This week on Community Corner, Brother Love sits down with the founder of The Nashville School of Traditional Country Music, Meredith Watson. They talk about her passion for traditional American music and how the school helps people learn and connect through country, old-time, and folk music. The school’s goal is to build community through music education and pass on the traditional music.
After attending college in New York City, Watson moved to Asheville, where she became involved in the local old-time music scene. Watson met a group of women who had started a string band and eventually joined them as a substitute guitarist. That experience helped her connect more to old-time and folk music.
During the interview, Meredith explains what old-time music means to her. She describes it as music that belongs to the people and reflects the experiences of communities over generations. Old-time music is often associated with an early era of American recordings. It involves instruments such as the fiddle, banjo, and guitar. This type of music originated in the Southeast and continues to influence many musical styles today.
One of the Nashville Country School’s main goals is to make music accessible to everyone. Meredith believes that learning music should be enjoyable and connected to the community. The school’s youth programming is offered through Metro Nashville Public Schools, helping students develop an appreciation for music while having fun and building relationships with others.
Meredith Watson also talks about how she believes that music is more than just the performance. It is a way to connect people, preserve traditions, and strengthen communities. Through the Nashville Country School, she continues to teach traditional country music and create opportunities for people to learn together.
For more information about upcoming classes and events, follow the Nashville Country School on Instagram. Also sign up for their email newsletter through their website.
Also, if you missed it live, you can listen to the full episode below.
