitarists
"  What songs will be played?  Can I come to observe?  Is this different then the 2nd and 4th Thursday slow jam?  Hope to see you!"
Friday
Sharon Cort commented on Gretchen Priest-May's group Guitarists
"It starts at 7:00 and I am the greeter so I hope to see you there!"
Thursday
Richard Shames commented on Gretchen Priest-May's group Guitarists
"What time is the Bluegrass Jam tomorrow 5/25?  Thanks!"
Thursday
Richard Shames liked Gretchen Priest-May's group Guitarists
Thursday
Sharon Cort shared their album on Facebook
Thursday
Sharon Cort posted a photo

mockingbird casting call May/June 12th

Open casting calls through June 12th 2012
Thursday
Sharon Cort updated their profile
Thursday
Sharon Cort replied to Warren Bone's discussion What guitar strings do you like? in the group Guitarists
"The best strings are John Pearse Phosphor Bronze..................... And hey!  Come and see what's coming to F&P!!  Thanks to Gretchen!!!"
Thursday
Sharon Cort joined Gretchen Priest-May's group
Thursday
Sharon Cort posted a status
"Premiere of Mockingbird Sings"
Thursday
Sharon Cort posted a blog post

Auditions continue for The Mockingbird Sings! Play about the birth of country music in Bristol 1927

Please spread the word! Be a part of the excitement!Gretchen has graciously opened her doors and her heart to allow my boyfriend Terry Harkleroad (writer) and I in presenting the premiere of The Mockingbird Sings this summer/fall to be presented at Fiddle and Pick.  I will post a few blogs here to familiarize…See More
Thursday
Dave Nauman posted a video

Windy and Warm

A great John Loudermilk tune.
May 16
Richard Shames joined Gretchen Priest-May's group
May 10
Rick Cunningham updated their profile
May 3
e.g. posted a status
"July 14 the Spontaneous Mountain Boys will return to F&P.. old time standard bluegrass tunes...some originals...lots of chit chat silliness."
Apr 30

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