"Sid is breaking new ground ... Jamming 101® is a roadmap!"

Welcome to your Jamming 101 library of instructional materials. The music and audio files for the important Jamming 101 songs are under "Tabs & MP3's", and the key info-graphics for our workshops are under "Charts".

If you enjoy these free materials, we ask you to check out the books available on the "Store" page which contain all of these and much more. Also, if you have any songs or techniques that you need that are not here; please check out our custom online instruction under "Online Lessons", where you get to place your order for whatever you want! (Coming soon, please check back)

For additional courses offered, please scroll down...

Jamming Makes You Happy!

Other Courses offered by Jamming 101

For our unique teen music program, please visit our website for Chico School Of Rock. Based in Chico CA, this amazing afterschool music program has over 40 happy children creating their own music and performing in bands. Recently, Sid Lewis and the Chico School Of Rock, helped foster the success of child-band Jet Fuel Only, who was recently featured on the Rachel Ray Show and in People Magazine.

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Aside from the popular flagship workshop Jamming 101, we also offer a variety of music education programs to suit everyone’s needs.

For more Intermediate to Advanced players, we recommend Jamming 102. Often taught in tandem with Jamming 101 at festivals and colleges, this class works great as an elective class or assembly.

All Jamming 102 classes have the same basic philosophy of Jamming 101, but concentrate more on the technical details and theory. There will be slightly less “jamming” with more time spent on musical games, drills and discussion. All students will receive one-on-one attention from instructor Sid Lewis. Students will also receive music and TAB handouts for each class, and be allowed plenty of Q & A afterword.

Jamming 102 classes are not instrument specific, and all instruments are welcome. 

Jamming 102 (a): Skill Levels: “Getting better by getting clever”

            Class focus: Students will be taught the Five Levels of Jamming, from

            total beginner to advanced soloist. Beginners will learn valuable

           “survival skills” and advanced players will be challenged to delve

            deeper into their “musical tool box”.

            Listening, reflexes and fitting-in with the music will be paramount.

            Ability Level: Beginner to Intermediate (advanced players welcome)

Jamming 102 (b): Jamanatomy: “The operating system of a jam session”

Class focus: This class breaks down the structure of a jam session in fine detail, covering everything from how to “kick off” a tune, to cueing the ending. Students will learn to become better jam-leaders and acquire safeguard techniques against common jam problems like dropped-solos, ineffective communication and botched endings.

            Ability Level: All

Jamming 101 (c): The Jamily Tree: “Understanding and respecting musical styles”

Class focus: For everyone who has ever stumbled into a different kind of jam and didn’t know what to do; this class is for you…..

Using Sid’s trademark concept  of the Jamily Tree, this class explores the techniques and etiquette of common musical styles, including Irish, Jazz, Blues, and more. Broaden your musical horizons and have more fun!

            Ability Level: All  (intermediate to advanced encouraged)

Jamming 102 (d): The Ten Jammandments: “Being a righteous picker”

Class focus: The most unspoken of all elements in jamming is Jam Etiquette. How often we get dirty looks or passed for a solo and don’t even know why. This class will throw light on all those murky elements of the rules and politics of a jam session, including jam leading, solo order, musical communication, and more.

            Ability Level: All

Please email us or call (530-894-2526) for any questions about these courses.

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Sid Lewis founded and currently teaches an amazing program called Song Gardening, which can turn anyone into a prolific and inspired songwriter. Using techniques and philosophies from spirituality to meditation, to poetry and dance, Sid awakens the sleeping creative giant in all of us.

(please check back soon for details here)

The Family-Jam Music Retreat program

Our newest offering from Jamming 101, the Family-Jam Retreat (FJR) is an unforgettable experience that involves the whole family in a custom music experience. The instructor will spend the weekend with the host family, and provide daily classes designed around each families particular musical needs.

Families that live abroad can transport the instructor to their home, and local families will choose en enjoyable location that they will all travel to for the FJR.

Some recommended locations would be: vacation resorts, hot springs (with lodging), coastal B & B’, etc.

The FJR process is as follows:

1- Host family will provide the potential instructor with a “retreat proposal”, describing the suggested location and lodging for the FJR. It as also recommended to research the available “extra curricular” activities that will be available at this location (such as outdoor recreation, dining, concurrent events, etc)

2- Musical assessment: the host family will fill out a “musical order form” which will inform the instructor of what they wish to learn.

3 – The instructor will then create a custom music curriculum for the host family, including songs, musical games, and instructional materials.

4 – The FJR class schedule features individual private lessons (30 minutes each) in the morning, and a group “jamming class” in the afternoon, where the musical principles learned earlier are applied in a fun, hands-on format.

Times are flexible, but the recommended schedule is:

► morning private lessons from 9 to 11am

► lunch break from 11 till 1pm

► and afternoon group class from 1pm until 2pm.

5 – The host family will be given “follow-up” activities that will allow them to continue their musical growth, and will also get to keep all of the curriculum and instructional materials.

6 – Families wishing to make this event into an annual or bi-annual event can reserve the next FJR and receive significant discounts.

In return for this weekend of musical fun, the host family will provide the instructor with

Lodging, meals, and transportation from/to and for the duration of the program. The host family will also provide the FJR fee, which is $200 per day.

Email us to receive the Retreat Proposal form and the Musical Order form.

Family Jam Retreats must be reserved from 3 to 6 months in advance.