Bluegrass Slow Jam

Slow Jam at the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month.

This jam is open to anyone that wants experience playing and singing Bluegrass standard songs at a moderately slow tempo in a supportive, educational, fun jam setting. Depending on how many players we have, the jam may break into a group for people that are complete beginners, and a group for people that want to play at faster tempos. Players of all skill-levels and ages are welcome, and we are making a special effort to find kids that want to play music with other kids.

Prerequisites: you should have a sense of humor, and be able to play basic chords on your acoustic instrument smoothly, at 60-100 beats per minute.

Contact Ran Bush at 510-525-8156 or ranbush@gmail.com if you're interested or have questions.

Take the Stage Band Workshop

PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Hilary Perkins

WORKSHOP LEAD INSTRUCTOR: Dave Zimmerman

"STAR" INSTRUCTORS INCLUDE: Kathy Kallick, Jim Nunally, Laurie Lewis, and Tom Rozum

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER AND FALL SESSIONS

TIME: 2 hours per week, times TBA

FEE: $350.00

Click here to fill out an online application.

Do you enjoy playing bluegrass or folk for fun, at home, in your spare time? Do you and your friends get together for some pickin' and singin' every so often? Ever wonder what it might be like to play in a group, on stage in front of friends and fans?

Well here's your chance to take the stage at the Freight & Salvage, the Bay Area's premier venue for bluegrass, folk, and American roots music!!

"Take the Stage" is an 8-week band performance workshop bringing aspiring musicians from around the Bay Area together to learn and perform Americana and roots music with expert coaching from professional musicians. The workshop culminates in a performance at the world-class Freight & Salvage.

Important Notes about the program:

• Workshop Instructors bring professional experience in bluegrass, old-time, folk and other American roots music and are committed to excellent instruction for the advanced-beginner level and above.


• "Star" instructors will take a turn at leading specialized sessions in areas such as harmony development, taking instrumental breaks, and sound set-up.


• Participants will be screened and grouped based on experience, instrument, ability, interest and schedule. TTS strives to make the experience encouraging and fun for all. Participants will experience exploring music with others including the need to balance individual and group needs and interests.


• You must commit to attending rehearsals and the performance. Your band-mates will be counting on you.


• Cost is $350, including guest instructors, sound class, a performance at the Freight & Salvage and an audio recording of the show. We may be able to provide a video of the show at an extra cost. We can on occasion reduce the workshop fee for needed instruments or vacancies.


• Musical identity of the bands: You will be preparing five songs. We have found that while we try to group people based on their musical interests, not everyone shares the same definition of, for instance bluegrass, or share the same taste in specific sub-genres. The TTS bands have naturally evolved into creating their own identity and sound based on individual and group interests once they get together and get to know each other. All of this, of course, within the world of Americana Roots music. After accounting for schedule, instrument type and playing level, we group the bands as best we can by musical style and genre. The Workshops are also taught by musicians who are knowledgeable and accomplished with specific genres and who can give specific coaching on overall band sound and to individual musicians on their solos etc. however, if you would be unhappy performing with a band that strays from a strict definition of a particular genre, this workshop may not be for you.


• Send in an application and deposit of $100 to hold your place. Deposits are nonrefundable unless we are unable to accept you into the workshop. The balance is due at the first workshop and is nonrefundable. These policies are in place to strongly encourage people to make a commitment to their band and keep it.

Advanced Band Coaching now also offered: This is a new program for existing semi-professional or professional bands who would like to get to the next level of musicianship. Space limited and auditions required. For more information on cost and program:

So bring out your banjo, guitar, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, or bass and best singing voice and make some music!!!

The "Take the Stage" Workshop was created by Hilary Perkins, Lou Ponticas, and Dan Barbee and is a project of the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse and Nell Robinson Music. The mission is to help people who have music in their hearts bring it out and share it, increase audience for and involvement in roots music, and build community around live music.