Hi Pete,

I was very excited to find your CMC site. I have been leading an acoustic jam for nearly 10 years now and it has grown and flourished despite being held in small village in rural Wisconsin. 

I may find time to tell you about that jam and the lessons I have learned but I mostly wanted to applaud what you are doing and let you know about a book written by an ethnomusicologist, Thomas Turino.  Prof. Turino, himself a jammer, proposes that we look at music in terms of the context.  Relevant to us is his category of 'participatory' .  It contrasts with 'presentational' even if the genre of music is identical.  It is the difference between a rock or old-time jam and a rock or old-time concert.  What is enjoyable or laudable at one, is not necessarily a good thing at the other.  As you point out, grooving together on simple tunes are a blast at jams; Turino points out that most of us would begin yawning if we had to sit quietly, only politely applauding at the end of songs,  thru 4 sets of 3 chord rock.  Its not the genre or even the musicianship that make one experience estatic and the other a bit of a chore.  It would be equally unappealing to me to listen to a orchestra try to jam Beethovan symphonies. 

Another of Turino's points is that participatory music, since it has no commercial value, is given little respect by our culture.  It has no stars, recordings of it are rarely made or sold ( and rarely capture what is great about it).  Yet, the participation in a musical experience, even just as a dancer or occasional singer or percussion player, is what has given music its most enduring value over the entire span of human existence. 

Another exponent of participatory music is Pete Wernick.  He (and I) teach folk instruments by group jams.  He, not surprizingly, holds a PhD in Sociology.

Very Pleased to be admitted a member,

Willie

Hi Pete,

 Saturday was fun hope to do it again.

I believe the song was Sweet Home Chicago.