Jam On: The Love of Music and Community

If you walk into the Hawk Ridge Board Room on Wednesday afternoons, you might be surprised to find yourself enveloped by the musical stylings of a group of locals–so local, in fact, that they are all residents of The Hill at Whitemarsh.

Don’t be fooled, though; these neighbors are not part of a band. They are simply music lovers who get together every week to jam.

“We are definitely not a band,” Bob Tate reiterated. “I played in bands over the years and they require a lot of work. A jam session is not a rehearsal for a performance, but a time to share music, learn from each other, and just have fun playing and singing.”

Bob has been playing guitar and banjo in rock and folk groups since he was in junior high school. Prior to moving to The Hill in 2024, he had played in some bands with David Dieck, who is a future resident of The Hill and now regularly joins in the Wednesday jam sessions. David plays multiple instruments, including guitar and Irish bouzouki, he sings with one of the longest-standing independent, male choral societies in America and plays with their classic rock band spin off.

Chris Lane also joins in on the weekly jam sessions.

“I’ve been playing folk and rock guitar since I was a teenager,” said Chris. “It’s so wonderful to be a part of this group because it’s open to people of a variety of musical abilities and talents. People come to the sessions with a song suggestion and we all learn it and get up to speed playing it together.”

“ Part of the joy of coming to jam is that people with less skill can come play and learn at their own pace without having the pressure of performing at a high level. We always start by just learning how to sing a song together to help people get the hang of it and find the right key to sing or play in.” – Bob Tate

If the group needs a seasoned singer to jump in and guide them in the right direction, they need look no further than Betsy Hershberg, who spent the early years of her adult life as a singer in a 60s folk group.

It’s clear that everyone brings not just a different talent to the table every Wednesday, but also a different perspective that can enhance the lives of each participant.

“For me, musically, this jam group has really broadened my musical horizons,” said Bob. “We span about 20 years in our ages and there’s so much we can all learn from one another.”

“The social aspect is also an added bonus,” said Chris. “This group is such a great way to meet people with shared interests or similar skills and make new friends.”

Who are some of the other regulars that attend each week?

Bob’s wife, Ann Greene, plays electric bass in a rock band and a jazz ensemble, but joins in the jam for fun each week. Linda Litwin is a professional classical violinist and violin teacher who plays in many different classical music groups, but Wednesday jams at The Hill were her first time playing by ear with a bluegrass/folk group.

Phil Pennington has played harmonica for 17-18 years, primarily blues and Americana. Alec Kerr has been taking guitar lessons for several years, and has reported that the regular sessions have helped him expand beyond his “lifelong 60s and 70s Martha’s Vineyard coffee house folk music groove.”

“We all share our knowledge and passion for music and learn from one another,” said Bob. “It’s really low pressure. You just sing or play at the level you are comfortable with. The important part is to keep showing up for the love of the music.”

“I played a lot as a kid and then stopped having time to do that for decades of my life,” said Chris. “Having the time and space to continue to play now is such a gift.”