JAMS Music Education

11/24/2022

JAMS : 2020-2022 ♥️

The team at JAMS has unfortunately decided to cease operations as of a few weeks ago. There are many factors that contributed to our decision but before we get into them, we want to say a huge thank you.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our GoFundMe at the start-up stage.

Thank you to the CWCF for their support and the grant we received this year.

Thank you to everyone who followed us on social media throughout the last 2 years.

Thank you to all the teachers and students who were a part of JAMS and made it what it was.

Thank you to anyone who shared information and posts about our school in their own circles.

Thank you all for simply being here and supporting us ♥️

🎶

As we shared earlier this year, we were honoured to receive a grant from the CWCF that allowed us to learn about digital marketing and to commission a re-brand. Throughout this process, it became clear to us that the amount of work and time it takes to successfully push our business forward was more than we could all offer.

We created JAMS with a main goal of offering a safe space for teachers and students to thrive and we did indeed create that space. We do not see the end of JAMS as a failure, but rather just that: an ending. We all still believe in our initial mission, our values, and our goals. Co-operatives *do* work and they *are* necessary to the workforce. Please consider joining and/or creating one where you see the need.

Our social media accounts will remain open until further notice, so please never hesitate to DM us with questions about lessons or teaching in general! Check out our current members and what they can offer below, at this time, so you can reach out to them personally going forward.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Caitlin, Keith, Aryo, Gavin (executive committee) ♥️

Caitlin Berger: Flute lessons / Performer
Aryo Nazaradeh: Composition lessons
Keith Stratton: Performer / Composer
Matt Bridges: Drumset and Guitar lessons / Performer
Gavin Tessier: Voice and Piano Lessons / Performer

09/10/2022

Sound familiar to you? 🧐

While most music schools only focus on kids' education (which is great!), the Just and Accessible Music School (JAMS) is intent on welcoming adults of all ages into our learning spaces.

Almost all of our students have had some version of a story where they played an instrument at a younger age, gave it up, and are eager to dive back in.

We are all here to support your return to music learning in any way we can!

Try out these tips and then head to www.jamsmusiceducation.com/music-lessons to book your FREE trial lesson as you take the plunge and restart your love of music playing. 🙌

Caitlin 🥰

09/01/2022

Aryo Nazaradeh will be live streaming a short songwriting/composition lesson today at 5pm EDT. The guest today is a self-taught guitarist who is eager to start learning the first steps of how to write music. 🎸

Anyone can join in the chat and interact with any questions they have. We hope to see you there!

The live stream will be viewable at:
twitch.tv/JAMSMusicEducation

The Just and Accessible Music School. Committed to justice, accessibility, transparency, creativity, and growth. Soon to be offering online music lessons.

08/17/2022

Each more surprising than the last! 😂

Musicians are artists, and just like any other artist, we don't like to limit ourselves! We'll perform in fancy halls but we'll also play anywhere else we're needed 😛

Where's the strangest place you've played your instrument or seen someone play their instrument? Comment below! ⬇️

Shoutout to this guy I saw playing My Heart Will Go On on the bagpipes outside of the Villa Maria metro station a few years ago! That was certainly ... interesting 🤪

-Caitlin 🥰

06/07/2022

Great news alert! 🥳

JAMS is the recipient of a technical assistance grant from the Canadian Work Co-operative Federation! We are able to use this grant to help realize our vision of accessible online music education for all. 😃

Keep an eye out because we've got exciting things happening! Until then, a bit about the CWCF, of which we are a member:

"The Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation is a national, bilingual grassroots membership organization of and for worker co-operatives, related types of co-operatives, and organizations that support the growth and development of worker co-operatives. CWCF was incorporated in 1992."

Make sure to follow them to keep an eye on all the amazing things Canadian co-ops are up to. 🙌
[ID: white text on a blue background with confetti reads: "JAMS is a proud grant recipient from the" and the logo for CWCF underneath.]

05/18/2022

Get your headphones out for part 2! 🎶

We're wrapping up our recommendations for the month of May with some killer tunes. What have you been listening to lately? Don't forget to share with us in the comments! 😃
[ID: slide 1 contains an image of headphones with a blue tint. Text in white reads: "What is JAMS listening to? May Edition, Part 2" with yellow sparkles. There is a white circle around the image. Slide 2-5 contain white circles on blue backgrounds, with an image of the teacher at the top and the musical artist on the bottom.

