9/22/2023 0 Comments Jam session jammer![]() Try playing your tunes in a different order, practicing your B part before your A part, standing up when you normally sit down, putting away sheet music that you’ve been using as a crutch, trying things at a slower or faster tempo for a bit, or anything else you can think of to switch things up. Here are a couple suggestions for how to train your brain to be more prepared in a jam setting: All of these sudden changes combined can overload your brain and make it feel like you’ve never played fiddle before-because biologically, you are doing something totally new when you break out of your practice routine. If you make a mistake, there’s no going back. You’re probably in a less familiar space, playing tunes in a different order and tempo than you normally do. If you make a mistake, you probably let yourself go back and fix it (hopefully!) You’re constantly thinking about what you can improve, then working to do so.īut when the time to jam comes, even though you’re playing the same tunes that you’ve practiced so many times, your brain perceives events very differently. During practice, you’re probably at home in a comfy chair, going through the same routine that you do every time you practice. When you practice, you’re in a very controlled environment. Practicing and jamming are two different skill sets. “I’m afraid I won’t play as well as I do during my practice.” As you get the lay of the land at a new jam session, blending in is a good thing. In general, I try to find the most experienced person in the jam and copy them. When they call a song, do they also share the key and the form? When someone takes a solo, how long is it? When someone is doing fills or singing, how do the other jammers respond? Just by watching and mimicking the behavior of the other folks in the jam, you can pick up on a lot of jam etiquette. Keep a close eye on what the more seasoned jammers are doing.If it feels like it’s an appropriate level for you to join, you can politely ask between songs, “Hey, do you mind if I join you or are you keeping it small?” This gives the jammers an opportunity to invite you in or to gently decline if they’re intentionally having a smaller jam. If it feels too advanced, sit this one out and enjoy listening. If you’d like to ask someone if you can join their jam, be sure that you assess the level first and note if it’s right for you.If it’s a jam that you haven’t yet been invited to join, you can often expect for the jammers to ask you to join after you’ve been hanging out and listening for a while (if they’re open to adding more people.).If it’s a jam that’s been publicized and people have already been invited to participate, you can join after listening by asking one of the participants something like, “Mind if I jump in?”.That way, you can get a feel for what the jam is like, assess if it’s the right level for you, and settle in before joining. Whatever the type of jam, it’s always helpful to listen to at least a tune or two before asking to join. In general, there are a few rules of thumb that will keep you on any jam’s good side. If you want a basic primer on jam session etiquette in the fiddle world, check out our blog post where we break down three of the most common types of jams. Sometimes jams will pass tunes from one person to another, while others will spotlight one musician for many tunes in a row. At some jams, you’ll see people reading music, while at others, everyone plays from memory. “I’m afraid I don’t know the jam etiquette of this genre.”Įvery style of music has its own particular jam etiquette. With those priorities in mind, let’s talk more about some of those fears listed above and look at some potential tools to help you feel more comfortable and confident at your next jam session. Those characteristics can make jamming feel like a challenge sometimes, but those elements are also one reason I love jamming so much: it’s an opportunity for us to create deeper connection with each other and share in the creative process (which is never perfect). Jams require you to put yourself out there, be vulnerable, and accept imperfections. Performance anxiety coupled with shynessīefore we jump into the specifics of these jam fears, I just want you to recognize that you’re not alone in feeling however you feel about jam sessions.Messing up or not playing something cool enough.Playing with a group better than myself and then taking a lead and making a mistake.Being asked to play a tune I don’t know.Not playing as well as I do during my practice.Not knowing the jam etiquette of a particular genre. ![]() You gave us lots of wonderfully candid responses, including: What’s your biggest fear about jamming? Recently we asked you on social media to share what makes you feel nervous about jamming. ![]()
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