Kaleea wrote:

'For a slow jam, I like to make sure there is a co-"host" so that there are at least a couple of us who can assist others. I also like to take an instrument with me which I am learning. It helps others realize that it's ok to be a beginner, & it sure helps to remind me what that's like. '

Taking an unfamiliar instrument is an excellent idea. If you haven't got one, it's possible to try playing your usual instrument in a different octave instead. I've been trying this with English concertina and made the discovery that some tunes can be played successfully an octave below the usual pitch, which makes an interesting contribution to the mix as well.

Valmai (Lewes)