Nashville College of Steel Guitar

Rick Myrland · From: New Orleans

While sorting through some old forgotten about papers the other day I came across a pamphlet from the Nashville College of Steel Guitar, complete with a 1984 schedule. In fact, I even have the envelope, postmarked August 31, 1984. I was 15 and wanted so badly to be a road musician I could taste it. In fact, I still drift off to la-la land whenever I pass a Prevost on the interstate...until a horn honks, tires screech and I narrowly avoid an accident.

That was long before the Internet of course. Access to the steel community was virtually non-existant and the Nashville music scene seemed like it was a galaxy away, far out of reach for a kid from Wisconsin. If I were 15 today I wonder if my life's trajectory would be different and I'd be on one of those Prevosts. It was about that time me parents took me to Nashville on a family vacation and I saw so many talented musicians playing for tips, and I thought "well, do they have dental insurance...a pension...do they know if they'll be able to make their next mortgage payment?". That pragmatic side took over and my music ambitions were quashed.

But I digress. The instructors were Hal Rugg, Terry Crisp and Weldon Myrick and it was based on Lebanon Road in Mt. Juliet, TN. The cost was $450 per weekly course, which was insurmountable to a 15 year old (then you had to factor in hotel rooms, eating, travel, etc.) and there were a total of 8 weeks instruction between the E9 and C6.

I'm not sure why I ever kept this but I'm glad I did. Oddly, I can't bring myself to discard it, as if I'll somehow get some bad playing ju-ju if it do.

Did any of you forumites ever attend this, or know anything about it, like when/why was its demise? And moreover, I know Nashville is full of a lot of great players, it's too bad they couldn't collaborate like this and arrange a week-long "college" for us mere mortals. I think learning from three or four guys (or gals) would make for a really strong experience. And this time, I'd toss pragmatism to the wind and live the life...if even for a week.
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Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I too, fanaticized about the Nashville scene. I KNEW I could play/sound better than the steel players in several of the bands of current STARS of that era.

But like you, I got a slap of reality and began noticing what a SAD LOT many of the musicians were that toured thro' our area. Their equipment often was badly abused as well.

I've got unblemished mail advertisements dating back to before yours, from Reece Anderson and his PEDAL steel guitar school. At age 15, I figured he just had to be some kind of a kook. (Sorry Reece)

I look back today and realize that because of my choice to stay fixed here in this region I have gained far more than I would have had I elected to make the trek to Nashville and thence on the road.

I've got fly, drive one of those big three axel buses, own a home, etc., etc.

Jerome Hawkes · From: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

If you pass that big tour bus on the highway, don't fret.. The steel players are all riding in the non-AC equipment vans with the road crew.

I'm the same age as you Rick - I was raking leaves in the fall of 84 trying to save up $500 to buy my neighbors old VW Bug. I moved to Nashville in 91 not to make it but just check out the scene and get outta town. I took a temp agency job to get started and the first job I had was a 10pm-3am shift at the Tennesseean newspaper stuffing ad flyers into papers...guess who everyone else working there was...40+ year old burned out & broke road musicians. I figured right then and there I found the music lesson I went to Nashville to get. I'm 42 now and still have to remind myself of that event each time I get regrets for not staying.
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Don Drummer · From: West Virginia, USA

Rick I remember the same as it was around the time that I had attended Jeffran College. I'm sure someone attended or at least got some one on one from those masters. As for a formal week to week year to year institution; I believe Jeff Newman had this market firmly in his grasp. I could be wrong.

Fred Rushing · From: Odin, IL, USA

Hi Rick. The school did exist. I stopped in one day on a return trip from somewhere. I live in south central Illinois.

When I went in the class was just over. The Teacher for the day was Hal Rugg. I was about36 years old and a fairly new player. Couldn't stay long my family was in the car. Hal was nice enough to spend a few minutes talking shop. Looked like a good place to learn. Never got back.

your right Jeff had it sewed up at that time. He had many of the very best players doing work for him at the JF school.

I miss Jeffs teaching very much. He was tops for my money.

Fred

Jan Viljoen · From: Pretoria, South Africa

What more can one wants, other than taking a pedal steel course and then ascending your dream music coach to your next destination.
Nirvana is coming, keep on dreaming.

My mouth drools when looking at this charging buffalo.

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Don Drummer · From: West Virginia, USA

I remember Jeff speaking to a former student who drove up in a van with his steelm latched down in a van heading into to town. Jeff inquired as to what he's been doing. Steeler replies; "Taking some courses at the University; I don't like it much" Jeff responds: "Why are you you wasting your time? I forget who it was but i would recognize his name. Jeff was a man of few words.

Darrell Trammell · From: Oklahoma, USA

What years were you all at jeffran? I was there in the fall of 79.I guess I'm not the only one that had that dream.I was17 at the time.Don't remember how much i paid was worth every penny.

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Hey Rick, Clem Schmitt had a music store in Mt. Juliet around that time. He specialized in steel guitar, so it might have been he who put that on. I used to hang out there sometimes. If you're still interested you can read everything I learned about being a road musician at Steel Guitar Insanity.

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Mark Wayne · From: Wisconsin, USA

Great story, Rick. At 15 back in 84' also, I had the same dreams. Fortunately my dad had the "Buddy Emmons / Steel Guitar" in the record collection. I'll be coming down to Madison next month, email me and maybe we can get together for a coffee.
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