JAMMING

By Johanne James

Hello there my dear readers and how are you this week?

Good, then let me begin. Jamming. You know that stuff that musicians do to create new music, or that thing they do to perhaps widen their perspective whilst playing their preferred instrument? I’ve done so much of this in the past that I wish I had a pound for every time I did, hence I’d be able to afford a new set of cymbals! I am kidding of course, but the truth is for anyone who has ever had the inclination to pick up an instrument and learn to play it to the best of their ability, and even try to become at one with it, is a journey in itself, and a lifelong one too! I have jammed to so many genres of music that the discovery of that there are no rules, really does apply. One guitarist said to me, “I only play METAL” to which I replied, “Then you have my sympathy” thus limiting himself to a few major chords, but why not explore your instrument? He couldn’t think or see outside the box. He wore blinkers and would have been better off also wearing a sheepskin nose band and running in the 2.30 at Kempton, which of course is horse racing for the non-gamblers out there! Jamming is inspirational as ploughing through sequences of chords and rhythms you wouldn’t dare try in a live environment, well not until you become confident at doing so, which means, you have moved onto the next level.

How many wonderful compositions have been created by this activity, those that are indelibly etched into your memory. These can sometimes become ear worms, doesn’t sound too pleasant does it, but not to worry, they are those songs you keep singing, even if you don’t like them, but that’s another topic! The interaction can be fun, that is providing you have a chemistry between you. It isn’t very often that I have a rapport with someone as I can count on the fingers of one hand, those that I have, and when you do find that person, you don’t even have to look at one another as you both seem to know what the other is thinking and what his next move is going to be. Writing then becomes a breeze, effortless, for every time you jam, you create something new. How good is that? Thus you end up with a plethora of material which then means you are spoiled for choice when coming to pick compositions for your next album. But that is a wonderful position to be in, is it not, and all through an activity that you enjoy doing.

So keep on jamming, keep on writing and keep on moving on, for the best is always yet to come. But, please do not limit yourself to one genre of music, as I have mentioned before, there are no rules, so play them all, if you can, or choose to, you don’t have to listen to me, and more than likely, won’t LOL.

Thanks for listening.

Johanne James