Softwaremaker
New member
Dear drummers,
While at the US, there is always an open Jazz Jam in a public marketplace once a week where participatory musicians is always encouraged. Here is an except on what an open Jazz Jam is:
"There’s an open jazz jam happening at The Commons Mixer every Thursday during lunch, from 11:30am to 1:30pm. The jam is hosted by a professional jazz trio, with Tim Kennedy on keys, Ian Sheridan on bass, and Claudio Rochat Felix on drums.
Jazz players and singers at all levels are welcome to come and join in. If you’ve got the chops, you’re also welcome to sit in on keys, bass, or drums. There’s a guitar amp available for guitarists, and there is a PA for singers.
If you wish to play a tune that is not in the common standards books, or you want to play or sing it in a key different than the books, bring charts for C, Bb, and Eb instruments. If the tunes are obscure, maybe give the band and participants ‘till the next week.
Hey beginners: do come check it out, and do participate! Don’t be intimidated by the talent you’ll see. There are some professional musicians roaming the halls at xyz. Then, there are those like myself who played in at a jam for the first time only a few months ago. If you can play the melody along with a recording of the tune in the typical key, or if you can do a solo on the chord changes that’s pleasing to your own ear, then you’re ready. You can even let others take on the tune, and you just take one round through the melody during solo time, as a way to ease into the jazz jam.
The only rule in play is that it is an open jazz jam, not an open-mic. All tunes should be participatory for anyone present who wishes to participate and should roughly follow the jazz structure of
1. Play/sing the head
2. Whoever wants can take a solo round or two through the chord changes
3. Maybe trade bars with the drummer
4. Play/sing the head again.
Note: The jam is open. But, to ensure the jam is fun and accessible for everyone, be sure you are familiar with jazz jam etiquette before participating. Some important points of etiquette that are essential to open participation are:
1. Everyone is welcome to take a solo. Generally, make regular eye contact with the keyboardist to indicate your interest in taking a solo, to know when it’s your turn, and to indicate when you are done. Don’t take more than two choruses unless it’s a slow day.
2. Don’t play or sing over someone else’s solo. The only exceptions are if you are in the rhythm section accompanying or if you know how to accompany with a melodic instrument.
3. If you called the tune and are playing or singing the head, leave time for everyone who wishes to take a solo. Do not do one chorus after another and then end the tune.
4. If you are calling a tune that is not in the Real Book Vol 1, then bring charts for C, Eb, and Bb instruments. Alternatively, get a consensus from the other participants.
"
I know we have an active strings (guitar, bass) and keys community in Singapore and here on SOFT but I see China Walls between each of these communities and ours. I have always believed that we should all be playing music and not instruments - SO why not tear those China Walls down ?
There are drumfests and equivalent events for drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, etc BUT they make great drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, etc BUT not really musicians.
A person owning a music school (looking at AlvinTheDrummer
) would be a perfect person to co-ordinate and kick-start this sort of event due to the fact of the networks and communities they know.
Of course, I know I have referred to an Open Jazz as a genre but it really can be anything. Funk, Rock, etc Just that I felt that Jazz is a lot more rich and open, it is really easier to trade 4 bars with the bassists, keyboardists, guitarists, etc without actually knowing the song
I am wondering if anyone here would be interested in setting something like that for an event, maybe even for the next DrumExchange ?
Afterall, you become a more complete musician <insert your instrument of choice here> NOT by playing alone, alone in a group or with other drummers BUT by playing with other musicians of other instruments. You will be surprised at how much you can learn, improve and learn about your own instruments this way.
While at the US, there is always an open Jazz Jam in a public marketplace once a week where participatory musicians is always encouraged. Here is an except on what an open Jazz Jam is:
"There’s an open jazz jam happening at The Commons Mixer every Thursday during lunch, from 11:30am to 1:30pm. The jam is hosted by a professional jazz trio, with Tim Kennedy on keys, Ian Sheridan on bass, and Claudio Rochat Felix on drums.
Jazz players and singers at all levels are welcome to come and join in. If you’ve got the chops, you’re also welcome to sit in on keys, bass, or drums. There’s a guitar amp available for guitarists, and there is a PA for singers.
If you wish to play a tune that is not in the common standards books, or you want to play or sing it in a key different than the books, bring charts for C, Bb, and Eb instruments. If the tunes are obscure, maybe give the band and participants ‘till the next week.
Hey beginners: do come check it out, and do participate! Don’t be intimidated by the talent you’ll see. There are some professional musicians roaming the halls at xyz. Then, there are those like myself who played in at a jam for the first time only a few months ago. If you can play the melody along with a recording of the tune in the typical key, or if you can do a solo on the chord changes that’s pleasing to your own ear, then you’re ready. You can even let others take on the tune, and you just take one round through the melody during solo time, as a way to ease into the jazz jam.
The only rule in play is that it is an open jazz jam, not an open-mic. All tunes should be participatory for anyone present who wishes to participate and should roughly follow the jazz structure of
1. Play/sing the head
2. Whoever wants can take a solo round or two through the chord changes
3. Maybe trade bars with the drummer
4. Play/sing the head again.
Note: The jam is open. But, to ensure the jam is fun and accessible for everyone, be sure you are familiar with jazz jam etiquette before participating. Some important points of etiquette that are essential to open participation are:
1. Everyone is welcome to take a solo. Generally, make regular eye contact with the keyboardist to indicate your interest in taking a solo, to know when it’s your turn, and to indicate when you are done. Don’t take more than two choruses unless it’s a slow day.
2. Don’t play or sing over someone else’s solo. The only exceptions are if you are in the rhythm section accompanying or if you know how to accompany with a melodic instrument.
3. If you called the tune and are playing or singing the head, leave time for everyone who wishes to take a solo. Do not do one chorus after another and then end the tune.
4. If you are calling a tune that is not in the Real Book Vol 1, then bring charts for C, Eb, and Bb instruments. Alternatively, get a consensus from the other participants.
"
I know we have an active strings (guitar, bass) and keys community in Singapore and here on SOFT but I see China Walls between each of these communities and ours. I have always believed that we should all be playing music and not instruments - SO why not tear those China Walls down ?
There are drumfests and equivalent events for drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, etc BUT they make great drummers, guitarists, keyboardists, etc BUT not really musicians.
A person owning a music school (looking at AlvinTheDrummer
) would be a perfect person to co-ordinate and kick-start this sort of event due to the fact of the networks and communities they know.Of course, I know I have referred to an Open Jazz as a genre but it really can be anything. Funk, Rock, etc Just that I felt that Jazz is a lot more rich and open, it is really easier to trade 4 bars with the bassists, keyboardists, guitarists, etc without actually knowing the song
I am wondering if anyone here would be interested in setting something like that for an event, maybe even for the next DrumExchange ?
Afterall, you become a more complete musician <insert your instrument of choice here> NOT by playing alone, alone in a group or with other drummers BUT by playing with other musicians of other instruments. You will be surprised at how much you can learn, improve and learn about your own instruments this way.
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