George and Cindy Sanger at Monday’s Acoustic Jam at the Community Center
Who knew Coronado had so many musicians and singers willing to come out on a brisk night to jam with a couple of dozen strangers. Last Monday night, some 25 people gathered in the Community Center’s Abalone Room where they strummed and crooned their way through a number of popular tunes, such as The Beatles’ “I Saw Her Standing There,” Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon,” and Leadbelly’s “Midnight Special.” The event was the first of a new series of monthly acoustic jams that will be held on the third Monday of every month. The next will be on Monday, February 16 from 7pm to 8:30pm, again at the Community Center.
Most participants were guitar or ukulele players, though there was a scattering of non-stringed instruments. Cindy Sanger brought her flute. Her husband George brought along an accordion he had lying around the house. “I’ve never played one,” he said. “I brought it because I figured there would be lots of guitars.” Sanger is a trained guitarist and composer, so he was able to harmonize with the group despite playing an instrument he really didn’t have any experience playing. The crowd also included a percussionist who played an assortment of percussive instruments, including a cabasa and a tambourine.
The setting was relaxed and casual. There was no pressure, no competition. The emphasis was on fun and an opportunity to stretch your skills by learning a new tune or to master new chord. Most were beginners or intermediates with less than two years experience.
“I’m excited about it,” said Kelly Purvis, Contract Arts Administrator for the city’s Cultural Arts Commission. “I hope it grows. It’s a wonderful opportunity for people to get together and make music.”
The Coronado Acoustic Jam was inspired by the North Park Acoustic Jam held twice a month in a local church. A few of regulars live in Coronado and wanted a jam of their own. “I was getting tired of traveling to North Park twice a month. I wanted one closer to home,” said Judy Eby. So a few months ago, she pitched the idea of starting a jam in Coronado to Drew Decker, a local musician and teacher, who leads the North Park Acoustic Jam. With Decker on board, the idea went from concept to reality quickly.
Drew Decker leading the Acoustic Jam; Rod Lowell is standing behind him
While the general atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, the session was tightly run and organized. Lyrics to songs and guitar chords were projected onto a screen in front of the room.
Before each song Decker played through the opening verse and chorus. He announced chord changes as they came up in each song, advising people that if they didn’t know the chord being played to look at their neighbor. A few did, some just strummed through the ones they didn’t know or sat back waiting for a more familiar tune. “I jump in whenever I hear something I know I can play,” said Bette Ruzevick, said a retired nurse practitioner that has been playing the ukulele for a year. Even though she listened more than she played, Ruzevick loved the experience. “This is really cool. We need more of this in Coronado,” she said.
The jam was free, but participants were encouraged to donate to offset the cost of renting the room and compensating Becker. The group set a top hat in that back of the room for donations.
Those interested in participating are encouraged to RSVP to future events, although RSVPs are not required in order to attend. Similarly, participants are encouraged (but not required) to join Meetup, the social network portal used to facilitate the jam. One perk of visiting the Coronado Acoustic Jam’s Meetup page is that much of the music for the next jam will be available in advance at http://meetup.com/coronadojam. Decker does incorporate song requests in to the event, as well.
The North Park and Coronado Acoustic Jams both have ties to the Mid-City Community Music School, a nonprofit that offers affordable music lessons. It also gives scholarships to low-income kids. Decker is one of the school’s instructors and many of the guitar players began their studies there as well as veterans of the North Park Acoustic Jam. Rod Lowell has been a regular at the North Park for two years. This was the first time he was able to perform in his hometown. “It felt good,” he said.
The jam sessions are not just about the music, though. “It’s a great way to integrate into the community,” said Vince Marshall, a Navy contractor who moved here from Norfolk, Virginia last year. He was so jazzed by the experience that walking out he told a friend that he was going to try and make it over to the North Park jam. If the smiles on people’s faces as they left are any indication, Marshall will not be the only one.
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Gloria Tierney
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
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