How to Choose an Instructor
Pick an instrument first. Then call every instructor who teaches it — each has a different teaching method, area of expertise, schedule, and rate. We encourage you to find the right teacher for your needs. Instructors set their own lesson schedules, tuition rates, and payment policies.
Fiddle & Violin
2 instructors
Gretchen Priest-May
Irish, Old-Time, Bluegrass · converting violin to fiddle style
Founder of the Musical Heritage Center (2008). Performs with PLAIDGRASS, a band she created by merging Irish, Old-Time and Bluegrass traditions. Former touring musician with Crucial Smith and Celtic rock band Ceili Rain. Featured performer at the Grand Ole Opry, Mountain Stage, Winfield, and festivals nationwide.
Stephan Dudash
Jazz, swing improv, classical, Suzuki, contest fiddle
A 5-string violist specializing in Gypsy Jazz. Trained at Interlochen Arts Academy from age 13. Has performed with Olivia Newton-John, Shania Twain, and the John Jorgenson Quintet. Also plays mandolin, guitar, bass, and hand percussion.
Guitar, Ukulele & Voice
2 instructors
Erinn Peet Lukes
Bluegrass, original songwriting, folk
Lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist of Thunder and Rain. Toured the US, UK, Ireland, and Canada for seven years. 2nd place at MerleFest Chris Austin songwriting competition (2021). 30K subscribers on YouTube. Teaching privately since 2013 and co-coordinating Kids Camps at Fiddle & Pick.
Paul Abrams
Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Ragtime, Bluegrass
Adjunct Faculty at Belmont University since 1998. Has taught at Nashville Jazz Institute, Nashville Tech, UT, and Trevecca. Recording credits include Epic, Vanguard, RCA, and Mercury Records. TV appearances on Hee Haw, Pop Goes the Country, and special with Kenny Rogers and Tammy Wynette.
Mandolin
1 instructor
Jason Bailey
New Grass, Jazz, Celtic · 20 years professional
Originally from Birmingham, AL, Jason relocated to Nashville after his third solo album Mandolbug (2010), produced by Matt Flinner. Five album releases total. Teaches mandolin, acoustic guitar, bouzouki, octave mandolin, mandola, mandocello, and tenor banjo. Beginners enthusiastically welcome.
Piano & Keyboards
1 instructor
Becca Darling
Jazz, country, folk, pop · beginner-friendly
Belmont University graduate (Commercial Piano, secondary in popular voice). Pianist at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island; holds a keyboard position at West Nashville Cumberland Presbyterian Church; accompanies at Belmont; active in Nashville musical theatre. Also secretly plays a mean Irish and Old-Time fiddle.
Uilleann Pipes & Irish Whistle
1 instructorEamonn Dillon
Traditional Irish — solo, ensemble, and session
Born in West Belfast, NI. Plays uilleann pipes and whistle for the Nashville Irish Trio. Has toured and recorded across the US, Canada, and Europe with Needfire, John McDermott, The Irish Tenors, and Celtic Bridge. Music featured on film and TV worldwide. Teaches beginner, intermediate, and advanced Irish Whistle classes, and private uilleann pipe lessons.
Highland Bagpipe & Irish Whistle
1 instructorDavid Goodman
Solo piping, pipe band, competition
Began piping at 11 under Pipe Major Lars Sloan. Graduated from St. Andrews University (BFA, Bagpipe Performance, 2010). Currently plays Grade 1, Eastern US Piping Association. Pipe Major of Nashville Pipes and Drums. Has recorded and performed with The Chieftains, Trace Adkins, Rend Collective, and The Rogues. Students may compete at Highland Games and join the Nashville Pipes and Drums.