Bluegrass Friends Forums: private jams

Author

Message

Fungus
Senior Member

Joined: 2006-May-25
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 182

Topic: private jams
Posted: 2009-May-11 at 3:36pm

   Well I guess maybe its time for me to express myself as to how I feel about Private Jams.
   Firstly,I love to jam.Jamming to me is like candy to a child.However as of late,the jams dont seem to be making too much progress.
   After over a year of private jams,we seem to have reached a plateau from which we have not made much progress.Sure we get together and do all the old tunes,but we havnt been improving with our delivery of these tunes.
   I would think that after playing together for that amount of time that we would be starting to get solid with what we do.However I dont seem to notice us improving much.Maybe Im expecting too much??.
   Ive been told by others that we tend to take the jams too seriously.That we are taking the fun of jamming away by being too demanding in our approach to the music.True,but I believe that as a musician I want to get better and not settle for what I used to settle for.Maybe Im wrong.Maybe I should just get out there and do the same as I always used to do.???
   I for one think that if Im not improving then maybe I should find something else to do.I love music and if I cant keep striving to improve,then what good is it to me?
   Any way I would appreciate hearing how others feel about this subject.Please make some comments so that I know (and everyone else knows)how you all feel
   I look forward to hearing from some of you

Keep picking and keep striving to get better
                             Ken

Bluegrass Music - All the way Fungus Ki

IP Logged

regman
Senior Member

Joined: 2007-Jan-24
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 103

Posted: 2009-May-12 at 8:15am

Hey Ken,I've been to a lot of jams in my life ,country jams,blues jams rock'n'roll jams,bluegrass jams, peanut butter'n'jams you name it ,but the one recurring thing is that people,go to play music at whatever level they are at and don't really care if things are improving ,if they learn something or pickup a lick or two then they have made some progress,the only way jams can get better is if each individual player practises his craft and brings his playing up a notch that will instantly bring it up some secondly the other way to achieve a more solid sound and be serious about it is to turn the private jam into a bluegrass group and practise material and do some homework,unfortunately this is no longer a jam but a commitment to getting better and performing as a group,it becomes a serious choice which some folks aren't willing to make nor invest the time in. Keep on pickin' if you get better everyone gets better ,,,"A RISING TIDE FLOATS ALL SHIPS" REGMAN

reg

IP Logged

Fungus
Senior Member

Joined: 2006-May-25
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 182

Posted: 2009-May-12 at 2:22pm

Hi Reg :
Thanks for your comment.You may have hit on the answer to my delima.What is a Jam?Does it stop being a jam when people demand more out of it than most people are willing to put into it?Does it then becomes a practice where we get to the lever of preforming as a group?
   Well to me ,I believe that we should all be striving to get better.We should not settle for being just "good enough for jamming".But thats my approach.I guess its up to the individual.
   Once again thanks for the comment.
    Keep picking and keep striving to get better
                        Ken


Edited by Fungus - 2009-May-12 at 5:50pm

Bluegrass Music - All the way Fungus Ki

IP Logged

Newfie'Bro
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: 2007-Mar-05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39

Posted: 2009-May-14 at 12:31am

Hi Kenny,

In answer to your question "What is a Jam?" the Wikipedia Encyclopedia has this to say:

"A jam session is a musical act where musicians gather and play (or "jam") without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements; improvisation."

"Jam sessions are often used to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one participant, or may be wholly improvisational. Jam sessions can range from very loose gatherings of amateurs to sophisticated improvised recording sessions intended to be edited and released to the public."

Not sure if this is the answer you are looking for but it does give a good description of what most people consider a "jam" session to be. Let's not confuse the Friday night P-Jams to "open" jams as described above.

After reading your comments several times I'm still wondering just exactly "what is the point you are trying to make?". Are you deeply disappointed because the overall performance by "some of the players" has not improved to any great extent over the past year or so?
Maybe some of those players don't have a great deal of time to devote to practice. You have to remember that not all of the p-jammers are "retired". I know that I should be spending more time with my "music practice" but then again I have other "hobbies" that are very interesting, too. My dobro playing ability is not going to help me land a 747 at Toronto's Lester B. Pearson Intl. airport in a blinding snowstorm

But all jokes aside, I'm sure that all the musicians that attend the p-jams are indeed striving to improve their particular contributions to the sessions and are enjoying the time spent with the group.

Having said that I leave you with this little bit of old Bluegrass Philosophy: "Play the melody correctly the first time around .. then you can cut it to pieces"

Clay






Edited by Newfie'Bro - 2009-May-14 at 4:53pm

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted , then used against you.

