Join us for our monthly jams, which are held usually on the first Friday of the month, as follows:

Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm; Doors open at 6:45 pm

Cost: Members no charge; Drop-In $5 

Where: We meet at Wheeley Hall beside the Esquimalt United Church Building at 500 Admirals Road.  Enter off Lyall Street. 

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JAM ETIQUETTE

A Few Tips for a Great Jam
We’re here to make music, have fun, and enjoy being together! A few simple things help keep the jam welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.

• Arrive ready to play. Give yourself time to settle in, tune up, and get organized before we start.
• Keep the playing area clear. Please put jackets, closed cases, and other gear in the designated areas so everyone has room to play.
• Look after your instrument. Please be mindful of where you place it and help keep it safe.
• When someone is talking, we listen. Please pause playing and conversations while the jam leader is making announcements or introducing a tune.
• Follow the jam leader. The leader sets the tempo and feel of each tune. Listening and following their lead helps everyone stay together.
• Listen as much as you play. Leave space for others and try not to play over them. Most of all, be welcoming to beginners and new jammers. It takes courage to jump in, and we all started somewhere!
• If a tune is too fast, keep it simple. Play the roots, the first note of each bar, or chuck along with the beat. If you don’t know the tune — or know a different version — it’s perfectly fine to listen for a while and jump back in when you’re ready.
• When the tune ends, let it end. Please stop playing so everyone can hear the announcement and get ready for the next tune. A little “noodling” between tunes can make that difficult.
• Keep conversations short between tunes. There’s lots of time to visit! For longer conversations, please step aside to a quieter area. And enjoy the breaks — socializing is an important part of our evening too!

Before the Jam
A proposed setlist is emailed out and posted on the VFS website before each jam. If you can, have a look at the tunes ahead of time and print copies of any music you don’t already have.
Most of all, relax, listen, have fun, and enjoy making music together!