Workshops

'Learn to Jam' Sessions 

These sessions are a chance to play guitar with others in a full band setting (i.e. drums, bass guitar, full P.A. system, microphones, amplifiers...) and to meet other musicians. They are always good fun.

The sessions have been running since 2009. Some players who attended the early sessions decided to get together and form their own band called '99 Problems'. They've since played several of gigs in Brussels. (Now they are called 'Too Young to Die'!) Also, other players from the sessions went on to join our student band, the 'Manneken Pistols'.



Students' refer to the sessions as 'jam sessions' or simply 'jams', but unlike a real jam session - those held in bars, for example - these are really 'learn-to-jam' sessions. There's no audience. Only those taking part and playing music are there, so it's the perfect way to get started jamming with others, without the 'baptism of fire' of taking part in a real jam session. 

The music we jam to is mostly blues/rock oriented. In previous sessions we've jammed tunes such as:
  • The thrill has gone (BB King)
  • Highway to hell (ACDC)
  • Stand by me (Ben E King)
  • Gloria (Van Morrison)
  • Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix)
  • Peter Gunn (Henry Mancini)
  • Six-blade knife (Dire Straits)
  • Norwegian Wood (The Beatles)
  • I shot the sheriff (Bob Marley)
  • Ganga Gun (Bob Marley)
  • Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
  • I'm a man (Bo Diddley)
  • Sunshine of your love (The Cream)
  • All along the watchtower (Bob Dylan)
  • House of the rising sun (The Animals)
  • Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochren)
  • Stormy Monday (Allman Brothers)
  • Cissy strut (The Meters)
  • Hit the road Jack (Ray Charles)
  • Chain of fools (Aretha Franklin)
  • The beat goes on (Sonny and Cher)
  • Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson)
  • Sweet home Alabama (Lynard Skynard)
  • Strange Brew (Cream)
  • Free Falling (Tom Petty)
  • Ain't no sunshine (Bill Withers)
  • Honky Tonk Woman and Can't always get what you want (Rolling Stones)
  • Roadhouse Blues (The Doors)
  • Crossroads (Robert Johnson, Cream)....
If you are interested in taking part in an upcoming jam, let me know - info@guitarlessons.be. If you are not currently taking lessons with me, I'll ask you to send an example of your playing (e.g. link to a Youtube video, an mp3 file), or if you don't have an example of your playing, we can arrange to meet in person at my studio in Saint Gilles, 1060 Brussels, for free, so I can assess your playing level. The reason for this is so I can match musicians of a similar level for the different workshops.

Before a session, I'll send you information about the songs we'll play and how to play them, so that you will have time to practice before.

The jams are usually held at Novanois rehearsal studios in Schaerbeek (rue des Ailes) on Sunday afternoons. Upcoming sessions may be held in Saint Gilles on Saturday afternoons

Cost - 50 to 60 euro, depending on the session
To find out about upcoming jams, contact me, Mark, on:

Recording sessions

The recording session workshops are a chance to experience the recording studio environment, work with a sound engineer and learn about the equipment and techniques used to record music. At the end of the session, you'll be able to take away a professionally engineered and mastered mp3 recording.

Some sessions may be collaborations between you, other students and myself, or it could be just you playing guitar or ukulele and possibly singing (if you are a singer too)

The recording sessions are held at Michel's studio, rue Cluysenaar, Saint Gilles on Saturday afternoons.

The cost depends on how many students are involved in the session and the length of the session
For info about current possibilities, contact me, Mark, on:


By Mark Baxter (c) 2017