Are you in a band? Do you play guitar, bass, drums, keyboards? Maybe you are the singer in your band or a lone singer songwriter? Perhaps you are proud of your recent Rockschool grade performance piece? If so, regardless of your ability, this session is for you.

Blues Jam 2012

Venue: The West Wing at Hayesfield School in Bath.

This is a wonderful new venue for the Mid-Somerset Festival with a spacious fully equipped auditorium, perfect for our needs.

Date: Saturday 17 March from 2pm

But you must send your entry to us by  18 January 2012 - see below

The afternoon will include a one-hour Blues Jam Workshop that is suitable for all players, followed by competitive and non-competitive classes .

Video from 2011 Blues Jam session

Use this link to see the 2011 workshop video and Blues Jam performances via our YouTube site youtube.com/msfbluesjam

The Workshop

The workshop is designed to give everyone the fantastic opportunity to warm up and take part in a collective blues jam. The workshop will be run by Richard Perkins of Bath Guitar School and will have an emphasis on having fun!

Please let us know if you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced level player. Everyone taking part will receive a Blues Jam Pack with transcriptions and chord sheets suitable for their level in advance. Please note: the pieces need to be learnt in advance of the workshop. Please ask your tutor to help you learn the parts.

If you are a beginner (6 months+) you will be expected to play the following:

Twelve bar blues riff and minor pentatonic scale licks

If you are an intermediate (2 years+) player you will be expected to play the following:
Dominant 7 barre chords, blues turnarounds, minor blues scale licks

If you are an advanced (3/4 years+) player you will be expected to play the following:
Dominant 7, 9 and 13 chords, extensive blues soloing skills and rhythm playing.

Competitive Classes

You will have the unique opportunity to have written assessment and guidance from an experienced adjudicator.

As in 2011, for 2012 the adjudicator will be Max Weedon, a lecturer and Head of Music at the City of Bath College.

Solo Class

A class for soloists to perform an original or covered piece to a backing track (i.e. Rockschool grade piece).

Band Classes

Two classes (Open and Year 9 and under) for bands to perform cover material or an originally written piece.*

Songwriter

A class for songwriters to perform original songs.

* Band class performers can be assessed for the songwriter class if they are performing an original piece.

Non-competitive Class

Solo Acoustic

A class for solo acoustic guitarists to perform with or without a vocal. Participants can perform using either a nylon or steel strung guitar.

How to enter:

Contact with the Instrumental Entry Secretary, Sue West, must be made by telephone or email before Wednesday 18 January 2012.

01225 310072

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 You must read the full details of the classes and the fees in the Instrumental section of the Syllabus, and follow the How to Take Part instructions.

On  the entry form, please fill in your email address clearly as this is how we will make contact with you. Richard Perkins will need to know your playing level for the workshop.

See syllabus and Festival calendar for details