Dear NFBA Members,
At the last picking I walked around to listen to the jam sessions going on around the park. I realized that, while we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities offered with the workshops and Slo-Jam, we haven't included another element of jamming -- etiquette.
Following is a humorous list of jamming etiquette rules but the message behind the humor is right on target. You may have seen them before but it is well worth another look.
The TEN JAMMANDMENTS (from Robert Rosenberg/Charlie Hall):
- THOU SHALT TUNE THY INSTRUMENT - There are too many good, cheap electronic tuners around not to do this.
- THOU SHALT LISTEN - If you can't hear the vocal or lead instrument, the YOU are too loud. Be sensitive to volume levels.
- THOU SHALT COMMUNICATE WHO HAS THE SOLO - When handing off an instrumental break on, say, a fiddle tune, follow a pattern (like clockwise around a circle) so the next lead player knows it is his/her turn. If the lead player or vocalist passes the break, he/she can indicate with a shake of their head or call out to the next picker.
- THOU SHALT WELCOME OTHERS - Open the circle if other players wish to join. Jam sessions cannot be too large if everyone is polite. Old Time music is more interesting when there are many players playing simultaneously.
- THOU SHALT SHARE THE SELECTION - Open the choice of songs to individuals around the circle. Don't monopolize the jam by playing one song after another. An instrumentalist can suggest a vocalist do a song.
- THOU SHALT TRY NEW STUFF - Once in a while, a participant in a jam may suggest an original or out-of-the-ordinary tune. This is OK.
- THOU SHALT LET OTHERS KNOW WHEN YOU'RE NOT JAMMING - Sometimes bands may be warming up or rehearsing for a show and may need to exclude others. This is OK.
- THOU SHALT NOT RAID - Don't interrupt an active jam by calling favorite musicians away to join another jam.
- THOU SHALT KEEP STEADY RHYTHM - Errors in rhythm are the most difficult to overcome while keeping a group together.
- THOU SHALT NOT SPEED - Keep the tempo. Don't start too fast or speed up durning the song.
These were borrowed from our neighbor organization, Southwest Florida Bluegrass Association.
Keep these in mind at your next jam session. Maybe I'll see you there.
Sincerely,
Rick Ray
President
