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5 Things to Expect at an Empowerment Jam Session

September 5, 2018 by The Musical Autist Leave a Comment

By: Sunny Cefaratti, TMA Co-Founder and Jam Session Committee Leader

These are things that you can expect when you come to an empowerment jam session. As the jam session committee leader, my hope is that these jam sessions can be replicated across the country with the help of The Musical Autist. It is my dream that jam sessions would be reproduced so that musicians of all abilities can have fun and make music together.

One. A coffee shop atmosphere. We provide snacks and coffee for those who are performing and those who are listening to the jam session. We ask for a donation of any amount to donate to The Musical Autist, which is the non-profit organization who hosts the jam session.

Two. Drum circles. We encourage people to chant phrases that are empowering when we are doing a drum circle. As the jam session leader, I usually pre-determine the empowering phrase. We chant them together as a group as we play the drums.

Three. Musical performance. Everyone who attends is encouraged to share a song. If a participant is involved in music therapy, I invite them to share a song from their sessions. However, you don’t have to be a music therapy client to participate.

Four. Opening and closing song. I open and close the jam session with an opening song and a closing song. This helps people participate in a jam session, and it helps to indicate when the jam session is starting and ending.

Five. Bring your own instruments. We encourage participants to bring their own instruments if it is possible. However, we provide instruments from The Annapolis Music Therapy clinic that people can use during the jam session. You can bring whatever instrument you’re comfortable playing, such as a guitar, tuba, etc.

We hope to see you on Saturday September 29th from 3:30-4:30pm at Maryland Hall for our first-ever Empowerment Jam Session Junior for children ages 12 & under. Learn more here!

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