Last year, with the help of English teacher Chris Kiehn, former Senior Gabe Tanumihardja ’23 created Jam Band, a window class where everybody is welcome to play and vibe to music.
Jam Band consist of a number of guitarists, pianists, cello, violin, and drummers. The band mostly plays rock and occasionally jazz music every B-Day afternoon, providing an opportunity for lowerclassmen and upperclassmen to be part of the arts in the Prep community.
Kiehn emphasized Tanumihardja’s impact on the Prep arts community and the band last year: “It’s not the same because Gabe could just sit there with a [new] girl who knows some piano and he can just say, ‘Try this,’ and he’s not only a great pianist but a great teacher, great at being a band leader.”
Kiehn also explained what drew him to advising the band. Kiehn grew up playing the flute as a kid. Despite not ever learning to teach music, Kiehn relied on Tanumihardja’s leadership along with the other Seniors to guide the diverse group of people who could and could not play an instrument or read music.
Kiehn also provided some of the songs the group was learning to play, including “Imagine”, “La Bamba”, some Queen songs, “Eye of the Tiger”, and “We Are the Champions.”
Silas McGee ’25, one of the remaining members from last year, described the environment and vibes as “very relaxed, very mellow,” explaining that “when we do get our organization, when we have a good plan that’s really set out, it goes pretty well.”
After its performance at Coffee House on December 8th, Jam Band hopes to build off its success these past two years and remain a part of the variety of arts classes offered during Window.
Ben Jammes ’24, a Senior that has stepped into the big shoes that Tanumihardja has left as a leader, explained the band in a nutshell: “That’s kind of our vibe, show up, play some music, low stakes kind of stuff, have fun.”
Students interested in joining can look for the email sent out from Ms. Kheriaty to learn more about Semester 2 Window Classes and use the form to sign up.
