It’s that magical time of year again—the sun is out, the days are long, and the outdoors are calling. What better way to celebrate than by making music together under the open sky?
Join us for our Summer Jam Series, a joyful, low-pressure way to deepen your musicianship skills and connect with a vibrant musical community—no sheet music, but all joy! 🤩
While this has always been true, in addition to our usual ‘ukulele crowd, this year I want to extend a special invitation to all vocalists and strummable instrument players! I’m talking to you – guitar, mandolin, banjo, and autoharp players, and singalong singers, as well. Everything I teach in this series is aimed at deepening your ear and internalizing these songs, which can be applied to any of the instruments mentioned above.
❓ What Is the Summer ‘Ukulele Jam Series?
This weekly outdoor jam is all about playing by ear, sharing music face-to-face, and truly connecting through sound and rhythm. We’ll sit in a circle, leave the sheet music behind, and focus on fun, simple 3- and 4-chord songs that anyone can jump into.
Whether you’re used to playing with a songbook or have never tried learning by ear before, this is your invitation to try something a little different—and incredibly rewarding.
📝 Why no sheet music?
When you let go of the page, something amazing happens:
- Your ears sharpen
- Your fingers respond more intuitively
- You lift your head, look around, and really play with the people beside you
This is where true musicianship begins, and I’ll be right there with you to guide each step of the way.
🌅 Why You’ll Love It
- No pressure, no perfection—just music and community
- Strengthen your ear and memory for chords and song structure
- Get more comfortable playing in different keys
- Build the confidence to play more fluidly (without needing a songbook!)
- Experience the magic of musical connection in real time
✨ Come As You Are
Whether you’ve been jamming for years or are newer to your uke, this series is especially great for folks who:
✅ Are comfortable with basic chords in the key of C
✅ Know one or two strumming patterns
✅ Are curious, open-minded, and ready to learn in a fresh, ear-forward way
✅ Love being outside and making music in community
You don’t need to be an expert to join—just someone who’s ready to strum, smile, and share a song or two with new friends. This is music the way it was always meant to be: alive, shared, and filled with joy.
All ‘ukulele and strummable instrument players are welcome—just bring your instrument, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to try something new.
☀️ SE/SW Portland Cohorts + Special Guests
As per usual, there will be two cohorts for this jam series: one in Southeast Portland, and one in SW Portland / Beaverton. Follow the links below to register for your preferred location.
At our Southeast Portland jams, we’ll have a slate of special guests! We are so lucky to have so many talented and knowledgeable musicians in our fair city, and I count myself extra fortunate to call them my friends. This year, they’ll be helping us understand the songs we’re learning in a social, cultural, and historical context.
We’ll kick off the first two weeks of this series with Maggie Lind, who has been playing old time music on guitar, banjo, and fiddle for over 20 years and is known here in Portland for her weekly stringband class and private banjo lessons. Together, she and I will guide you through the folk songs of The Carter Family and the spirituals of the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
I’m still confirming guests for Weeks 3 and 4, check back for updates!
🎶 Ready to Jam?
I hope you’ll join me at our Summer Jam Series under the evening skies! Learn more and register for the Southeast Cohort or the SW Portland/Beaverton Cohort … and get ready to strum into summer with confidence, creativity, and community!
