Hey folks! It looks like I should start off with an “about us” post so here goes! I started a nonprofit. It’s a legit 501c3 and everything! Here’s the mission statement and description:
COME JAM WITH US is a modern band learning collective.
Its mission is to help educate people seeking modern band skills and life lessons through collaborative group practice sessions by sharing knowledge and cultural diversity with fellow music learners in a safe and positive environment for all.
These are the key concepts that are unique to Come Jam With Us:
- Learning opportunities are not based on ability to pay. As a nonprofit, financial aid or scholarship opportunities are available on a sliding scale of available aid, based on income.
- Students learn in 1:1 lessons, but also in group opportunities to play together.
- Students show each other what they know, increasing learning opportunities.
- Students of all ages are welcome.
- Opportunities to play out to supportive audiences build confidence and experience.
I am a modern band education enthusiast, and an elementary multiple subject and music educator, with nonprofit management experience. Once I found this modern band form of music education, which has really taken off in many states, I saw a gap in my community where it hasn’t. This is due to treasured approaches to older versions of music education, elementary schools that don’t give music educators a classroom to work in, and a focus on the older traditions in middle and high schools like concert band and Mariachi programs. No one in the school system wants to take on a new program, or even designate a space for it. So I figured, why not combine my odd collection of experiences, run it myself, and see where it goes? If public schools can’t see the wisdom in lifelong learning, collaborative music… there could be many advantages to taking this mission off campus.
Advantage #1: Modern Band music education is for ALL AGES! We could form jam sessions in retirement homes, hospital wards, coffee houses, park amphitheaters… being housed in a public school classroom limits the age range of the learners, and instantly makes some students not want to try it.
Advantage #2: We can fundraise and be generous with those who can not afford lessons or even instruments! – A moral code I came up with a long time ago when I was trying to figure out what line of work to get into has served me well- a job worth doing should:
- Help others
- Earn a decent living
- Be fun/fulfilling to the person doing it
This is a great opportunity to help people learn something they want to do, and even provide the resources with which to do it! -With strong potential for wicked fun on a regular basis.
Advantage #3: Strength in numbers. Nonprofits need volunteers. Teamwork makes the dream work. Anyone that knows a few chords have any volunteer hours to fulfill for your school? Come jam with us!
Hopefully this has given you some perspective on what our mission is at Come Jam With Us. I will continue to offer music lessons on school breaks while building some of our long term goals, like community jam sessions, instrument donations, grant seeking, and fundraising projects. If you want to learn more about the modern band style of learning, I’ll share an article I published on LinkedIn. Modern Band Perspective …And for a much more interesting resource, I’ve gotta drop Victor Wooten in too!
Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment or contact me with any thoughts or questions you may have at brad.collins@comejamwithus.org. You can be sure, when we have a jam session (or a fundraiser) …I will shout that out! Take care.
Brad Collins
Come Jam With Us Founder & Director
Elementary School Educator
MHSA