Detroit soul, Memphis blues, New Orleans jazz and Nashville country are all music capitals and important destinations for budding musicians. For the first time, the music department will visit the country-western capital of America – Nashville, Tenn., from April 18 to 22.

Students will attend clinics and work with the faculty at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University.

Senior Nick Tosini, who will attend the trip, is looking forward to getting feedback from a different audience.

“It’s good to have other people help us out,” he said.

Music teachers Terry Alvey and Jeff Davidson, who are leading the trip, said they wanted something different for this year’s music trip.  Besides the new location and unique opportunity to work with music professors, students will not compete against other schools.

“We don’t have anywhere to put trophies anymore,” Alvey joked. “It’s an experience more than a ‘let’s go see if we can get a trophy.’”

In addition to attending clinics, students will hear the National Symphony, see the Country Music Hall of Fame and visit different museums, including Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage. They’ll also receive time to explore the music, restaurants and shops of downtown Nashville.

Many students haven’t been to Nashville, adding to the appeal of this year’s trip, Davidson said.

“One of the things we want to do is to expose our students, no matter what music they’re into, to the music of America,” Davidson said. “It’s a great music city.”