IP Logged

Fungus
Senior Member

Joined: 2006-May-25
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 182

Posted: 2009-May-14 at 1:13pm

Hi Clay
Thanks for the response.The definition you quoted is correct and I was aware of what it was.I guess my expectations are a little more than most of those that attend these P-jams.
   I believe that because it is usualy the same 5-7 people that attend these P-Jams,then we should be getting used to each other.In doing so ,then we should be getting a lot tighter with our music than we have..Maybe Im just "Hoping" or what ever.However this doesnt seem to be happening.
   I think that as a musician we should always be striving to improve.Being retired doesnt give me any advantage over other people.Its where I decide to put my time.I love music and therefore I put a lot of time there.But thats just me..Each individual has to make their own decisions as to how much they want to devote to their music..
   Well once again thanks for the comments.I hope that others will take the time to read these and to comment themselves..
   Keep picking and keep striving to get better Ken






Edited by Fungus - 2009-May-14 at 1:18pm

Bluegrass Music - All the way Fungus Ki

IP Logged

Fungus
Senior Member

Joined: 2006-May-25
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 182

Posted: 2009-Sep-22 at 10:32am

Hi there.Its been a spell since I was on site to express my oppinions.Think it is time I did a little..
Well the Monday night jams have restarted.Larry did a lot to get them going again and should be congratulated.Thank you Larry.So far we have had two nights of jamming.The new venue is great.The first two weeks have been slow but Im sure it will pick up.So far Ive been pleased with what has been happening.It will take time for us to start to get used to each other,but Im sure we will.
Ive heard some people say it is just NOISE.Well right now maybe it is,but Im sure that with our efforts it will improve.I didnt expect it to sound PROFESIONAL the first few times out.I believe that we will start getting better with time and effort.Those that dont want to put the effort into it will be weeded out.At least we are trying to get things going.Thats a lot better than just talking about it.Every little bit will help us all get better.For those that dont like the format of Bluegrass only,too bad.There are opther open jams out there and they are free to attend those jams if they dont like the way things are run..
Well I realy should get a move on.Ive got a million things to do today.Hope everyone will have a good day
Remember Have fun in what you do,and always try to do your best.Never expect things to happen overnight.It takes time to make things good.Enjoy

Ken

Edited by Fungus - 2009-Nov-20 at 11:23am

Bluegrass Music - All the way Fungus Ki

IP Logged

banjogod
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: 2006-Aug-03
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20

Posted: 2010-Jan-22 at 10:08pm

There are only two ways to get better:

1) Quality Practice Time
If you can't spare the required amount of time behind your chosen instrument then sell it! I put in 2-4 hours a day and I don't think that's enough!

2) Better Musicians
The only way to get better is by playing with better musicians. If you always play with the same people in the same scenario then don't expect to get better. Failing face time with better musicians then play along to CDs.

Sorry to be frank but at least it's honest.

Edited by banjogod - 2010-Jan-22 at 10:09pm

Andrew Conde

IP Logged

Jam Sessions
Bluegrass Friends Forums :Music :Jam Sessions

Author	Message
Fungus Senior Member Joined: 2006-May-25 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 182	Topic: private jams Posted: 2009-May-11 at 3:36pm
	Well I guess maybe its time for me to express myself as to how I feel about Private Jams. Firstly,I love to jam.Jamming to me is like candy to a child.However as of late,the jams dont seem to be making too much progress. After over a year of private jams,we seem to have reached a plateau from which we have not made much progress.Sure we get together and do all the old tunes,but we havnt been improving with our delivery of these tunes. I would think that after playing together for that amount of time that we would be starting to get solid with what we do.However I dont seem to notice us improving much.Maybe Im expecting too much??. Ive been told by others that we tend to take the jams too seriously.That we are taking the fun of jamming away by being too demanding in our approach to the music.True,but I believe that as a musician I want to get better and not settle for what I used to settle for.Maybe Im wrong.Maybe I should just get out there and do the same as I always used to do.??? I for one think that if Im not improving then maybe I should find something else to do.I love music and if I cant keep striving to improve,then what good is it to me? Any way I would appreciate hearing how others feel about this subject.Please make some comments so that I know (and everyone else knows)how you all feel I look forward to hearing from some of you Keep picking and keep striving to get better Ken
	Bluegrass Music - All the way Fungus Ki

	IP Logged

regman Senior Member Joined: 2007-Jan-24 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 103	Posted: 2009-May-12 at 8:15am
	Hey Ken,I've been to a lot of jams in my life ,country jams,blues jams rock'n'roll jams,bluegrass jams, peanut butter'n'jams you name it ,but the one recurring thing is that people,go to play music at whatever level they are at and don't really care if things are improving ,if they learn something or pickup a lick or two then they have made some progress,the only way jams can get better is if each individual player practises his craft and brings his playing up a notch that will instantly bring it up some secondly the other way to achieve a more solid sound and be serious about it is to turn the private jam into a bluegrass group and practise material and do some homework,unfortunately this is no longer a jam but a commitment to getting better and performing as a group,it becomes a serious choice which some folks aren't willing to make nor invest the time in. Keep on pickin' if you get better everyone gets better ,,,"A RISING TIDE FLOATS ALL SHIPS" REGMAN
	reg
	IP Logged

