You will love our staff at the Fiddle & Pick. We recommend you pick an instrument first. Then call every instructor who teaches that instrument. We want you to find the right teacher for your needs. Each instructor has a different teaching method and area of expertise. They also keep their own lesson schedule, tuition rates, and payment policies.
FIDDLE & VIOLIN
Gretchen Priest-May
Irish, Old-Time fiddle tunes, Bluegrass; converting violin bowing to fiddle-style bowing; tenor banjo
Gretchen divides her time between performing with PLAIDGRASS, teaching various fiddle styles, and running the Musical Heritage Center of Middle Tennessee which she founded in 2008.
Prior to opening the Center, Gretchen toured with the Bluegrass Band, Crucial Smith, and the Celtic rock band, Ceili Rain. She has been a featured performer on the Grand Ole Opry, Mountain Stage, Winfield and many festivals across the country. She often teaches various fiddle workshops when traveling with her band PLAIDGRASS.
Gretchen Priest created PLAIDGRASS 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. PLAIDGRASS features guitar, mandolin and stand-up bass for the bluegrass sound, or features bouzouki, bodhran drum, and banjo for a more Irish sound. Whatever the configuration, it is always an exciting journey that is executed with speed and finesse on a variety of instruments.
Contact: (615) 812-2192 / Americelticowboy@comcast.net
Stephan Dudash
Jazz, swing improv, classical, Suzuki method, contest fiddle
Stephan Dudash is a 5-string violist—the Big Fiddle with five strings (created by David Burgess). His music will move you, swing you to your feet, and fill your heart with romance with his own brand of gypsy violin music. Whether it’s popular love songs, standards or some of Stephan’s own sizzling compositions, you’ll wonder why you’ve never heard these songs done on a string instrument before. Born in Mankato, MN to a Hungarian father and an American-born Celtic mother, he tinkered on the piano until he discovered violin at age 11. Just two years later he was attending Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he was privately and orchestrally trained.
At age 15, he started his professional career in a band headed by Chris Brubeck, son of jazz piano virtuoso Dave Brubeck. Since then, he has performed all over the world with a list of greats including: Olivia Newton-John, Shania Twain, and Janie Fricke. Most recently he has been specializing in Gypsy Jazz music touring with the John Jorgenson Quintet. Besides fiddling, Stephan is no stranger to vocalizing and is also known to play mandolin, guitar, bass guitar and hand percussion. Stephan has just finished his third CD, ‘Gypsy Quest’
Contact: (615) 585-3147
DAVID JOHNSON
Irish, Old-Time, Bluegrass, Classical, Country
David Johnson has extensive professional experience in the classical, jazz, Irish, Old Time, and country styles. Having studied Violin Performance at the University of Iowa and at Middle Tennessee State University, he is a member of the Paducah Symphony, the Jackson Symphony, and the Murfreesboro Symphony, and has recently been named Concertmaster for the new Parthenon Chamber Orchestra in Nashville.
Mr. Johnson toured with Country Music artist Randy Travis for 27 years, and has fiddled for square dances in Lebanon and Gallatin as his travel schedule permitted. He has studied Jazz with David Baker, with the MTSU Jazz Studies Program, and with the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Mr. Johnson teaches Violin/Fiddle lessons for the Cumberland University Arts Academy in Lebanon, TN, and is the Adjunct Instructor for Commercial Violin at Trevecca Nazarene University.
Contact: (615) 478-2151 / johnsondais@comcast.net
ELLIE HANKANSON
Ellie currently plays fiddle and sings with Missy Raines and Allegheny. Previously, she toured for five years with Jeff Scroggins and Colorado, performing and teaching internationally, and releasing a full length album in 2019. As a child she performed with the Hakanson Family Band at bluegrass festivals throughout Oregon and Washington, while also playing classical violin in youth orchestras.
Ellie was nominated with Jeff Scroggins and Colorado for the International Bluegrass Music Association emerging artist in 2018, and was nominated individually for IBMA Instrumental and/or Vocal Momentum Awards in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Ellie has been teaching private fiddle lessons, leading workshops, and organizing childrens’ music programs at festivals since 2003, and currently teaches fiddle and vocals at camps and in individual lessons.
