Dorean Kimball bought an accordion at a yard sale in 1972 thinking she would use it with her 5th and 6th grade students at Merrimack Valley Middle School, where she taught. The accordion sat untouched in a box for over three decades until she decided “If I’m ever going to play it, I’d better do something about it.”

In 2005, she decided to start taking lessons at The Accordion Connection, a music store that used to exist in Gilmanton. Kimball, who had spent a year reluctantly learning to play the piano as a child, said she still remembered how to read music even after decades of no musical involvement.

Now, she gathers with a handful of other musicians every other Friday morning at the Citywide Community Center in Concord for a Musical Jam session, featuring several violinists, a guitarist, and a harmonicist, among other players.

“It’s just a great way to get out and meet new people and just enjoy yourself in a relaxed atmosphere,” Kimball said. “Often with music, there can be pressure on you to do it right and everything, but there isn’t any. There’s no pressure.”

She and fellow group member Becky Bukowski formed the group last year out of a desire to build connections through music and help people get back in touch with their musical sides.

“We just have fun,” Kimball added. “We’re glad to see each other. We discuss music and we play. We’ll play it through the first time and say ‘Oh my god that was awful.’ We’ll play it two and three more times and then we’ll say ‘Ooh that sounds pretty good.’”

As the musicians trickle into the room on a given Friday morning, they set up their stands, chat about the songs they’ve been practicing, and crack jokes with each other. After warming up, they discuss pieces they want to play that day. 

Violinist Leo Bube began learning the violin at age 75. He recalled his father playing multiple instruments when he was young but stopping by the time Bube turned 8 or 9.

“This group helps me a lot,” Bube said. “I’m trying to learn to play by ear.”

He takes violin lessons but finds that participating in Musical Jam gives him a sense of community that individual lessons don’t provide. His fellow group members emphasized the importance of the togetherness they gain from each other.

“I have found it’s easier to get up and get enthusiastic about my music if I’m doing it with others in a space like this,” guitarist Page Cannon said.

Bukowski began playing the violin at age 50. Her father had three violins. She took them to get refurbished and now plays one of them at Musical Jam and in the New Hampshire Fiddle Ensemble.

“I read an article saying that learning a new instrument or a new language is good for your brain. I didn’t think I could learn a new language so I went and picked up the violin,” Bukowski said. “During your working years, there’s no time for anything like this.”

Noelle Gagne, who also plays the violin, says she found her way back to music over time. 

“My mother had all of us take piano lessons. I had my violin when I was 10,” Gagne added.

Now, she plays alongside Bukowski in Musical Jam and the Fiddle Ensemble and enjoys reconnecting with her musical roots.

The group put on a concert in May at one of the monthly luncheons for seniors. They aspire to gain more participants and hopefully perform again sometime in the future. They welcome any interested seniors to their group, regardless of experience level or instrument.

“Everyone has a need for music, they just might not know it yet,” harmonicist Jeanne North said.

Musical Jam meets the second and fourth Friday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at the Citywide Community Center. 

 

Rachel Wachman can be reached at rwachman@cmonitor.com