Slide 2 reads: "Zain: Harpe de Marie (Laudes) - Jean-Louis Florentz. Amazing variety of organ colours."

Slide 3 reads: "Matt: Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo. I love the angst, the commentary, the energy coming from the band. I was on board from the opening guitar riff which reminded me of another favourite song of mine - 'Pump it up' by Elvis Costello!"

Slide 4 reads: "Keith: I Know You - Sloan. This song is written and sung by the band's drummer, Andrew Scott. I love the sudden shift in tempo halfway through the song, it's like a mini-suite. Everything about it feels very dreamy and nostalgic to me."

Slide 5 reads: "Brydone: Good Days - SZA. Feels like summer. I love listening to this while exploring the city."]

05/04/2022

It's another edition of What Are We Listening To? 🙌

Take a look at the awesome music the team has been obsessed with lately and don't forget to leave what *you're* listening to in the comments below! 🎶
[ID: slide 1 contains an image of headphones with a blue tint. Text in white reads: "What is JAMS listening to? May Edition, Part 1" with yellow sparkles. There is a white circle around the image. Slide 2-5 contain white circles on blue backgrounds, with an image of the teacher at the top and the musical artist on the bottom.

Slide 2 reads: "Aryo: Harridan - Porcupine Tree. The contrast between the different sections makes for a fun experience. Going from a funky bassline, to a quiet and melancholic section, and then back to some heavier music."

Slide 3 reads: "Caitlin: Why Am I Like This - Orla Gartland. I've been a huge fan of Orla's since I was a teen and I was so happy to hear her song featured on the Netflix show Heartstopper recently. I love her voice and her lyricism."

Slide 4 reads: "Gavin: Summer Highland Falls - Billy Joel. I love the contrast of the hectic accompaniment and the contemplative lyrics."

Slide 5 reads: "Joanna: Crybaby - Nicole Ariana. I like the rock/pop mix of the song. Also, she's a Toronto-based artist and I like to support local talent."]

05/02/2022

Got the Monday blues? Let Gavin cheer you up! 🥰

Enjoy his rendition of Van Morrison's Crazy Love (the Michael Buble cover version)! 🎶

And don't hesitate to head to https://www.jamsmusiceducation.com/music-lessons if you can't wait ANY LONGER to take voice or piano lessons with this amazing musician/teacher. You can learn online, from the comfort of your home, and even schedule a free trial lesson before getting started! 😲

Happy listening and learning! 😃
[ID: Gavin singing and playing piano in a blue T-shirt. Behind him is a bright window.]

04/29/2022

What's Aryo writing? Wrong answers only! 😂

Happy Friday from the JAMS team! 🎶
[ID: Aryo looking at sheet music with his hand in the air, holding a pencil. The sheet music is on a keyboard stand. The background is a white and beige music room.]

03/30/2022

Are you ready for your online flute lesson? 🥰

Say hi to our resident flute teacher Caitlin (Caitlin Berger - Flutist & Teacher)! 👋

She's ready to offer you a fun and engaging private lesson from the comfort of both of your homes! 🥳

Take a look at all the gear Caitlin has set up in order to offer you the best online lesson experience possible, on top of a reliable computer + internet connection:

- Her Powell flute (of course)

- Zoom H4 microphone (because you need to hear a clear flute sound!)

- Lesson notebook (so that you don't hear the sentence "So what are we working on today?" 😂🥴)

- Rose gold wireless earbuds (is there a better colour out there?)

- Water in a Christmas jug (never goes out of style)

- Mini timer (so your time is valued and made effective)

Hopefully this makes you eager to finally dive into flute lessons with Caitlin at JAMS! You can schedule a free trial lesson with her here: https://forms.gle/PjVZTr8UHxmTr4aS7 and you'll experience this exact picture in real time :)

And if you're a teacher, comment below what your online lesson set up looks like! Any tips/tricks/objects we should know about? 🧐
[ID: Caitlin smiling at the camera, as seen through her laptop screen. Surrounding the laptop is a black USB microphone, a notebook with notes written in, a cat-themed flute cloth, a silver flute, a rose gold earbud case, a clear and red water jug, a blue timer, and some green and white tinsel.]