Girgarre Moosic Muster

Words can’t explain the feeling at July’s Jigarre Jammin’in Girgarre – Fat Chance band members gave their time unconditionally to entertain us, and run workshops in their own field during the afternoon. Numbers are still increasing despite the competition of the Winter Blues Festival held in neighbouring Echuca this weekend.
A Sound Workshop for local folk was run in the morning  by Don Gula, giving them the skills to make the Town Hall hum on a regular basis now – and in time, to help with the annual muster.

Next month- 28th August -  we  welcome  “Pot Belly Bush Band” for the weekend, with Evan Webb, Maggie Duncan and Clark Morgan. Tickets will need to be booked well ahead for limited seating.

During the day, workshops will be as usual with a bit of added class again. All welcome to land in Girgarre 4th Sat of every month – great unpowered camping facility for travellers. Ph. Di 54841183
 

This month we graciously welcome Don Gula, David Aumann and Andrew Barcham to join in the fun.  These generous guys are some of the fantastic tutors who donate their time each year at the Girgarre Moosic Muster. All are well known performers in the city and around Bluegrass events. Please consider coming to meet them, listen to advice they may have around the workshop/jamming time, and enjoy the company of top musical people.
 
For those who came last month and soaked up the talent of Clark Morgan, thank you. Didn't we make some great sound - enhanced by Clark on keyboard?
 
It won't always be possible for us to provide such a beaut touch to Jigarre Jammin' but Max and Jan have tried really hard to make a long term relationship for us  with the musicians who come from Melbourne every year - and it is lovely that you have all come in strength of numbers to soak it up.
and there's more -
Next Month we have booked a BUSH  DANCE  for the evening after Jigarre Jammin' with the help of Evan Webb's bush dance band. Keep your ears open, check your diaries and plan to book your ticket this month as tickets are limited due to the size of the hall. More info to come.
 
Workshops this month may be a little shorter and condensed, depending on who comes wishing to learn, and who would just like to jam....prepare for anything!! THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE HEAPS OF JAMMING TIME.......AND EATING TIME. (You are welcome to bring a plate to share if you so desire)
 
Looking forward to seeing you all there on 24th July - Di and the Fig Jammers.

All ages, all stages, come and make music and have fun!  Jigarre Jammin' for June lived up to our mantra in every way. Nearly 50 folk turned up again; naturally some can't  make it every month but we are finding lots of new faces are taking their place. We have whole family groups, seniors, kids, basically anyone aged 10 to 90. Love those expressions of total concentration!

Notice all the happy expressions in our group shot - that's because a lot of those instruments have been donated by Fender, and we are really grateful for that. It means anyone who wants can have a go on a guitar or mandolin before buying; or if you have played a guitar years ago but now want to try something else, you can. How good is that corporate encouragement?

People are looking up because they are following the lyrics and chords we display on a screen - you want to feel able to play real songs when you are new to making music.  

This month we added percussion to our workshop line-up - roll on July for exciting guest artists and more surprises.

Jigarre Jammin' is an initiative of the Fig Jammers, a local group of late starters who make music together every week.  It was developed to “fill the gap”  until the Moosic Muster next year, to get all sorts of people tuning up their instruments, playing and singing,  and sharing whatever knowledge they have with someone who has a bit less. The philosophy of the group is to give others a reason to smile and feel uplifted by the musical community. The motto - You shouldn't die wishing you'd done it.
The format of the day is:

• arrival, tune up and jam (with help of overhead projector and simple tunes) for about 35 minutes,
• welcome,
• mini workshops,
• afternoon tea,
• then a longer jam until about 4+pm.

We have beginners workshops in guitar, mandolin, ukelele, banjo, double bass, violin, blues harmonica ,percussion and also an advanced guitar session for those who have a little more experience.

This month we will be welcoming Clark Morgan - a fantastic pianist and guitar/accordion player - a muso from Frankston way who helps at the Muster annually.

Now don't even think we have highly paid teachers - NO - it is simply last years beginners teaching what they have been taught to this year's beginners in a simplistic way with amazing results. If anyone feels they want to go on with their instrument of choice they are free to seek formal lessons, but we will give them enough to join in each month and have fun.

Whilst we are always open to offers of help from more musically inclined people, we don't set out to invite them just so we can nab them to take a role - if there is a genuine desire to participate at that level, that is warmly welcomed, but not expected. 
 
Last month several ladies from the Girgarre community came along with cushion and blanket and sat it out, tapping, singing, smiling and waiting on the front step in the sun whilst we all had workshops, then came back in to joined in again.....so this month, the percussion group has begun, hoping to entice them to shake something in their hand instead of just tapping!! So you see we are out to educate every day citizens about  the great thing that music can do for the soul.

We meet 4th Saturday afternoon of every month – 1.30 – 4pm. At Girgarre Town Hall.
July Jigarre Jammin’  we will welcome “Fat Chance” and “Bluegrass Playboys” and in August there is a BUSH DANCE on the programme at night.(Book early!!)