Contact: Ellie at (971) 222-5721 / E-mail Ellie: elliehak@gmail.com
GUITAR, UKULELE AND VOICE
ERINN PEET LUKES
Erinn is the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of her solo project and her bluegrass band, Thunder and Rain. Previously she lived in Colorado and toured with Thunder and Rain for seven years. They played all over the US as well as the UK, Ireland and Canada.
Erinn was accepted into the Kerrville New Folk songwriting competition in 2018 and the Merlefest Chris Austin songwriting competition in 2021, where she got 2nd place. She has 30K followers on her popular YouTube channel, and fans all over the world enjoy her original songs as well as her unique takes on cover songs.
Erinn has been teaching private guitar, voice and ukulele lessons since 2013. She helped coordinate and run two Kids Camps at Fiddle and Pick in the summer of 2021. She also helps organize the Fiddle and Pick student Hoe Down concerts.
Contact: Erinn at (310) 408-3518/ E-mail Ellie: erinn.peetlukes@gmail.com
MANDOLIN
JASON BAILEY
Are you looking to get better at the mandolin? Perhaps you have never played any musical instrument before and thought the mandolin would be nice? Maybe
you already play some but need help with chord voicings, music theory or you just wanna learn a few fiddle tunes? Regardless of your aspirations, I can help!
Lessons are available for any and all ages and skill levels. Beginners are not only welcome but are encouraged! – Jason Bailey
Mandolinist Jason Bailey has been performing and teaching professionally for 20 years. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Jason relocated to Nashville shortly
after completing his third solo album release, Mandolbug in 2010. This record, produced by mandolinist extraordinaire Matt Flinner, expresses Bailey’s talents in
new grass, jazz and celtic inspired genres. Bailey currently has five album releases.
“There is an excellent mandolinist in our city. He’s quietly accomplished – not the kind of guy to brag or boast – so we’d better do it for him.” -Mary Colurso (City Scene)
Lessons are also available for acoustic guitar, bouzouki, octave mandolin, mandola, mandocello and tenor banjo. Thank you!
Contact: Jason Bailey, (205) 612-2723, jasonbaileymandolin@gmail.com
BANJO
Alan O’Bryant
5-string banjo, Bluegrass, traditional; Blues for the banjo
Alan is a member of the Nashville Bluegrass Band. He has played with some of the greatest bluegrass musicians including: Bill Monroe, Kenny Baker, Bob Block, Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Butch Robins, James Monroe, Jerry Sullivan and the Sullivan Family, and Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper.
Alan has been nominated multiple times for IBMA Banjo Player of the Year. In addition to the awards he received with NBB, Alan appears on a number of award-winning projects including Dolly Parton’s The Grass Is Blue, which was recorded in 1999.
Alan has a home project studio named OBanyon’s Terrace Studio. NBB’sTwenty Year Blues (honored with a Grammy nomination in 2005) was recorded there. This Could Be Magic, a tune that appears on David Lee Roth’s Strummin’ With The Devil cd was also recorded at his studio. O’Bryant’s studio is peaceful, relaxed and acoustic-friendly. He often works with veteran engineer Tim Roberts. Alan has recorded and produced projects for Gene Bush, Valerie Smith and Becky Buller, The LaWarre Family, Junior Barber, Roy Harper, Brittany Bailey, Cordless, Paul Hopkins, Adam Olmstead, and the Gibson Brothers. Chris Henry’s fine mandolin record Monroe Approved was mixed and mastered at Terrace Studio, too.
O’Bryant is a long time resident of Pegram, Tennessee. Alan currently gives private banjo lessons at Fiddle & Pick. He is well qualified as an instructor. He has taught at numerous banjo camps over the years, including the Banjo Institute Clinic, The Disney Institute, and NashCamp.
Contact: Alan by text at 615-364-6205 (or you may leave a voice message) / obanyon@aol.com
GUITAR
Paul Abrams
Belmont/MTSU guitar instructor; specializes in Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Ragtime and Bluegrass
Paul is an Adjunct Faculty Instructor of music (guitar) at Belmont and has been a member of the adjunct faculty since 1998. He teaches guitar to music majors and elective students.
Paul received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Fordham University in New York. Throughout his career, he has studied with Sal Salavador and Arnie Berle of Guitar Player Magazine. He has taught guitar at many schools around Tennessee: Nashville Jazz Institute, Nashville Tech, Belmont University, University of Tennessee, and Trevecca Nazarene College.
