Jam Sessions
One of my favorite experiences has been Jam Sessions through Banding Together. Banding Together is a partner non-profit founded by Angela and Julie that hosts Jam Sessions led by board-certified music therapists for individuals 13+ years of age with varying developmental and intellectual disabilities. I participated in 2 nights of Jam Sessions every week. As senior intern, my role included providing musical support, leading drum circles, acting in skits and even standing in as a guest musician!
Jam sessions are a great music-based social group experience for participants. There are opportunities for clients to practice social skills amongst peers like themselves. Participants work on active listening, turn taking, how to participate or engage in group activities and conversations, following verbal, visual and musical directions, and musical entrainment through drum circles.
Jam Sessions are run primarily the same every week with a schedule that includes:
- Welcome-targeting social reciprocation and greetings.
- The hello song helps bring the group alive and oriented to the space, their peers and the music. When leading, I love to use a microphone and move around the room, interacting with clients and giving them a chance to sing over the speakers!
- Drum Circle-targeting active listening, group cohesion, musical entrainment, and turn taking
- When I’m not leading drum circles and have the opportunity to sit in the circle with participants, I find so much joy in the little moments created within the music making. Whether it is a participant locking in to a drum leader, participants facial expressions between each other, or their laughter at a silly moment, there are countless small meaningful connections amongst participants and volunteers alike.
- Social Skills Skit-focusing on a new social skill concept every week by coordinating with the semesters theme (i.e. Beach Jam, Jungle Jam). Social skills can include active listening, how to have an adaptable or flexible brain, how to participate in a group context, how to join peers in conversation, how to use visual and auditory context clues when engaging with others, etc.
- Having the pleasure of acting in several skits throughout my time at Jam Sessions has been such a joyful experience. Whether it’s a silly ice cream shop worker or a safari guide, I have seen countless participants engage and respond positively to social skill skits.
- Guest Musician/Live Stream-The guest musician will play 1-2 songs while participants are given the space to move, dance, and play instruments around the room. This performance portion is live streamed to the Banding Together facebook page.
- As a new San Diegan, I have loved meeting and making music with talented musicians from all over the San Diego area-and participants love it too!
- Here is an example of me as a guest musician!
- Jam Time-one of our jammers favorite times of the night is when they get to JAM! Participants have the opportunity to choose a song for the group to explore rock instruments (e.g. sing at the mic, play a keyboard, drumset, electric guitar, etc.) or be a back up vocalist or dancer!
- Some of my favorite Jam session memories are dancing, singing, or making music with participants during jam time. Watching participant interactions during this time is always a highlight of my night!
- Closing-We use our upbeat goodbye song to send participants off on a high note!
Jam sessions are truly a safe haven for the participants. We create an atmosphere where participants can know that they are not judged, not alone, free to express themselves and be included in the music no matter what. Jam Sessions create opportunities for social interaction, camaraderie and musical opportunities. It has been one of the most fulfilling and educational experiences of my internship and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to work with these amazing participants.
-Mia Falcon
