Song links for Youtube and Charts(coming today)
“For What It’s Worth” — Buffalo Springfield
YouTube — Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth”
For What its Worth 1
Concert key: E. This is the one where you should emphasize space, the signature guitar figure, listening, dynamics and creating little responses rather than everybody soloing.
“Stormy Monday” — T-Bone Walker
YouTube — T-Bone Walker, “Call It Stormy Monday”
Jam Session™ Emerging Workshop
Six-Week Repertoire & Workshop Plan
A six-week exploration of groove, improvisation, ensemble playing and making music together.
This session uses familiar songs from blues, rock, soul, R&B; and pop to develop the skills needed to play confidently with
other musicians. The schedule is a guide, not a rigid set list. We adjust to the musicians in the room, and songs may
move, be replaced, or carry over.
WEEK 1 – Listen, Find Your Place & Leave Space
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
Stormy Monday – T-Bone Walker
• Finding your place in the groove
• Listening before playing
• Blues form and vocabulary
• Simple fills and responses
• Dynamics and leaving space
• Beginning improvisation without overthinking it
WEEK 2 – Groove With Simple Harmony
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
Lean on Me – Bill Withers
• Creating ideas over limited harmony
• Repeating and developing a musical idea
• Rhythm and pocket
• Supporting vocals
• Listening across the band
• Playing fewer notes with more purpose
WEEK 3 – Playing in a Style
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen
Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do – Johnny Copeland
• Rockabilly vs. blues feel
• Phrasing
• Rhythmic differences between styles
• Short solos
• Call and response
• Playing with personality
WEEK 4 – Reinventing a Familiar Song
Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears / Patti Smith
Question for the band: What does this song sound like when WE play it?
Jam Session™ | Page 1• Building an arrangement
• Groove and texture
• Creating instrumental parts
• Using horns, guitar and keyboards as colors
• Knowing when NOT to play
WEEK 5 – Interaction & Communication
Why Can’t We Be Friends? – War
Plus selected earlier repertoire
• Ensemble communication
• Trading ideas
• Horn and instrumental responses
• Groove and dynamics
• Recovering when something unexpected happens
WEEK 6 – Put It Together
Selections from the session repertoire
Possible project: When a Man Loves a Woman -> Lean on Me
Can the band move from one song into another without stopping?
• Listening and cueing
• Transitions
• Dynamics
• Improvisation
• Making an arrangement happen in real time
THE GOAL
You don’t need to play the most notes or know the most theory to be valuable in a band. The goal is to become more
comfortable listening, responding, improvising, finding space and contributing to the music happening around you.
Some experienced players may receive more challenging assignments within the same songs.
As always, the repertoire is flexible. We teach the musicians in the room – not the syllabus.
Jam Session™ | Page 2