Jam Sessions
The Music Therapy Center of California and Banding Together hold group music therapy sessions at four different locations during the Spring and Fall. These Jam Sessions are provided for free by Banding Together to create an inclusive group for teenagers and adults with special needs to have a safe place to play music and have fun together.
What are Jam Sessions?
Jam Sessions are a program run by Banding Together involving a music therapist, a music specialist and several volunteers and can hold from 10-20 participants. It is held at four different locations: Carlsbad, Point Loma, El Cajon, and Chula Vista. During Jam Session season there are two sessions weekly. After about 6 weeks, the Jam Sessions end at those previous locations and start up at the other locations. While Jam Sessions are out for the Summer, a program called Summer Sounds takes its place albeit at a lower capacity and different setting.
What’s different about Summer Sounds compared to Jam sessions?
Summer Sounds takes place in a much smaller room and cannot provide the capacity that a Jam Session does. 5-8 individuals may attend Summer Sounds. It can provide more opportunities for individual clients to participate and work on social skills. It also provides an opportunity for clients to have a mini-jam session, even when Jam Sessions are not in season.
What might a Jam Session look like?
- Hello song (we’ll work on different ways of greeting each other)
- Drum circle (working on listening skills and playing instruments together)
- Social Skills Lesson (a lesson will usually consist of a social skill we’re trying to teach with follow up questions and opportunities for engagement)
- Guest musician (the clients have the opportunity to ask the guest musician questions and then we’ll play instruments such as shakers along with the musician)
- Jam time (we’ll pick a few songs and everyone can grab an instrument and we’ll all jam together.
- Goodbye
Jam Sessions are a great opportunity for clients to play music, learn social skills, and have a place where they can feel included. It is also a great opportunity for volunteers to get hours, connect with their community, and get experience working with this population. It can also be an opportunity for Local Musicians to play a few songs and really bring out the Jam to Jam Session.
If you are interested in registering you or a loved one for Jam Sessions: https://bandingtogethersd.org/what-we-do/jam-sessions/participate/
If you are interested in volunteering for Jam Sessions:
https://bandingtogethersd.org/get-involved/volunteer/
If you are interested in being a Guest Musician for Jam Sessions:
https://bandingtogethersd.org/get-involved/musicians/
Here’s a clip of Jam Sessions featured in the Local News!
if you have any questions about Jam Sessions, Summer Sounds or any of the other services provided by the music therapy center of california, feel free to reach out at: https://www.themusictherapycenter.com/contact-us/
Keep Jamming,
Rockfully,
Eric Amparo, Music Therapy Intern
