Successful First West Texas Steel Guitar School**Very Nice**

Larry Toliver · Posted 8 Dec 2012 8:01 pm

Hello again Fellow Steelers!
I had to put out a note about our first school for beginner to intermediate pedal steelers. Just finished up this evening and everyone just left. It was a wonderful success! In all, 12 steelers came to the school and their range was from fairly new beginner, to playing for several years. We hit several topics, such as bar vibrato, pressure, pick position, chord structure, making & finding your basic chords, what constitutes a chord, (maj, min, 7th, aug, dim, etc), when to use them, chord melodies, chromatics, scales, speed picking, tabbed out favorite licks, tabbed out numerous songs, played a lot of steel guitar, and best of all....made a dozen new friends from all over the country.
Steve and Donna Palousek were our special guests for this session, and we really enjoyed having them and the whole school over at our house last night for a jam. Steve was really playing on fire! They really enjoyed his teachings as well. Steve and I tabbed out some special hot licks that I've never heard any one but him do! Wow, some crazy chromatics and speed stuff that knock your socks off! Everyone was buzzing for quite a while.
I'm posting a few pictures of the various students, and the school in session,and a few of the jam we had at our home Friday evening. It was great too with Me, Steve Palousek, Lee Barber, and my son Kacey on guitar. We had a couple of these students that are also coming to the intermediate to advanced class in February 1st & 2nd. I'm excited and a little tired after this weekend, but I've learned alot and hopefully the next classes will be even better based on the experience gained from this school. I would love to see YOU there in February with my special guest Johnny Cox.
LAST but certainly not Least......a special thanks to my wife Susie for the meals and snacks. They were superb! Susie is the best host you will ever meet, if I do say so myself.
Everyone take care and I'm looking forward to some of the responses from these students.
Larry T
West Texas Steel Guitar School

Bobby Rountree · From: San Angelo, Texas, USA - R.I.P.

Thanks to Larry, Steve, and especially Susie....One of the best two days I have ever spent. Every effort was made to explain everything even down to idividual instruction. Everything furnished including Tab and Cd's. Now the rest is up to me.
The meals Susie prepared at their beautiful home were superb....and every effort was made to make everyone feel at home.
This was a great experience....Now I have to go practice..........
Thank you Steve Paloulsek and Larry & Susie Tolliver.
Bobby R.
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Sho-Bud LDG....NV1000
Hilton Pedal
Fender Jazz bass and MB210 amp

Mark Erlewine · From: Texas, USA

Many Thanks to Larry, Susie & Steve for a great weekend!
I certainly learned a lot from these two master steel men. In class we all worked through some unique, very nice, tabbed out arrangements as Larry & Steve walked around helping us, individually with our questions. They also watched our picking & bar technique, giving insightful advice on how to improve. The time visiting outside of class was equally enjoyable, sharing resources and favorite music with each other. Great food and hospitality... well done!!!

Clinton Damron · From: Cleburne Texas, USA

Not sure where to start but I'll be nice Shocked

I was lost most of the time because I am below beginner status but that's my opinion of myself. I learned a lot and have the information needed to play some good steel. I need to dedicate more time to practice but it is deer season Wink

Larry and Susie are great hosts and the food was very good, with the desserts being the best and I'm sure I gained 10 pounds. Larry and Steve are both great players. If I can ever be half as good as them, I'll be surprised.

Kacey was playing with a band last night in Strawn, so I went from Merkel to my deer lease near Gordon and picked up my wife. We drove over to Strawn and enjoyed some good music. During the breaks Kacey would sit with us and we talked about the steel and I realized I know what to do and how to do it. Now I just need to get that to translate to my hands, feet and knees Surprised

I had a great time but above all I gained some information that I really needed to get me where I want to be. I was razz'n Larry all weekend about this being an advanced class. I look forward to the next school that I will be able to attend. I'm not sure I am ready for the intermediate class yet so I'll probably come to another beginner when it's scheduled.

Thank you Larry and Steve for giving up your time to try and teach me a little of what you guys know.
A big thanks to Susie for the good food.
Another thank you to Larry and Susie for treating us like family and making us feel at home. Y'all are truely great people.

For any person that is needing instruction on the steel, you need to try to make one of these schools. You will not be disappointed with the amount of information you will walk away with. I'm sure the classes will only get better since we were the very first class for Larry to put together.
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Archery- BowTech Destroyer & Strother SX-1
Steel Guitar- Emmons & Stage One

David A. Jones · From: Bulverde, Texas, USA

First to Susie - thank you for your wonderful hospitality and the great food. You were so gracious to have us all in your home.

