Can anyone name a jam that happens every month that has from 60 to 100 jammers (and listeners) in attendance. The jamming includes bluegrass, old time, some swing and on occasion some more eclectic jams with a worldly flavor. Don’t forget the open mic stage that is ready for action the entire jam.
In a few months out of the year there are workshops, many times for kids but often times for adults as well. Typically the workshop leaders play a short set after the workshop. Yeah, the workshops cost a little extra but let’s say much less than market rate.
Did I mention that this jam happens monthly, as in every month rain or shine.
I’m guessing (hoping) that there is no huge mystery here and that most of you know I’m talking about the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association. The jam is held on the first Sunday of every month at Hoover Middle School in San Jose except for July and August when we have the jam at the Rose Garden Park just down the street from the school.
Richard Brooks, our past president, usually posts a monthly reminder of our jams on the message board hoping to entice more jammers.
SCVFA has been around for over 40 years and counts many notable musicians among its membership. I don’t want to start dropping names, as I am sure I’ll miss someone and get in deep trouble with my bosses at SCVFA. Let’s just say that if you can think of a prominent fiddler or acoustic musician in Northern California, they are or have been involved in our organization at some point in our 43 years of existence.
In the past few years we have had workshops or performances from great talent such as: Blaine Sprouse, Richard Greene, Laurie Lewis, Kathy Kallick, Jack Tuttle and Jack Sadler among others. I’m sure I’m gonna get chewed out in the bosses office for leaving out some big names here but you get the picture. SCVFA tries to bring top-notch musicians to our monthly jams because that is what we do. We like having lots of players and listeners come to our jams and having good talent around tends to do that.
There is a charge to attend our jams. It is $6 dollars for members and $8 dollars for non-members. There are monthly and ongoing expenses (rent, insurance, equipment storage, etc.) that our non-profit organization needs to cover in order to continue to have monthly jams. Roughly speaking we need about 85 jammers a month to break even. Some months we get that and some we don’t. Of course there is no charge for our summer jams in the park.
Why am I using my valuable welcome column monthly allotment of splash page inches to tell you all this. Well because I am inviting all of you to our jam this Sunday and all of our monthly jams going forward. Here’s the deal. Having more jammers usually means that jams get better. Stay with me here. Better jams entice more jammers to attend and more jammers (usually) makes the jam better. And so on and so forth.
Don’t worry we have plenty of space and can accommodate all comers and all levels. There is a Beginner’s Circle led by Topher Heath that meets each time that is very welcoming, also we do a Tune Builders Session each jam for more intermediate players.
Let’s not forget the open mic stage. At each jam (except for July and August in the park) we set up a full PA system including monitors and our jam manager is always looking for groups or solo acts to perform. You can easily get 15 minutes (or more many times) to perform, if you like.
Once we have you there, maybe you can consider joining our organization. Memberships are $20 dollars for the first person in a household and that includes receiving our monthly newsletter. It is $2 for each additional person in the household. We like memberships as they fund the newsletter and help us bring in talent to our jams but if membership is not for you, we would still like to see you at our jams because as I am sure you know by now……… more jammers mean better jams.
SCVFA Fiddler’s Jam
Hoover Middle School
At the corner of Park Ave and Naglee Ave
San Jose, CA We’re on the web at www.fiddlers.org
Oh yeah….and for my regular readers, my last reminder. Meet me at Vern’s Place on Wednesday night June 15 from 6:00 on and I’ll hit you up with that beer I owe you. If you miss that, the tequila is at my camp in electric-only site 35. Let’s get to it.
