How to Start a Band at Tufts
At the end of my first week at Tufts I was in a band. By the end of my first semester, I was in two. Throughout my nearly four years here I have played, by my count, nearly 100 shows from basements to Tisch Roof to Spring Fling, from bars to Barnum Hall, to Bar Mitzvahs, and even a wedding–each one of these an individual highlight of my college experience. At this point in my senior year I would consider myself an expert in the Tufts band scene. As a gift to you, allow me to pass on my wisdom onto the next generation of Tufts bands.
Your first week at Tufts is sure to be incredibly social, if you are like me, you will introduce yourself as a musician and will be sure to meet others. I’ll walk you through a pretty standard dialogue I had probably dozens of times
“Hey my name is Jojo, I am from Maine and play music”
“Cool, I am Jack–from Chicgago, I play music too. What do you want to study?”
(You’ll get this question a lot, and it's okay to not know.)
“I don’t know, wanna jam sometime?”
Of course there are other ways to go about this. For example, I met one of my best friends and the drummer for three bands I have been in because he had a picture of himself playing the drums as his instagram profile. I simply messaged him, asking if he wanted to jam. Turns out he was a better drummer than I could have dreamed.
Jamming is the perfect avenue for starting/joining a band. Just try playing music with everybody you meet. Some people may not fit, but others will expand your sonic boundaries. The process from going to “group you jam with” to formal band is more of a gray area than a formal arrangement. One day, you’ll find yourself picking a silly name that will probably change and signing up for one of the many shows that the Tufts Club Apple Jam puts on. Before you know it, you'll play on Post Adolescence Glow, the radio show that hosts Tufts Bands in WMFO radio studio on campus every Friday, then you’ll be playing (maybe even winning) the Battle of the Bands in the spring, and then if all goes well, you’ll get to open at the Spring Fling concert some B-level celebrity or another.
The takeaway from all of this is: show up with an open mind, and you’ll find people to play music with. I have learned as much from my musical peers here at Tufts as I have in formal music lessons. If you’re like me and want to seek out music at college in any way you can, Tufts is an incredible place. There are so many skillful artists here, and so much spirit for music, performance, and or whatever art is your thing.
Be yourself, do what you love to do, and you’ll find people who share those passions. I certainly have.
Go find my band’s music out everywhere (spotify, apple music, etc)!!
Insta: @fease_aband, @drift_theband