High school band “Myers” getting ready for rehearsal. KEN TAKAGI
Last month, LiVEJAM launched a new “JAM Program,” a series of ensemble lessons aimed at improving the skills required to play in a band.
For students taking private lessons on their instrument, this will substantially increase their opportunities to play in a band setting, whereas previously they may only have played as part of a band for a few weeks when rehearsing for the JAMOUT recitals.
The JAM Program consists of group lessons where students are given parts to play on each instrument, gradually increasing in difficulty. Different styles of music such as rock, funk, and blues are covered.
LiVEJAM places emphasis on the process of musical learning, and playing together with other people in an ensemble is as important as learning the techniques individually. Playing as a band teaches musicians to listen to others, synchronize timing, adjust to others in order to achieve balance as a group, and lead when appropriate. Communication skills are vital — whether verbal, visual, or emotional — and each player becomes aware of themselves in a group context.
“You can imagine that all kinds of skills, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, etc. can be developed in this process,” says Director Takagi, adding, “The level of concentration in these band sessions is immense, as you can see in the students’ expressions during rehearsals. They come out tired, but really refreshed. It’s so much fun! We believe these moments are precious and most certainly beneficial to their growth.”
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