Jam Class Orientation

Here’s everything you need to know about our upcoming class. Send questions to: howdy@waywardstrings.com

When and Where

  • Community United Church of Christ
    814 Dixie Trail, Raleigh NC 27607
    Google Map – Corner of Wade Avenue and Dixie Trail

    We will meet in the Fellowship Hall.

    There are two parking lots available, one accessed from Dixie Trail and one accessed from Wade Avenue. Both lots are available for parking, but the Dixie Trail lot is much more convenient to the Fellowship Hall. Please see this map for the entrance to the Fellowship Hall.

  • October 15 – November 12, 2025
    • Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00pm each week (5 sessions)
    • Doors open at 6:00pm, meaning we will be very busy with setting up and not ready yet to meet and greet and check you in; please don’t enter the church before 6:00pm. (Fine to get parked and otherwise situated.)

What’s Provided

  • Wernick Method Student Preparation Guide (sent as a PDF via email when you registered for camp; look for the email with the subject line of “Welcome to Leslie Dare & Susan West’s Jam Class: Raleigh, NC, starting 15 Oct 2025”. Please alert us if you do not have this email.

  • JAM Songbook
    • PDF – sent via email; look for the email with the subject line of “JAM Songbook for your Wernick Method Class”
    • Hardcopy – we will provide during check-in to first-time Wernick Method students

  • Wayward Strings Bluegrass Songbook
    • PDF sent via email from howdy@waywardstrings.com
    • Includes 55 songs that work well in bluegrass jams, ranging from simple to more complicated

  • Light snacks, both salty and sweet. We’ll also have cold water available.

  • A fun time of bluegrass jamming! 

What to Bring – Music-wise

  • Any bluegrass instrument that you may want to play during the camp. This is a great opportunity to try out a new instrument or just mix things up.

  • Instrument stand – we will be taking breaks, moving around the facility, and so on. Aside from your instrument case, the safest place for your instrument is in an instrument stand, and not propped up against a chair or otherwise out where it could be in harm’s way.

  • Instrument strap – this will allow you to stand and play (if you are physically able) which can be a great change of pace from sitting. It’s also a little different to play your instrument in a standing position, so it’s a good opportunity to try that out.

  • Other Gear (as needed, we have spares of just about everything, but please do bring the items noted if possible)
    • All except fiddle and bass: Please bring your picks.
    • Guitars, banjos, dobros: Please bring a capo; we have one you can borrow if needed
    • Banjos: Make sure you have spikes or some other way to capo the 5th string
    • Fiddles: Bring your bow and rosin
    • Bass: It’s worth repeating the need for an instrument stand!
    • Everyone: each person needs to bring a tuner

  • Fresh strings – if it’s been a LONG time since you’ve restrung your instrument, or if it seems to be harder to tune or keep in tune than usual, it may be time to get new strings. If you decide to restring your instrument, now is a good time to do so. On the flip side, don’t wait until the last minute – you don’t want to deal with stretchy strings during class. Unsure how to change your strings? The folks at Harry’s Guitar Shop will do that for you for a fee.

  • Spare instrument strings – always good to carry a set so that your class experience isn’t derailed by a wayward string or two!

  • Songs – it’s great to have some songs available (in paper books, binders, tablets, etc) so you will at least have a list of songs, and lyrics, for ones you might want to do. At the first class, you will receive a copy of the JAM Songbook. If you already have a copy of the Songbook from a previous class, please bring your copy with you. We will also provide you with the Wayward Strings Bluegrass Songbook. Between these two books and your own resources, start thinking about songs you want to lead. If

  • Music stands are NOT needed. We will provide music stands that will be shared when we break into jam groups. A stand can be used by the person leading a song who may need the song in front them, but otherwise we have a “no music stands” rule because we want folks to learn to play by ear.

  • Any special chair or stool you may prefer instead of the folding chairs available at our venue. We want you to be comfortable!

  • Recording device. The voice memo app on your smartphone is a good option. There will be several opportunities that you may want to capture for future reference – a great song, some jamming instruction, harmony parts, and the list goes on.

What to Bring – Otherwise

  • Any remaining tuition due – we’ll send each person a reminder of what is owed. Payment can be made with cash, check, PayPal, Venmo, or credit card. It’s ideal to make payment prior to Wednesday, October 15th if possible, but we can also collect your balance due when you check in at the first class if you are paying by check or cash.

  • Your own beverage bottle if you like. Cold water will be available, but we will not be providing individual bottles of water (part of our sustainability efforts!).

  • Clothing layers to accommodate changing temperatures. We might have some folks play together on the outdoor patio if weather allows.

What to Expect

  • Our goal – at the end of the class, you will have:
    • More confidence in playing bluegrass music with others
    • Experience in playing lots of classic bluegrass songs
    • The building blocks needed to successfully lead a song in a jam

  • The class will cover:
    • The role of each instrument in a bluegrass jam
    • How to anticipate chord changes
    • How to lead a song
    • How to follow songs you’ve not heard before
    • How to “fake” a solo
    • Harmony singing
    • Jam etiquette
    • …and more

  • We will be focusing on bluegrass standards. While you may hear fiddle tunes at jams (sometimes called “instrumentals”; they can be fun to play!), we will stick to songs that are sung, and not instrumentals; we’ll explain in more detail at the class.
    • If you are considering songs from the blue JAM Songbook (you were sent a PDF of this book, and we’ll give you a hard copy as well), the ones to avoid are Angeline the Baker, Cripple Creek, Old Joe Clark, and Soldier’s Joy — these are actually fiddle tunes to which lyrics have been added, and they can be very challenging to lead and follow.
    • If you need ideas for songs to listen to and prepare, look at the “Easy Classic Songs” and “116 Jam Favorites” in the “Student Prep Guide” PDF you were emailed upon registration.
    • Any of the songs in the Wayward Strings Bluegrass Songbook are good to consider.

How to Prepare

  • Make a list of everything you intend to bring based on the information provided above.

  • Practice the basic chords – G, C, D, and A – and changing between them on your instrument(s).

  • Start becoming familiar guitar chord shapes; this is a very useful jamming skill for everyone on all instruments. See this guitar chord shape chart.

  • Check out the location and make sure you know how to get there.

  • Listen to some bluegrass music so you can start soaking it up! Try the Bluegrass Album Band on Spotify, or Bluegrass Junction on Sirius XM (Channel 62).

  • Select a couple of songs that you might lead during the class. We will help you work through them!