Bluegrass and Old Time Music Jam at The Artesian

Access

About

Come jam with us! Bring an acoustic instrument and/or your voice and we will play bluegrass and old-time music together. This is a free public event, we would love to have you join us.

How It Works

Most of us play by ear, and we encourage new players to learn how to play, and to learn new tunes, that way.

If you do need music that’s OK but please put your stand where it won’t be in the way.

Recognize that (a) you may not always hear the tune name before it starts, and (b) the group won’t be waiting for you to find the page.

Choosing and Starting Tunes: Each person takes a turn naming a tune to be played, in deference to banjo players who need to retune, it is preferably in the current key .The tune list will have a guide as to the key.

-Whoever chooses the tune will start it off (setting the tempo, which we’re then supposed to maintain) — or may ask someone else to start it.

-It’s also helpful to set the tempo by starting with a couple of measures of “potatoes” (shuffle bowing on fiddle) or strumming to lead into the tune.

Stopping: Whoever chose the tune should always indicate when to stop.

-This is usually done by raising a foot as we approach the end of the tune (preferably part-way through the last part of the tune, a few measures before we are to stop).

-Calling out “one more time” or “last time” at the start of the last time can help too, especially if you can’t raise your foot, or it can’t easily be seen by the group.

Links

• More information northernlightsbluegrass.com

Organizer

Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Time Music Society

The Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old Time Music Society Inc. has been formed to teach, promote, encourage, foster and cultivate the education, preservation, appreciation, understanding, enjoyment, accessibility, support and performance of traditional instrumental and vocal music in Saskatchewan. The education component and connection to our prairie heritage makes the organization more than a festival and entertainment provider – it is part of the culture of the province and an active participant in making and preserving music history.

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