Fungus Senior Member Joined: 2006-May-25 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 182	Posted: 2009-May-12 at 2:22pm
	Hi Reg : Thanks for your comment.You may have hit on the answer to my delima.What is a Jam?Does it stop being a jam when people demand more out of it than most people are willing to put into it?Does it then becomes a practice where we get to the lever of preforming as a group? Well to me ,I believe that we should all be striving to get better.We should not settle for being just "good enough for jamming".But thats my approach.I guess its up to the individual. Once again thanks for the comment. Keep picking and keep striving to get better Ken Edited by Fungus - 2009-May-12 at 5:50pm
	Bluegrass Music - All the way Fungus Ki
	IP Logged

Newfie'Bro Newbie Joined: 2007-Mar-05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 39	Posted: 2009-May-14 at 12:31am
	Hi Kenny, In answer to your question "What is a Jam?" the Wikipedia Encyclopedia has this to say: "A jam session is a musical act where musicians gather and play (or "jam") without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements; improvisation." "Jam sessions are often used to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one participant, or may be wholly improvisational. Jam sessions can range from very loose gatherings of amateurs to sophisticated improvised recording sessions intended to be edited and released to the public." Not sure if this is the answer you are looking for but it does give a good description of what most people consider a "jam" session to be. Let's not confuse the Friday night P-Jams to "open" jams as described above. After reading your comments several times I'm still wondering just exactly "what is the point you are trying to make?". Are you deeply disappointed because the overall performance by "some of the players" has not improved to any great extent over the past year or so? Maybe some of those players don't have a great deal of time to devote to practice. You have to remember that not all of the p-jammers are "retired". I know that I should be spending more time with my "music practice" but then again I have other "hobbies" that are very interesting, too. My dobro playing ability is not going to help me land a 747 at Toronto's Lester B. Pearson Intl. airport in a blinding snowstorm But all jokes aside, I'm sure that all the musicians that attend the p-jams are indeed striving to improve their particular contributions to the sessions and are enjoying the time spent with the group. Having said that I leave you with this little bit of old Bluegrass Philosophy: "Play the melody correctly the first time around .. then you can cut it to pieces" Clay Edited by Newfie'Bro - 2009-May-14 at 4:53pm
	You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted , then used against you.
	IP Logged

Fungus Senior Member Joined: 2006-May-25 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 182	Posted: 2009-May-14 at 1:13pm
	Hi Clay Thanks for the response.The definition you quoted is correct and I was aware of what it was.I guess my expectations are a little more than most of those that attend these P-jams. I believe that because it is usualy the same 5-7 people that attend these P-Jams,then we should be getting used to each other.In doing so ,then we should be getting a lot tighter with our music than we have..Maybe Im just "Hoping" or what ever.However this doesnt seem to be happening. I think that as a musician we should always be striving to improve.Being retired doesnt give me any advantage over other people.Its where I decide to put my time.I love music and therefore I put a lot of time there.But thats just me..Each individual has to make their own decisions as to how much they want to devote to their music.. Well once again thanks for the comments.I hope that others will take the time to read these and to comment themselves.. Keep picking and keep striving to get better Ken Edited by Fungus - 2009-May-14 at 1:18pm
	Bluegrass Music - All the way Fungus Ki
	IP Logged

Fungus Senior Member Joined: 2006-May-25 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 182	Posted: 2009-Sep-22 at 10:32am
	Hi there.Its been a spell since I was on site to express my oppinions.Think it is time I did a little.. Well the Monday night jams have restarted.Larry did a lot to get them going again and should be congratulated.Thank you Larry.So far we have had two nights of jamming.The new venue is great.The first two weeks have been slow but Im sure it will pick up.So far Ive been pleased with what has been happening.It will take time for us to start to get used to each other,but Im sure we will. Ive heard some people say it is just NOISE.Well right now maybe it is,but Im sure that with our efforts it will improve.I didnt expect it to sound PROFESIONAL the first few times out.I believe that we will start getting better with time and effort.Those that dont want to put the effort into it will be weeded out.At least we are trying to get things going.Thats a lot better than just talking about it.Every little bit will help us all get better.For those that dont like the format of Bluegrass only,too bad.There are opther open jams out there and they are free to attend those jams if they dont like the way things are run.. Well I realy should get a move on.Ive got a million things to do today.Hope everyone will have a good day Remember Have fun in what you do,and always try to do your best.Never expect things to happen overnight.It takes time to make things good.Enjoy Ken Edited by Fungus - 2009-Nov-20 at 11:23am
	Bluegrass Music - All the way Fungus Ki
	IP Logged

banjogod Newbie Joined: 2006-Aug-03 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 2010-Jan-22 at 10:08pm
	There are only two ways to get better: 1) Quality Practice Time If you can't spare the required amount of time behind your chosen instrument then sell it! I put in 2-4 hours a day and I don't think that's enough! 2) Better Musicians The only way to get better is by playing with better musicians. If you always play with the same people in the same scenario then don't expect to get better. Failing face time with better musicians then play along to CDs. Sorry to be frank but at least it's honest. Edited by banjogod - 2010-Jan-22 at 10:09pm
	Andrew Conde
	IP Logged