The Anxiety of Playing Music With Other People

One of my students has been hosting jam sessions where each person gets to choose a song they want to play with the group. People go to the same Ultimate Guitar link to the lyrics and chords, and then we play it. 

One issue is that in Ultimate Guitar, there are no measures indicated along with the lyrics and chords of a song. Ultimate Guitar does provide tab links, but that's not necessarily helpful for a jam session.

But the main thing is that most people end up feeling like they're behind everyone else, that everyone else knows what to do and they don't. Students have also expressed concerns that they're holding the group back.

I've gone to most of these sessions and participate as a peer vs. as a teacher so I've been able to reassure them that their perception is not the reality, and also let them know that they're not alone in feeling the way they do.

It often feels like people who are able to do things well just popped out of their mother's womb with the skill intact and perfected. But as a music store sign I saw in Ireland said, "Talent? The more I practice, the luckier I get!".

Really, we're capable of learning just about anything, as long as we want to, and we have an effective way to practice that will get us to where we want to go.

Peace, Janet