MARIN BLUEGRASS JAM

The Marin traditional bluegrass jam has been running for more than 11 years now. On the first and third Thursdays of the month there is pickin' going on at the Marin Lutheran Church at 649 Meadowsweet in Corte Madera, just off the Corte Madera exit of highway 101. The time is 7:30-10 p.m. After having created and managed the jam for 10 years, I retired in June of 2009, and Pat Palmer is now the manager. In January the dates will be the 5th and 19th, in February the 2nd and 16th, and in March the 1st and the 15th. Only water is allowed to be brought into the room to drink. A $1.00 donation per player will be solicited as minimal payment for use of the room. There is also space for those who may want to come and listen. Directions lie below.

For pickers up Sebastopol way, there is bluegrass & acoustic music jam at the Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Avenue in Sebastopol from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturdays. For info, go to the California Bluegrass Association web site.

As usual, no electric or percussive instruments please at the Marin jams. The "Ten Jammandments" lie below. Please read them before attending the jam if you have never attended. And please bring traditional bluegrass songs to sing, such as anything by Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, and Flatt & Scruggs. Bob Dylan and John Prine songs are generally not good for bluegrass jams.

Any questions, send an e here.

Directions to the Marin Lutheran Church:

If you are coming from north of Corte Madera, take 101 South to the Tamalpais Drive/Corte Madera exit off 101, turn right on Tamalpais at the light, go two more traffic lights (just a short distance) and turn left. The Bank of America is on your right as you make the left hand turn on Sanford. You will immediately reach a T intersection, and here you will turn right on Meadowsweet. The church is just a short ways down on the left. Park on the street, walk up either set of stairs at the ends of the building, and then go up the middle set of stairs. At the top of the landing enter the building on your right.

If you are coming from south of Corte Madera, take 101 North, get off the same exit, turn left at the traffic light on Tamalpais, go over the freeway, and then turn left at the third light. The Bank of America is on your right as you make the left hand turn on Sanford. You will immediately reach a T intersection, and here you will turn right on Meadowsweet. The church is just a short ways down on the left. Park on the street, walk up either set of stairs at the ends of the building, and then go to the middle set of stairs. At the top of the landing enter the room on your right.

The Ten Jammandments

(found here on the web)

I. Thou Shalt Tune Thy Instrument.
~ Electronic tuners make this easy.

II. Thou Shalt Keep Steady Rhythm.
~ Count beats if necessary.

III. Thou Shalt Take Turns Choosing Songs.
~Announce the key. Vocalists always choose their key.
~ Choose a song you can complete.

IV. Thou Shalt Not Speed.
~ Start songs at a reasonable tempo. Speed up according to abilities.

V. Thou Shalt Signal Who Has The Solo.
~ Follow a pattern when taking solo leads.

VI. Thou Shalt Listen To Others.
~ If you can't hear the lead, consider yourself too loud.

VII. Thou Shalt Welcome Others.
~ Include everyone in your jam. Help everyone sound as good as they can.

VIII. Thou Shalt Not Steal Other Musicians From An Active Jam.
~With time, players move around anyway.

IX. Thou Shalt Try New Material.
~ Original & different tunes are OK occasionally.

X. Thou Shalt Be Considerate Of Pickers.
~ Explain when you're rehearsing, not jamming. Help beginners.

Stevie Coyle
Bard of Marin