MSMS is known for having an abundance of activities. From Ultimate Frisbee to pickup soccer games, the list of informal after school events grows constantly. One newcomer to the list is a student led get together called “Jam Session.”

This event, held every other Friday night, takes place at 9:00pm under the pavilion behind Goen and Frazer halls. Jam Session is open for all musicians and listeners to come and enjoy impromptu music making.

The mastermind behind Jam Session, Aidan Dunkelberg, created the bi-weekly activity because “a lot of people don’t get to play much with all the demands on their time, so I wanted to create an organized time and place where people could come and have fun making music.” While Dunkelberg himself began playing music at age four with the violin, many of the musicians who participate are self taught, or enrolled in beginners courses with Mrs. Barham.  

The musicians that come to Jam Sessions all participate for a variety of reasons. Senior Kallia Cooper said, “It’s a fun, judgement free type of thing, and also helps people learn to play in front of a crowd,” while senior Noah Hunt (an avid songwriter) said, “Besides just being able to play with other people, it can be a good place to develop and get feedback on music that i’ve written.”

Many of the songs played are well known. Junior Kyle Brown said his favorite part “is probably when everyone, even the audience, gets involved and sings along.” Kyle has been playing piano for eight years, and brings his portable keyboard to every Jam Session.

Musicians come and go with each Jam Session, bringing with them their voices, guitars, mandolins, pianos, and an occasional storage bin drum. Since its beginning, each jam session has been different from the last. With an array of talents and backgrounds, this event is a great place for friends to be social while enjoying music from their peers.

As for the future of this event, Dunkelberg hopes to keep it lively in the colder months by moving it inside. Those students looking for a fun way to relieve stress and chill out are encouraged to meet at the pavilion.