In the fall of 1960 Miller entered the New Mexico Military Institute where he eventually took up guitar, inspired by Peter, Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan . After graduating Junior College in 1964, Miller spent the summer working at the New York World's Fair and living in Greenwich Village where he realized that it was possible to live an alternative life style. Around this time he discovered the recordings of John Fahey, the principal figure in establishing the steel string guitar as a solo concert instrument. He began to work towards playing solo guitar tunes.

Over the next two years, as a student at the University of Texas, Miller fell in with the rich musical scene in Austin. Musicians he jammed with, listened to and/or learned from included: Lightnin' Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb, Janis Joplin, Toad Andrews, Allen Damron , Bill Moss, Bill Neeley, Kenny Threadgill, Powell St. John, Kerry Rush and The 13th Floor Elevators. His first professional gig was at the ID Coffeehouse. He listened to all types of recorded music and studied method books by Stefan Grossman, Happy Traum and others.

Late in the decade Miller spent two years in Chimbote, Peru as a Peace Corps Volunteer. With evenings free and little social life he was able to practice guitar up to four hours an evening. Upon his return Miller took a few private lessons from the brilliant Washington, D.C. guitarist Dave Parker. Then he moved to Utah as a Vista volunteer helping migrant farm workers. In the winter as the decade ended he moved in with U. Utah Phillips in Salt Lake City.