Gaston county and the surrounding areas have a proud history in the progression of “old time” traditional music to what we know today as Bluegrass. The songs and music of the foothills (mill hill music) have been passed down from generation to generation and play an important role in preserving the customs and culture from our past. The goal of the Bluegrass Project: Exploration of Bluegrass Music is to acquaint residents, young and old with their musical heritage and help them acquire the skills necessary to learn to play bluegrass successfully. In turn, they will introduce the music to others and keep the art form alive. In 2011, Gaston School of the Arts received a $2500 matching grant award from the Bluegrass Music Foundation. GSOA
