A Review from Atlanta Harp Teacher, Mathew Shelton
"I taught at the Atlanta Jam Camp, but did it because I wanted to be part of the experience. Jon invited me to come, but it was special circumstances – I wasn’t paid. The reason I wanted to get this out of the way is just to let you know that this is NOT a paid endorsement, but I DO want to wholeheartedly want to endorse this JamCamp! Read on to know why.
I’ve been to SPAH conventions (Society for Preservation and Advancement of Harmonicas) and other similar harmonica events, but this was by-far the best, if you come to learn and be encouraged to learn the harmonica.
The teachers and their playing was absolutely top-notch. The teachers were literally world-class players. I personally came away quite inspired. Each teacher had a very different approach to harmonica playing, which was really cool, yet each complimented the other.
There was no “filler” in any of the group lessons, everything was great and useful and up-to-date information. Jon taught some of them, and so did each of the teachers. (for this JamCamp I was one of the one-on-one teachers) There was plenty of demonstrations as part of the teaching, no lecturing. Lots of good, sometimes challenging questions from the participants, ably fielded by the teachers, sometimes in fun and funny ways.
The JamCamp has a very good balance of elements - main group class, then group classes split according to beginner and intermediate playing level, and one-on-one lessons going on at the same time. This balance makes it so that everyone is getting what they need, regardless of their level of play. The one-one-ones are a great additional element, where each jamcamper gets great individual attention. Mark Wilson does a fine job of coordinating all these elements.
Best of all, though, is the fact that everyone there cares about your learning – that is what they are there for. Not for showing off, but to get you to the point where YOU can show off!
I LOVE the harmonica and love teaching the harmonica more than anything, so I can recognize it when I see that same love in others - and every one of the jamcamp teachers puts forth that same love also (and they are all fellow harmonica fanatics!)
So, what that does for you is you have a supportive environment – doesn’t matter if you’ve just started, or have doubts about your abilities – everyone is there to help you along, wherever you might be coming from. It was a great thing to see.
In my experience it takes the most sensitivity and balance of “feedback” and caring at the beginners’ level, and I had the absolute privilege of sitting in on one of Jon’s beginner group classes, where he did a superb job of leading, listening, guiding and encouraging everyone there, beginners all.
Then, to cap it all off, ALL the jamcampers got to get up and play with a band at the end of the jamcamp. This is a great thing because it shows you that by the end of the weekend that you are well on your way - and everyone did quite well, by the way!
If playing with a band seemed especially daunting, then one of the teachers got up and played with the jamcamper also – that way their playing complimented each other and made the jammer sound good no matter how recently they’d started to play. I was asked by one of the jamcampers to sing, so he could be up there playing the harmonica and not feel like he was carrying the whole load – that worked out well also.
Oh, I could go on an on – I was one of the guitar players for the jamcamp also, so did a lot of playing in group lessons and also in afterhours jams – that was fun too. Let me know if you have specific questions about any of it. This JamCamp was truly a wonderful experience – thank you for inviting me, Jon!!!"
