**REGISTRATION REQUIRED. SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS**
Slow Jam Class is offered for adult players who would like to learn how to successfully play music with other people in a coached group setting. Each person brings or suggests a song or instrumental that they would like to play with the group. We only go as fast on that song as the person suggesting it can play. We have played everything from folk tunes, Beatles, classic rock, fiddle tunes, bluegrass and blues. We have a lot of fun while putting some good playing skills in place. It’s a great environment to work out everything from basic strumming with others to beginning soloing strategies.
Classes take place at The LAVA Center, 324 Main Street, Greenfield, MA, on alternating Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9 pm.
Class Dates:
1/29/24
2/12/24
2/26/24
3/11/24
3/25/24
4/8/24
Tuition is by sliding fee donation from $5 to $25 per class.
Register by contacting Michael: call/text 413-772-0328 or email mnix@NixWorks.com.
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Michael Nix performs on classical guitar, Banjar, banjo, and mandolin, throughout the United States and Asia; has recorded for the PBS series, “American Experience,” several independent documentaries, numerous CD projects; and his compositions are performed internationally. His music has been heard on “Weekend Edition,” and other NPR programs. His new solo Banjar album of compositions and commissions, Aperçu was released on PARMA Recordings Big Round Records and distributed by NAXOS.
A banjo innovator, Nix designed the Banjar; a modern seven nylon string banjo combining elements of the five-string banjo and classical guitar; bringing the classic finger-style banjo of the late 1800’s into the twenty first century. His instrumentals, songs, and compositions draw from classic finger style banjo and guitar, infused with folk, jazz and world music traditions.
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Class Overview:
- The class will run an hour and a half.
- Each person will suggest a song to work on. You may submit a pdf or a hard copy to me, and I will distribute to the class by pdf, which can be printed and looked over before the first session. When we play a person’s song, we go only as fast at that person can handle playing the song. We work on making that person successful in playing both melody and chords. Of course you will have to expect that there are different levels, and not everyone may be able to keep up with a more advanced person’s song, but we can talk about strategies to deal with that. The important thing is that the person who brings a song will determine the speed and complexity of what is played. That way everyone will find some success. As the class progresses we may agree on a bonus song or two to include in the sessions.
- We will work on musicianship within a group, how to listen to one another. How to keep track of what is going on, how to get back on if you get lost. How to shape phrases when you play melody, and how to keep your dynamics soft and support the melody when you play chords. Using dynamics and articulation to shape melody and phrasing.
- For those who are improvising, we will work on very simple improvising strategies. We will work on accompaniment patterns, fills, and solos.
- For those of you who are arranging, we can hand out parts and try out your arrangements in a live setting.
- Each student will be responsible for bringing a folding music stand, and their own music printed from the pdf’s provided.
