What started you out playing at jam sessions?
24 Sep 2009
What started you out jamming and playing music as a social activity?
I came at it from classical violin where I'd somewhat burned out on pure classical music. I continue to play in a community orchestra and won't give that up, but playing Bluegrass, Old time, Contra Dance, Irish, Gospel and other traditional styles has really enlivened music. And it got me started in Mandolin, which I'd honestly never been exposed to in classical music despite it's classical heritage. And viola, and most recently guitar. I was never encouraged to experiment much in the classical context, but with traditional/folk music it's just natural.
It's great fun. Where and when did you begin?
I bought my first guitar as a teenager, and I learned to play melodies rather quickly - I had no desire to learn chords or sing. That old red and white no-name guitar gave me blisters, but I kept on picking until I got calluses. After a few years I finally bought a good guitar (1963 Gibson J-50) which was much better. For many years I just played for my own enjoyment, and for my kids. I developed the same patterns that most people do when playing alone - poor timing, wrong chords, etc.
About 12 years ago I started to go to a local folk jam, and then went to a local bluegrass festival.
At first I didn't even take my guitar to the bluegrass festival, then when I finally did take it I would sit at the back and try to play chords along with the songs. I finally realized that these people just enjoy making music, and it didn't matter how good you were, or whether you made a few mistakes. I moved into "the circle" and started playing along. One lady kept pushing me to sing a song at their jam, and I finally did - and that broke the ice. I am now singing many, many songs, and playing leads.
I have been the host/leader at that monthly folk jam for the last 8 years, and I really like to see beginners join our group. I remember how much I got out of learning to play with a group, and we all try to help out and encourage the newcomers.
Prime example: A few years ago a fellow named Henry came to our jam, and he liked to sing old country songs (Hank Williams, etc). Henry died about 1 1/2 years ago. About 2 months ago his 14 year old grandaughter Elaine started coming to our jams, and she was playing Henry's beautiful old Epiphone guitar. She told us when Grandpa died she looked at his guitar for a long time, then she decided she was going to play it.
Unlike most beginners Elaine is not shy at all - when her turn comes up she has a song ready, and she takes off. However, she has a kind of double-shuffle beat that gets the rest of the group a bit confused. One of her numbers was so far off that I stopped her, and said I would play a lead-in for her, then she should follow that. She caught the beat right away, and the rest of the song was much better. After that song I mentioned to the group that Elaine was a good example of a person that has only played alone, and needs to play along with a group to develop better timing. Elaine immediately agreed that she has a lot to learn. And she has the No. 1 requirement for that - she WANTS to learn. I've got a feeling that before long she will be better that many of our regular jam members.
Check out our jam at Lagrange, Indiana.