In Search of Our “True Academy”: Reflections on Modern Band, Open Jams, and the Purpose of Popular Music Education

In a 1959 Esquire article, writer Ralph Ellison stated that “the jam session is…the jazzman’s true academy, ” referring to the legendary jam sessions at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem during the early 1940s. Ellison explained that at the time, jam sessions were where jazz musicians learned “tradition, group techniques, and style.” Jam sessions have continued to exist since then and have branched out into other styles, like blues, classic rock, and funk, but are now better known as “open jams.” But unlike jazz in the 1940s, musicians can now learn popular music at a school. I have witnessed the powerful transformations that occur during open jams and believe they are fertile ground for musicians to hone their skills and talents. But recently, I have wondered how current popular music pedagogies could benefit from lessons learned at open jams. How do we best connect modern band, open jams, and popular music education? This presentation will draw on my experiences as a frequent attendee of open jams and as a popular music educator. I will describe where open jams and popular music education align, where they conflict, and suggest strategies on how they can complement one another to create a better “true academy.”

Session Objectives:

  • Explain differences between jam sessions and open jams

  • Discuss the advantages of aligning popular music education repertoire with open jam repertoire

  • Question the importance of repertoire in both modern band classrooms and open jams

  • Discuss the importance of readying students for participation in open jams

Daphne Wright