Just off of exit 8 on Interstate 430 is a small shopping center known as Breckenridge Village. Nothing too excitable about this location, or so one would perceive at first glance. There’s a movie theater, coffee house, family medical practice, and some apartments. Yet, tucked in its heart is a house of learning that raised my eyebrows as well as my envy. Welcome to Little Rock Jams, school of rock for those with musical aspirations in Little Rock.

Little Rock Jams is a labor of love for Jason Priest, a 38-year-old ex-AT&T exec who probably had no idea he would be accomplishing a dream several years ago. The inspiration for the business came in 2005. Jason had just spent a week in Nashville at NGW, National Guitar Workshop, or what his wife jokingly refers to as “band camp.” For one week, Jason and fellow musicians practiced and played together for an experience that would culminate in a live show. As he drove home from the experience, Jason recollected, “I wouldn’t say I was depressed, but I was kind of saddened that, you know, we had such a good time and we didn’t have anything like that in Little Rock. Then I started thinking, how could we do something like that in Little Rock?”

As he followed the asphalt home from Nashville, Jason made the decision to be the catalyst to start a musical learning experience like he’d just encountered. The aha moment hit and Little Rock Jams was set in motion, although it did take some thinking to explain to his wife that he was quitting his corporate job for an entrepreneurial adventure.

Now in his third year of business, there is no doubt in Jason’s mind that he made the right decision - and with several hundred active students, the influx of new musicians will make Little Rock a music scene to keep an eye on.

We got a great tour of the house that rock built. Inside the front door is a cozy waiting area where parents can relax during their child’s lessons. Beyond that is a mixing studio and some sound-proof practice rooms. In the center lies the front desk where people register for lessons, get equipment repaired, or just talk music. Yet, this was small fries compared to what is behind the little hallway leading from the front desk. In the back of the building is a fully rigged stage for putting on shows - complete with stacked amplifiers, programmable lights, and even a smoke machine. Once a student gets comfortable with an instrument, he/she is persuaded to play with their peers and even put on a show. Jason took us to his office where he showed recent footage from the stage in use. The video showed Purple Cows, a collection of his recent students, rocking out to ZZ Top’s “La Grange.” (Click here to see Purple Cows perform “Pretty Women”) Jason displayed much pride for his students. He turned to me and said, “To be that age, again, and to have that talent!” I couldn’t agree more.

Leaving Little Rock Jams, I was inspired to race back to my hotel room and pick up my neglected banjo. I have been carrying it around on this trip for practice, but had not yet taken an opportunity to do some finger picking. The kids in Little Rock really have a fantastic resource in the musical haven that Jason created. I wish there was something like that when I was growing up. Many of us had music lessons as kids, but rarely in a peer to peer environment, and not in the way that Jason is providing. We were taught how to play “When The Saints Go Marching In” when we really wanted to learn how to play “Stairway to Heaven.” Jason teaches his students the songs they want to learn, which makes them excited about learning music. All I can say is, awesome work my friends at Little Rock Jams! My dusty banjo thanks you.