In 1969, Mr. Abrams joined Soulosophy, a jazz/rock group that had several single releases with Columbia Records. Mr. Abrams music credits: Performance – Bo Thorpe Orchestra, Paul Ross Orchestra, and Lynn Oliver Orchestra; Recording – Epic, Vanguard, RCA, and Mercury Records; Television – Hee Haw, Pop Goes the Country, and Kenny Rogers and Tammy Wynette specials; opening tours for Barbara Mandrell, Eddie Rabbit, the Statler Brothers, Conway Twitty, Marty Robbins, Dottie West, Don Williams, and Ken Kraggen. Mr. Abrams is currently a member of the American Federation of Musicians and the International Association of Jazz Educators.
Contact: (615) 310-7275
UILLEANN PIPE AND IRISH WHISTLE
EAMONN DILLON
Born in West Belfast, Northern Ireland, Eamonn Dillon plays the uilleann pipes and whistle for The Nashville Irish Trio. He has toured and recorded as a solo artist and with a varied group of performers, touring shows and bands throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. His music has been featured on several film and TV programs around the world.
Eamonn has performed and recorded as a featured artist in traditional, theatrical, and mixed genre ensembles, including Needfire, John McDermott, The Irish Tenors, and Celtic Bridge. He first learned the tin whistle from his father and Tara Diamond.
The great master Sean McAloon made Eamonn’s first set of uilleann pipes and mentored him for a period of time in his early training. Eamonn teaches Irish Whistle Classes beginner, intermediate & advanced. Also private lessons on Uilleann Pipes and Irish whistle.
Contact: 786-519-9548 or eamonndillon70@yahoo.com
PIANO
BECCA DARLING
Piano and keyboards for jazz, popular styles, and beginners
Becca Darling is a pianist and multi-instrumentalist who came to Nashville over five years ago and has taught for about half that time. She plays many styles, including jazz, country, folk, and pop – and enjoys listening to even more styles. She has a passion for teaching students by helping them develop the musical genres that they are most interested in, and values the learning of different musical skills such as playing with other musicians, learning by listening, accompanying, duets, and reading both black dots and chord charts of all styles. Possessing a very fun-loving personality, she loves working with kids, adults, and everyone in between, including complete beginners. She genuinely enjoys a challenge, has an appreciation for all genres of music, and is a firm believer in outside the box thinking to allow students the flexibility to learn at their own pace.
Becca graduated from Belmont University with a degree in Commercial Piano (read: all the popular styles of music) and a secondary in popular voice. No one in Nashville knows it, but she also plays a mean Irish and Old Time fiddle and strums a few guitar chords now and again. In her performance career she has served as a pianist for the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MI, holds a pianist and keyboard position at the West Nashville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, accompanies students at Belmont, and works in musical theatre around Nashville.
Contact: (307) 256-6083 (call or text) or beccadarlingmusic@gmail.com .
HIGHLAND BAGPIPE & IRISH WHISTLE
DAVID GOODMAN
David Goodman teaches private lessons at the Musical Heritage Center. His students take private lessons on a practice chanter before learning to play the Highland bagpipe. The practice chanter is a small investment used to master the melodic fingering of the instrument before going “all in” with the big pipe.
Piping students will have the opportunity to perform and compete on a solo basis at Highland Games across the country. They will also have the opportunity to play in a band setting with the Nashville Pipes and Drums.
David will also teach Irish whistle in a private and group class series. Whistle students will be taught tunes that they can play and perform in most Irish music sessions.
David began piping at the age of 11 at the Hamilton School of Piping, under Pipe Major Lars Sloan. Since studying under Lars, David has received mentorship from the likes of P/M William Caudill, and P/S Robert Beaton.
He attended St. Andrews University on scholarship for piping where he graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, with a minor in Bagpipe Performance.
David currently plays in Grade 1 of the Eastern United States Piping Association. He plays with the Atlanta Pipe Band and is pipe major of The Nashville Pipes and Drums. He has recorded and performed with The Chieftans, Alyth McCormack, Trace Adkins, Rend Collective, Sloan Wolfe, The Tartan Terrors, and The Rogues.
Contact: (615) 979 1644