Fiddle & Pick: Home of the Musical Heritage Center
The Fiddle & Pick is home of the Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee — a music school, performance venue, and community gathering place located in scenic Pegram, TN.
Gretchen Priest-May, a music educator and Pegram resident, founded the center in 2008 with a clear mission: provide affordable, high-quality music education rooted in the traditional music of this region. What began as a small music school has become one of the most vibrant centers for traditional music in Middle Tennessee.
Today, Fiddle & Pick hosts private lessons with over 30 professional instructors, weekly jam sessions, group classes, weekend workshops, concerts, and major annual events that draw musicians from across the country.
Est. 2008
Founded by Gretchen Priest-May to make traditional music education affordable and accessible in Middle Tennessee.
30+ Instructors
Nashville professional musicians teaching fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, piano, pipes, and more.
Pegram, TN
Located at 456 Hwy 70 — 22 minutes west of downtown Nashville in the scenic Harpeth River valley.
Rooted in Tradition
The Musical Heritage Center focuses on the education and history of traditional music through practical, hands-on activities. Our specialties include music played on fiddles, banjos, mandolins, guitars, and similar instruments — particularly music rooted in the Middle Tennessee region throughout its history.
We teach a wide range of styles:
Our Community
Students of All Ages & Levels
Students from young children to senior adults take lessons and jam at the Musical Heritage Center. Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced musician, you'll find a welcoming, inspiring community here.
Our weekly jams — Irish, Old-Time, and Bluegrass — are the heart of what we do. Come play, or just come to listen. No experience required to walk in the door.
About Gretchen Priest-May
Founder & Director
Gretchen is a professional musician, music educator, and long-time Pegram resident. She divides her time between running the Musical Heritage Center, teaching various fiddle styles, and performing with her band PLAIDGRASS.
PLAIDGRASS is a band she created by merging the traditions of Irish, Old-Time, and Bluegrass music. Her love of Irish melodies, Old-Time rhythms, and Bluegrass harmonies with strong improvisation is what makes PLAIDGRASS unique.
Before opening the Center, Gretchen toured with the Bluegrass Band Crucial Smith and the Celtic rock band Ceili Rain. She has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, Mountain Stage, and festivals across the country.