Join Swallow Hill Music instructors and fellow students for a free open jam taking place every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night from 8-9pm! This jam is open to all instruments (singers and percussionists, too!) and all levels. Jam session material will include simple strum and sing-alongs with an emphasis on songs used in Swallow Hill Music's core curriculum.... but don't be afraid to get loose, funky, and improvise. Bring in requests or lead a tune yourself!

Regular Weekly Hosts

Monday: Spencer Crawford

Monday Night Cafe Jam with Spencer Crawford knows no boundaries when it comes to genres, as Spencer will lead Zydeco sing-a-longs into Prince's Greatest Hits and Bluegrass classics into Top 40 AM Gold. Spencer will call out chords, changes and get you choogling as you kick off your week. Students are encouraged to lead tunes when they feel called.

Tuesday: Mike Jagel 

Tuesday Night Cafe Jam with Mike Jagel is a storied hour, steeped well into decades of 'Hill lore. Mike brings in beautiful charts of SH standards, cowboy classics, bluegrass bangers and encourages students to bring in their own charts of whatever they may want to lead. Count on Mike to keep time and bring out the best in beginner jammers as well as the Tuesday night regular rippers.

Wednesday: Barry Brown

Barry has been singing, playing piano, and performing since elementary school in Erie, Colorado. He studied piano and voice performance as well as acting at the University of Northern Colorado. When he’s not performing or teaching, you can see his work at the Denver Paper Fashion Show (4-time consecutive winner), and at Silver Dollar City in Branson Missouri as their (National Award Winning) “Master Pumpkin Carver.” One of his favorite Swallow Hill things is to give accompaniment and back up singing for my students who dare to perform in public. Come through and jam!

Support Swallow Hill's Free Community Programming

To directly support the cost of having free community jam sessions hosted by professional musicians and leaders in the community, we ask that you consider contributing a donation of any amount.

No donation is too small, and please know that you do not have to donate anything to participate as we want everyone to be able to attend. Let’s jam!

Mike Jagel

BANJO (SCRUGGS STYLE/3-FINGER, BLUEGRASS, FOLK, & CLAWHAMMER)

Fairfield, Maine | husband | father of 3 | grandfather | B.A. in Music Education + Vocal Performance | Master's in Music Education | member of Blue Moon Bluegrass Band | Mountain life

Teaching style: The objective is for students to have skills and tools to play music with others. Mike focuses on building repertoire of songs, playing/singing both lead and back-up, using tablature, basic chord theory, and ear training. Genres for Mike's lessons include bluegrass, folk, country, western, blues, and rock.

Mike Jagel teaches private lessons for advanced banjo students. If you aren't sure if you are considered advanced but wish to take lessons with Mike, please contact our Front Desk at 303-777-1003 or info@swallowhillmusic.org. Thank you!