By Mindy Cabral, The Magazine of Santa Clarita, April 2014
What exactly is a “Jam Session” and why does it sound so cool? A Jam Session is when musicians get together to play any music they like. Friends, music, fun, (and sometimes food), sounds awesome. Often at a Jam Session people take turns playing the melody or improvising one as a solo to go along with the song. This is a lot of fun and gives you a chance to express yourself. Here are 4 reasons to Jam:
- Learn New Music – People bring in ideas for songs and talk about different bands and music they listen to. This allows everyone to the chance to share what they like and experience something new they may not have otherwise checked out. It’s a great way to see what else is out there in the music world and keep an open mind. Playing music you like and learning new music is also a great way to get motivated to practice more.
- Improve You Playing and Listening – Playing in a group is much different than playing alone in the practice room. You have to listen, keep a steady beat, tune, blend, balance, and keep up! Playing in a group is like being on a team, everyone is depending on each other to be prepared and bring their best. This means you have practice at home.
- Better Communication Skills – Jamming is communicating through musical instruments. You have to watch for cues, know when to enter in the conversation, when to listen or hold back, you read body language, make eye contact, and coordinate all the musical aspects of the song together in actual playing time. It’s amazing and not something you learn from texting.
- Building Friendships – Playing music with people is the ultimate way to connect with other people, and not just people like you, people from all over the world. Music is magical. It bonds people together, makes us feel good, and gives us many memorable moments to cherish.
For more information on jam sessions, music groups, and summer camps, contact the friendly staff at Little School of Music: located at 28306 Constellation Rd, Valencia, CA 91355, visit us online at: LittleSchoolofMusic.com, or call: 661-222-2239
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