Now for Larry and Steve, our instructors. Thanks for your great hands on approach to teaching this instrument. I believe the beginners really benefitted from your approach. The songs you selected for us to try were great; not too difficult as you said but challenging enough for all, even the more experienced players. The educational materials presented a good amount of theory and practical application. It was well written and easy to understand.

This is great instruction and I heartily recommend attending the next beginner/intermediate session to anyone. Larry Tolliver and Steve Palousek are great musicians who can offer a lot to any player. I will definitely attend again.

Lisa Wyrick · From: Oklahoma, USA

I feel fortunate to have attended the first West Texas Steel Guitar School !

The instruction from Larry was great; he explained, demonstrated, provided clear tabs, tracks and one on one attention. I appreciated being able to videotape his techniques and.... his patience. The teaching room was perfect with a low stress atmosphere.... headphones saved everyone else from having to hear me.

Steve Palousek is amazing , what a treat to have two fantastic players in the same room ready to help.

Thank you both, and THANK YOU Susie for the wonderful Texas hospitality and cooking, that was a treat ! Great to meet Donna Palousek too, and all the students.
Let's do it again.

Lee Barber · From: Sweeny, TX, USA

first West Texas Steel Guitar School

Susie (for those that don’t know by now this is Larry’s lovely wife) and Larry thanks for the hospitality and inviting us into your home. Susie put together a great meal each day for lunch, and on Sat. for supper.

Larry’s mom, what a chocolate cake maker, Jim broke his diet all to pieces on this cake. I’m glad I haven’t started mine yet.

Now for the classes: Larry is a great player in his own right, he under states his ability, he is a great teacher as well. Classes were very informative and the hands on approach is good. Larry shared a lot of great information with us and I look forward to the class in February.

Steve, what can I say, Great player, showed us some of the things he plays and different ways to do them. He shared a lot of great licks and moves. He and I shared stories about I heritage and stopped before we connected our families on the boat from Czechoslovakia.

Steve is a great person to get to know and hope I get a chance to learn more from him later on in my endeavors.

The evening jam was good and I appreciate the others keeping their comments about my playing to a low rumble and would like to thank everyone especially Larry and Steve for allowing me an opportunity to play. I wish others would have joined in and played with us.

If you get a chance GO, we need to keep this kind of thing going to keep steel guitar alive.

I think and hope I made some new friends in the steel family. I enjoyed meeting and visiting each and every person there. Thanks to all of you for making this a fun time.
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Zum D10

Jim Cooley · From: The 'Ville, Texas, USA

I echo everyone's sentiments about the West Texas Steel Guitar School. Larry's provided a challenging, yet realistic and extremely comfortable learning environment. The materials provided were top notch and more than advertised. While there wasn't time to cover every detail in each block of instruction, we were given ample opportunities to ask questions and go over materials and techniques before moving to the next topic. Larry is to be commended for his patience and willingness to help us learn.

What can I say about Steve Palousek? He deserves a special thank you for being so willing to share his time and talents. Not only is he a steeler's steeler, but what a great person! It was refreshing to spend time in and out of the classroom with someone who is as accomplished as he is, yet is so genuine and down to earth.

And like everyone else said, there is Susie. Her hospitality and warmth put the finishing touches on a wonderful experience. Lee is right. The chocolate cake blew what was left of my diet to smithereens.

One point that should be mentioned is that the class participants learned not only from Larry and Steve, but from each other. We shared ideas and experiences. We looked at, and in several cases were welcome to try each other's instruments and equipment. Although there was a wide range of experience and talent represented, it seems that everyone left having learned and benefited from the class.

If anyone is wondering whether the West Texas Steel Guitar School is a worthwhile investment of time and money, wonder no more. I can't think of a better two-day steel guitar vacation. I certainly plan to to attend another one, especially if Susie is there, and there is chocolate cake.

Jon Logan · From: Texas, USA

What a great time at the steel class. Plenty of time for one-on-one instruction. As difficult as it may seem to find a common level of player ability, Larry fashioned the lessons so everyone received quality instruction. Larry was gracious enough to let a few of us park our RV's at his house and the meals were the best.
The students were a good mix of personalities and ability. Thanks to Dave from Bulverde for help with the sound tracks.....they're working great.
Looking forward to the next one !
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UH-1

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