This page details the who, what and why of the jam….
Welcome to the Real Jam’s page where you will find information about the jams, the upcoming song selections and links to information that may be helpful! This is a work in progress, so check back!
First things first
There is an FAQ available that has information about the mission of the real jam, what to expect, who is involved, snacks to bring and a host of other information. You can find that link here or navigate using the menus at the top of the site.
Your Hosts
My name is Howard Arner and I am a local keyboard player and vocalist. This page is hosted on my web site, so feel free to navigate the menus to find out about me and my music. I happen to also be on the board of local 444. I pitched the Real Jams to the local based the sessions that used to be run by our own Les Wing. I really loved those sessions as I learned so much by being around seasoned veterans. There is also a program like this that is hosted out of local 802 in NYC. The board agreed that we should host a community outreach, and The Real Jam was born!
The Goal
My goal is to start small and grow these sessions into a fun community of musicians dedicated to learning and playing. I hope that in the future we can bring in guest mentors that will host theme nights or do workshops. But for now, we just jam to the real book. Keeping it real.
The Next Session
Currently, the Real Jam is held on the first Wednesday of each month. I open the hall around 6 for preparation and setting up the equipment. The gathering time will start @ 6:30 for discussion, meet and greet and general comradery. Downbeat is @ 7. This page details the songs, keys and links to information about the tunage that might be called. We put that page together so the if you need to, you can play along with the songs in the key they will be called. Remember, this jam is for seasoned professionals and amateurs alike. We aim to make everyone comfortable and foster a learning environment. For a PDF of the songs with guitar chords, click here. If you are a user of iReal Pro, you can see a page where you can download the read jam setlist in that format by clicking here.
Working Document
This page is like the manual for the sessions. It is a handbook that I am putting together with ideas, information and details about how the sessions will be run and the goals of the sessions. It is a work in progress, and I look forward to feedback from participants in what you want to see.
Drop a dime!
If you have any questions, want to let me know you are coming, want to get added to the mailing list for the real jams, or have a question or suggestion just send me a message using the form below!
