Sore fingers summer school - pedal steel?

[John H]

Hi all - for several years I've attended a fantastic and very well established bluegrass and old time residential in the Cotswolds (link below) and for the last couple of years I've brought along a pedal steel which has generated a lot of interest. The organisers have asked me to see if there would be interest if I ran a weekend residential pedal steel course this October as part of the wider event. It's fantastic fun, there's a great community and an excellent jam session in the evenings. If was a success then it could potentially run again for a full week in Easter 2026 - where the tutors tend to be from the USA. Full residential cost for the October weekend would be in the region of £300. Tuition would be focussed on navigating the E9 neck in order to improvise a steel part. I'm more than happy to take feedback - any interest?
Thanks!

John

sorefingers.co.uk

[geosteel]

Very keen, would make the journey from Cornwall for this!

[Basil Henriques]

Very keen, would make the journey from Cornwall for this!

Hello neighbour, where in Kernow ? I'm in a hamlet called Trevelmond.

[lebedagirl]

Sore fingers regular here and very excited to hear John's considering that! I doubt I could make it this year, but definitely support the concept!

[geosteel]

Very keen, would make the journey from Cornwall for this!

Hello neighbour, where in Kernow ? I'm in a hamlet called Trevelmond.

Hey Basil I'm in Falmouth, have a feeling we're friends on fb? Give us a shout if you're ever down this way!

[John H]

Hi all - just posted this in the tuition thread as well:


Hi all - I'm looking to revive this thread and apologies for letting it slide (ha ha ha)

I've just got back from this Easter's Sore Fingers event (which, as usual, was fantastic) and I've been asked by the organisers to try and drum up interest for a pedal steel class in this October's weekend course.

I was amazed to find four other pedal steel players among the 350+ students including one who lived locally and brought their old Sho Bud along for a try out - my first time jamming with another steel guitar player!

I'd like to run a class focussing on the fundamentals of navigation, maybe using one or two classic breaks as a guide where we can explore and try and understand what's happening in a musical sense (rather than just saying "move to the 10th fret and mash A+B pedals, then slide to the 15th" etc).

Plus it would be a great opportunity to get face to face in an environment with a heap of other instrumentalists. Let me know what you think. If we can get enough names together the organisers are willing to make it happen.

If this is a success there's every chance that they will do what they do with banjo, fiddle, dobro etc and bring a professional player over from the states to deliver the week long class next Easter.

[lebedagirl]

Hello John,
John Wirtz sent me an email today about your potential course. I'd definitely be interested (depending on dates). Hopefully see you there in October!
Laura